trying to run System File Check

[alice]

I manage several XP PCs, and on some of them when I try to run SFC, it
works fine. On others, I get a DOS screen that vanishes just as soon as
it pops up, and then nothing else happens. Is there something else I
can do to get it to run?

 

[Guest]

Two proper ways to do it. One is to go to: Start>Run>type CMD and
at the cursor type SFC /SCANNOW (space between C and /)
The other is to go to: Start>All Programs>Accessories>Command Prompt

 

[Ptath]

Two proper ways to do it. One is to go to: Start>Run>type CMD and
at the cursor type SFC /SCANNOW (space between C and /)
The other is to go to: Start>All Programs>Accessories>Command Prompt
--

Problem is ... the SFC /SCANNOW script asks for the installation CD.

What happens if you do not have the installation CD, even though the
installed software has been verified by Microsoft as "genuine" and
licensed?

 

[Guest]

When you use SFC, you will need the original disc because it uses it to
verify that all the systems files are present and in their correct versions.

Andy W

 

[Wesley Vogel]

If XP was preinstalled, you need to point sfc.exe to the I386 folder.

If you copy your i386 folder to a hard drive, this assumes C: is the hard
drive.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup
Value Name: CDInstall
Data Type: REG_DWORD
Value Data: 0

Value Name: ServicePackSourcePath
Data Type: REG_SZ
Value Data: C:\

Value Name: SourcePath
Data Type: REG_SZ
Value Data: C:\

See this for more info...

Explains a whole bunch about sfc.exe.
scannow sfc (sfc.exe)
http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Ptath]

Wes ....

I tried your suggestion but now I get the following message when I run
sfc /scannow:

"Files that are required for Windows to run properly must be copied to
the DLL cache. Insert your Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 CD
now."

.... even though both ServicePackSourcePath and SourcePath point to C:\

Ptath

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Ptath,

Does the C:\I386 folder exist?

See this for more info...

Explains a whole bunch about sfc.exe.
scannow sfc (sfc.exe)
http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

 

[alice]

That's what it needed...thanks!

 

[Ptath]

Wes,

I read the article (http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html) that you
posted. It helped explain things a lot.

I have thirteen i386 folders in my C:\ drive !

They are in the following folders ... the first one (in Driver Cache)
is dated 4/25/2006 whereas nearly all of the others are dated
1/31/2006. The folder "lib" is dated 9/15/2004 but the i386 folder in
it has a size of 0 KB.

1. C:\WINDOWS\Driver Cache
2. C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles
3. C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\jib
4. C:\WINDOWS\system32\ReinstallBackups\0000\DriverFiles
5. C:\WINDOWS\system32\ReinstallBackups\0001\DriverFiles
6. C:\WINDOWS\system32\ReinstallBackups\0002\DriverFiles
7. C:\WINDOWS\system32\ReinstallBackups\0003\DriverFiles
8. C:\WINDOWS\system32\ReinstallBackups\0004\DriverFiles
9. C:\WINDOWS\system32\ReinstallBackups\0005\DriverFiles
10. C:\WINDOWS\system32\ReinstallBackups\0007\DriverFiles
11. C:\WINDOWS\system32\ReinstallBackups\0008\DriverFiles
12. C:\WINDOWS\system32\ReinstallBackups\0009\DriverFiles
13. lib (yes ... just lib)

Does this explain anything?

Ptath

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Yes it explains a lot. You do not have C:\I386. It's about 477 MB and has
about 5,474 files and folders in it.

The I386 folder that you need has files like the following:
12520437.CP_
12520850.CP_
1394.IN_
1394BUS.SY_
3DFXVS2K.IN_
3DGARRO.CU_
3DGMOVE.CU_
3DGNESW.CU_
3DGNO.CU_
3DGNS.CU_

If you do not have the XP CD, System File Checker is probably not going to
work without prompting you for your CD.

And if you do not have the proper I386 folder, System File Checker is
probably not going to work at all.

If System File Checker discovers that a protected file has been overwritten,
it retrieves the correct version of the file from the cache folder
(%Systemroot%\System32\Dllcache) or the Windows installation source files,
and then replaces the incorrect file. System File Checker also checks and
repopulates the cache folder. If the Dllcache folder, or part of it, has
become corrupted for some reason then you will be prompted for the XP CD, so
that the cache folder can be repopulated with correct copies.

BTW, all of those C:\WINDOWS\system32\ReinstallBackups folders are for the
Roll Back Driver option in the Device Manager.

I have no idea what lib\I386 could be. Strange that C:\ doesn't appear.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Ptath]

Wes,

Thanks for the update. It would seem that, since I don't have the CD,
then there's nothing more that I can do.

Ptath

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Ptath,

There is one thing. Purchase a CD. ;-)

Or..
How to replace lost, broken, or missing Microsoft software or hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In