Using System File Checker and restoring corrupted system

Anonymous
2014-11-27T18:38:03+00:00

System File Checker is a utility in Windows that allows users to scan for corruptions in Windows system files and restore corrupted files. This describes how to run the System File Checker tool (SFC.exe) to scan your system files and to repair missing or corrupted system files in Windows 8.1.

Run the System File Checker tool (SFC.exe)

To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Open an elevated command prompt. To do this, do the following as your appropriate:

Windows 8.1 or Windows 8

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search. Or, if you are using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, and then click Search. Type Command Prompt in the Search box, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.

  1. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

sfc /scannow

The sfc /scannow command will scan all protected system files, and replace corrupted files with a cached copy that is located in a compressed folder at %WinDir%\System32\dllcache.

The %WinDir% placeholder represents the Windows operating system folder. For example, C:\Windows.

  1. After the process is finished, you may receive one of the following messages:

**Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.**This means that you do not have any missing or corrupted system files.

  • Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation.

To resolve this problem, perform the System File Checker scan in safe mode

(http://windows.microsoft.com/en-in/windows/start-computer-safe-mode)

, and make sure that the PendingDeletes and PendingRenames folders exist under %WinDir%\WinSxS\Temp.

  • Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them. Details are included in the CBS.Log %WinDir% \Logs\CBS\CBS.log.

To view the detail information about the system file scan and restoration, go to How to view details of the System File Checker process.

  • Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them. Details are included in the CBS.Log %WinDir% \Logs\CBS\CBS.log.

To repair the corrupted files manually, view details of the System File Checker process to find the corrupted file, and then manually replace the corrupted file with a known good copy of the file.

Or  do a restore health:

Should there be any error detected or any corrupted files that are not fixed when you run the System File Checker, please run this command on the command prompt dism /online /cleanup-image /checkhealth  or  dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth  prompt.

In case the issue persists please proceed to do a Refresh on the device.

Surface | Surface Pro | Install and update

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments

1 answer

Sort by: Most helpful
  1. Anonymous
    2014-11-27T19:01:54+00:00

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments