In this tutorial we’ll show you how to repair corrupt or missing system files using the Windows built-in command line utility – SFC (System File Checker). SFC is built into Windows 10/8/7/Vista that can scan your system files for corruption or modification. Method 1: Perform a Repair Upgrade with Windows 10 ISO File Step 1. First, mount the.iso image file on your computer by double click on the file and all. Double click on the setup file and the installation process will begin. Read the license terms and agreements and go to the.
The sfc /scannow command is one of the several specific switches available in the sfc command, the Command Prompt utility invoking System File Checker.
While there are plenty of different things you can do with the command, sfc /scannow is the most common way that the sfc command is used.
Sfc /scannow will inspect all of the important Windows files on your computer, including Windows DLL files. If System File Checker finds a problem with any of these protected files, it will replace it.
How to Use SFC /Scannow
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator, very often referred to as an 'elevated' Command Prompt.For the sfc /scannow command to work properly, it must be executed from an elevated Command Prompt window in Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7 and Windows Vista.
- To use System File Checker from the Command Prompt through Advanced Startup Options or System Recovery Options, see the Executing SFC /SCANNOW From Outside of Windows section below for some necessary changes in how you execute the command.System File Checker will now verify the integrity of every protected operating system file on your computer. It might take quite a while to finish.When the verification process completes, you'll see something like this in the Command Prompt window, assuming problems were found and corrected:..or something like this if no problems were found:In some situations, most often in Windows XP and Windows 2000, you may also need access to your original Windows installation CD or DVD at some point during this process.
- Restart your computer if sfc /scannow repaired files.System File Checker may or may not prompt you to restart but even if it doesn't, you should restart anyway.
- Repeat whatever process caused your original problem to see if sfc /scannow resolved it.
How to Interpret the CBS.log File
Every time you run System File Checker, a LOG file results containing an itemized list of every file that was checked and every repair operation that completed.
Assuming Windows is installed on the C: drive then the log file can be found at C:WindowsLogsCBSCBS.log and opened with Notepad or some other text editor. This file could be useful for advanced troubleshooting or as a resource for a tech support person that might be helping you out.
Executing SFC /SCANNOW From Outside of Windows
When running sfc /scannow from outside of Windows, like from the Command Prompt available when you boot from your Windows installation disc or flash drive, or from your System Repair Disc or Recovery Drive, you'll have to tell the sfc command exactly where Windows exists.
Here's an example:
The /offbootdir= option specifies the drive letter, while the /offwindir= option specifies the Windows path, again including the drive letter.
Depending on how your computer is configured, the Command Prompt, when used from outside of Windows, doesn't always assign drive letters in the same way that you see them from inside Windows. In other words, Windows might be at C:Windows when you're using it, but D:Windows from the Command Prompt in ASO or SRO.
In most installations of Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7, C: usually becomes D: and in Windows Vista, C: is usually still C:. To check for sure, look for the drive with the Users folder on it—that will be the drive Windows is installed on, unless you have multiple installations of Windows on multiple drives. Browse for folders in Command Prompt with the dir command.
Technical Level : Intermediate Summary
If your Windows 10 installation is demonstrating unusual behavior such as built in apps not working or launching, you can perform a repair upgrade to fix the problem. A repair upgrade is the process of installing Windows 10 over the existing installation of Windows 10 on your hard disk, using your installation DVD or ISO file. Performing this can repair broken operating system files while preserving your personal files, settings and installed applications.
Details
The first thing you will need to do is download the latest .ISO file available for Windows 10.
Click HERE to download official ISO media for Windows 10 from Microsoft.
Starting the installation
When you download the .ISO file, you can start the upgrade immediately by simply double clicking the .ISO file to mount it. If you are running Windows 8/8.1 and plan to upgrade your operating system, you can also use this method. Windows 7 and earlier will need to prepare install media. If you prefer to prepare installation media and start the installation from that, review the following article (see section Download and prepare .ISO file):
Here I have my .ISO file downloaded and mounted. All I need to do is double click setup to begin the installation.
Windows is preparing setup.
Read and accept the Windows License terms then click Accept
If you see this screen and it goes by really quick, don't worry, you will get a chance when its dones configuring to choose what you want to keep.
Windows 10 doing additional configurations.
At the 'Ready to install' screen you are presented with a summer which includes the task to be completed:
- Install Windows 10 Pro
- Keep Windows Settings, personal files and apps
Click Change what to keep make any necessary adjustments.
Once satisfied, click Install
Windows 10 setup will then change to full screen, wait while setup installs. Your computer will be restarted automatically.
After restarting, Windows logo will appear on screen, this might be here for a while, as long as you see the indicater, everything should be ok.
Here you are presented with the new setup experience that provides a spherical progress indicator of the installation process. When complete, you will see the Getting ready notification appear on screen. As noted, your computer will restart during this phase of setup.
Sign into your account and click Next
Here you are preseted with the Out of Box Experience. The Out of Box Experience page is where you get to configure detailed settings in Windows, which includes creating a user account, privacy, sync PC settings and install modern applications. For the purposes of this article, I will choose Use express settings
Wait while Windows finalizes your settings
Continue to wait while Windows installs modern applications.
Repair System Files On Windows 10
Sign in if prompted
Thats it! You have successfully completed a repair upgrade.
Press Windows key + R
Type: winver Dell laptop software and drivers.
Hit Enter on your keyboard to verify the build number
You can also see this in the build number on the desktop
Related:
Cbs Log File Fix
- How to: upgrade from previous versions of Windows using Windows 10 ISO file
- How to: Perform a custom installation of Windows
- How to: Perform a clean install of Windows 10
- How to: Switch from 32 bit versions of Windows to Windows 10 64 bit