Windows 10 2021 February Update - Now 1st sfc scannow SLOW

Question

Windows 10 2021 February Update - Now 1st sfc scannow SLOW

Stan Kasper 1,476

Updating a number of Windows 10 machines with the latest 2021 February patch Tuesday. All machines very similar. However when I run sfc /scannow after the updates on some it runs ok and on a few it is very, very slow. Do not see the rhyme or reason on the difference. Does anyone know the 'magic' that is happening here in this regard? Very strange.

Accepted answer

1 additional answer

Your answer

Answer 1

Teemo Tang 11,471

There are many factors can affect the speed of System File Checker, such as network environment, hard disk speed and sectors state, system files or components’ health, the apps which installed and running now…
Different computers have the different sfc scan time, it is depended on computer’s situation. For current scenario, we should focus on the PCs which cost manty time on sfc /scannow. Check error on hard disk, run dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth before sfc.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.
Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Stan Kasper 1,476 Reputation points

2021-02-10T02:33:07.77+00:00

Agree. But these are 'guests' on a virtual system. And they are very similar if not exactly the same. I also agree there are many different configurations of Windows 10. I administer many. I am just reaching out to the community to find why I am seeing a couple out of many running into this sfc /scannow issue. On most sfc runs in at most a minute. On a few I am finding SFC runs for up to 5 minutes. All on the same hardware.
Teemo Tang 11,471 Reputation points

2021-02-11T02:52:17.363+00:00

Well, 5 mins still seems to be ok... Maybe these VMs use less network resource when execute sfc command while other machines are downloading something. In my opinion, if sfc command can run fine rather than stuck for a long time, it should not be a problem.
Stan Kasper 1,476 Reputation points

2021-03-15T17:40:29.897+00:00

I believe that the correct answer is that Microsoft updates is going through some changes and it affects the integrity of the users Windows 10 desktop. At this point in time the issue has gone away. Hopefully all this fuss leads to a better update process.
Justin 1 Reputation point

2022-03-17T05:40:45.283+00:00

They specifically said they're having issues with sfc after the 2021 February update.

What are you talking about? How are you helping anyone?

Generic Microsoft post. "Oh, it's your hardware"

It's not the hardware, something is messed up now.

Why does sfc take so long? Why is it so slow, even though my CPU utilization and disk utilization is <10%.

There's no 'verbose' setting, so I just have to sit and wait, hoping something happens?

I can't wait to switch to Linux completely (I'm only using it for a couple games), at least when you ask questions about issues with Linux distros you aren't spammed by brain-dead Microsoft employees with useless tips.

There are many factors can affect the speed of System File Checker, such as network environment,

You think their network environment changed with the the Win 10 2021 feb update?

Fuck off. '

Edit: how is this the "accepted answer"

Being gaslight on the microsoft forum that this is a good solution. What the fuck is going on dot com

Answer 2

Stan Kasper 1,476

The SFC command completes successfully. And the 1st time it runs very slow but after that it is ok. I have made some minor device changes - Intel Optane/RSAT. I guess the correct response would be to check
the log files.

Teemo Tang 11,471 Reputation points

2021-02-12T02:01:00.703+00:00

Ok, glad to hear this issue has been solved. Thanks for sharing, hope your experience will help other community members facing similar problems.
Teemo Tang 11,471 Reputation points

2021-03-04T08:10:03.633+00:00

Please mark your reply as "Accept Answer" to close this case

Share via

Windows 10 2021 February Update - Now 1st sfc scannow SLOW

1 additional answer

Your answer