System File Checker or SFC is a utility in Windows 10 which allows users to scan for and restore corruptions in Windows system files. This utility was first available in Windows 98 and subsequent versions of Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, 8.1 and Windows 10 has this feature.
The System File Checker or sfc.exe is a utility in Microsoft Windows located in C:\Windows\System32 folder. This utility allows users to scan for and restore corrupt Windows system files.
In Windows 10 the System File Checker is integrated with Windows Resource Protection, which protects registry keys and folders as well as critical system files. If any changes are detected to a protected system file, the modified file is restored from a cached copy located in the Windows folder itself.
SFC can restore files from the DLL cache or if the files are not available, you will need to insert the installation disc of Windows and SFC will automatically pick the correct files and restore them back removing the corrupt files.
Here are the steps to take to scan and repair Windows by using SFC:
Save all your stuff and close any other programs you’re running.
SFC isn’t a light or casual utility. It does major repair. Don’t blow it by losing information in an open program window. Save now!
To run the System File Checker in Windows 10
Right click on start menu and select Command Prompt (Admin) As shown bellow picture.
Now On command prompt window , type Command sfc /scannow and hit Enter.
You see text: Beginning system scan. This process takes some time.
Beginning verification phase of system scan.
Verification 2% complete.
Wait. SFC fixes what it can. Mostly, it plods through and displays the results, like this:
Verification 100% complete.
Note During the scanning process If you’re prompted to insert the Windows disc, do so. Corrupt files must be replaced by fresh ones.
What you see after this line depends on the results of the operation. When nothing is wrong, you see this text:
When nothing is wrong, you see this text:
Windows Resource Protection didn’t find any integrity violations.This means your PC is working fine without any issues. You do not have to take any actions.
When problems have been found and repaired, you see this:
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them. Details are included in the CBS.Log windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. For example C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log
This means there were corrupt file and Windows SFC was able to repair them and replace the files
When things go awry, you see this text message:
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- This means there were corrupt files in Windows, but SFC couldn’t replace or fix them. You need to check the log file and see the files required and then manually replace them from the installation disk of Windows.
Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation:
This means SFC couldn’t run. To re-run this process, start your PC in safe mode and run the same command. Before running SFC again, make sure you have the PendingDeletes and PendingRenames folders exist under %WinDir%\WinSxS\Temp.
Don’t fret: Your PC is most likely fine.
SFC command will scan all protected system files in your Windows installation folder and check for any corrupted files. If any files found corrupt, it will replace it with a cached copy that is located in a compressed folder at %WinDir%\System32\dllcache.
The %WinDir% is the location where Windows OS folder is located. If you have installed Windows on C drive, this is typically C:\Windows folder.
The sfc utility will run for a while and if any corruptions are found, replace them on re-boot
Fix error Windows Resource Protection Could Not Start the Repair Service”
In case you are unable to start the System File Checker and you instead get the “Windows Resource Protection Could Not Start the Repair Service” error, you may want to check up if your Windows Modules Installer service has been Disabled. To do so, type services.msc in start search and hit Enter. The status of this service should be set to Manual.
The System File Checker or sfc.exe is a utility in Microsoft Windows located in C:\Windows\System32 folder. This utility allows users to scan for and restore corrupt Windows system files.
In Windows 10 the System File Checker is integrated with Windows Resource Protection, which protects registry keys and folders as well as critical system files. If any changes are detected to a protected system file, the modified file is restored from a cached copy located in the Windows folder itself.
SFC can restore files from the DLL cache or if the files are not available, you will need to insert the installation disc of Windows and SFC will automatically pick the correct files and restore them back removing the corrupt files.
Here are the steps to take to scan and repair Windows by using SFC:
Save all your stuff and close any other programs you’re running.
SFC isn’t a light or casual utility. It does major repair. Don’t blow it by losing information in an open program window. Save now!
To run the System File Checker in Windows 10
Right click on start menu and select Command Prompt (Admin) As shown bellow picture.
Now On command prompt window , type Command sfc /scannow and hit Enter.
You see text: Beginning system scan. This process takes some time.
Beginning verification phase of system scan.
Verification 2% complete.
Wait. SFC fixes what it can. Mostly, it plods through and displays the results, like this:
Verification 100% complete.
What you see after this line depends on the results of the operation. When nothing is wrong, you see this text:
When nothing is wrong, you see this text:
Windows Resource Protection didn’t find any integrity violations.This means your PC is working fine without any issues. You do not have to take any actions.
When problems have been found and repaired, you see this:
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them. Details are included in the CBS.Log windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. For example C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log
This means there were corrupt file and Windows SFC was able to repair them and replace the files
When things go awry, you see this text message:
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- This means there were corrupt files in Windows, but SFC couldn’t replace or fix them. You need to check the log file and see the files required and then manually replace them from the installation disk of Windows.
Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation:
This means SFC couldn’t run. To re-run this process, start your PC in safe mode and run the same command. Before running SFC again, make sure you have the PendingDeletes and PendingRenames folders exist under %WinDir%\WinSxS\Temp.
Don’t fret: Your PC is most likely fine.
SFC command will scan all protected system files in your Windows installation folder and check for any corrupted files. If any files found corrupt, it will replace it with a cached copy that is located in a compressed folder at %WinDir%\System32\dllcache.
The %WinDir% is the location where Windows OS folder is located. If you have installed Windows on C drive, this is typically C:\Windows folder.
The sfc utility will run for a while and if any corruptions are found, replace them on re-boot
Fix error Windows Resource Protection Could Not Start the Repair Service”
In case you are unable to start the System File Checker and you instead get the “Windows Resource Protection Could Not Start the Repair Service” error, you may want to check up if your Windows Modules Installer service has been Disabled. To do so, type services.msc in start search and hit Enter. The status of this service should be set to Manual.
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