Vista: Run System File Checker

Contributor Icon Contributed by mistywindow Date Icon March 21, 2007  
Tag Icon Tagged: Microsoft Vista

System File Checker checks that all Windows files are where they should be and that they’re uncorrupted. If you’ve done all your virus and spyware checking, error checking and defragging, and Windows is still doing strange things, then SFC can avoid a reinstall.


1. Open a Command Window in Administrator mode:

* click Start
* click All Programs, then Accessories
* right click on the Command Prompt option,
* on the drop down menu which appears, click on the Run as Administrator option.

* If you haven’t disabled User Account Control (and you shouldn’t!) you will be asked for authorisation. Click the Continue button if you are the administrator or insert the administrator password.

2. Start the System File Checker

* In the Command Prompt window, type: sfc /scannow,
* press Enter.
* You’ll see “the system scan will begin”.

The scan may take some time and windows will repair/replace any corrupt or missing files. You will be asked to insert your Vista DVD if it’s needed.

Close the Command Prompt Window when the job is finished.

One caveat: you need a Windows CD or DVD to enable SFC to make repairs. Don’t get suckered into buying any Windows computer with a Recovery or Restoration disc.

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  • I remember XP used to perform a system file check during a reboot as well (to schedule a file scan before Windows boots up). Is there a way to do that with Vista?
  • sparky
    Love this thanks alot im a very tech savy guy but i wasnt sure if vista had kept this lovely feature and now i know and didnt have to open command prompt lol (lazy i know)
  • joy
    when try to run sfc /scannow it says windows resource potection could not start the repair service. Wat can i do
  • xrays
    Thanx for help
  • xrays
    Joy ... make a mug of tea and relax ... then try the same way above and don't forget to RUN IT AS ADMINISTRATOR :))))
  • Jean
    What if I only have recovery disks - HP doesn't provide Windows CDs - you make your own recovery disks? Should I still run system file checker?
  • Exelle
    when all else fails :D

    (running vista32 home premium on a vaio laptop)

    sorry to say, I was careless and got a virus. a nasty one - couldn't open my task manager, not even in safe mode. when I tried opening it (in several various ways), all I got was a dead icon of the task manager in the taskbar, next to the watch. and by dead, I mean it didn't even show the CPU usage like it did.

    so: I tried bitdefender - found my computer to be clean. I tried also stinger from mcafee - cute little fellow, said the same thing about my computer. I then tried malwarebytes - same result.

    I tried booting into safe mode... there, nothing worked, just about anything I tried led to my PC to stall indefinitely.

    after all this, I ran from link to link into this one. ran the "sfc /scannow" command in safe mode and after restarting, my computer was noticeably faster than before :) but the task manager still didn't run.

    the last thing I did after this was a system restore to a point earlier in the day. this definitely solved my problem, and now I'm running "sfc /scannow" to speed up my pc again :)
  • passerby
    In the end it says:
    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....

    Didn't ask for any windows cd/dvd.
    What should the next step be?
  • Andy
    - Thank you very much.
  • Andy
    - passerby - copy everything to DVD and reinstall the OS - shouldn't take longer than few hours - and nothing's better than a fresh OS...
  • Brent
    My computer came with Vista, how can I put the CD or DVD in if it asks?
  • abhijeet_m
    When i done the following scan

    System File Checker
    by command promt sfc scannow
    It 100 % complet
    It Reply
    Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations!
  • Joanna
    what if you've done this and got 'Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity issues'?
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