Here we can see, “sfc.exe”
The sfc.exe application checks the integrity of all system files protected by Windows File Protection (WFP) and can replace erroneous versions with Microsoft ones if necessary. The user must have administrator credentials to launch the software.
Synopsis
The use of brackets [] to surround arguments is optional.
sfc [/scannow] [/verifyonly] [/scanfile=<filePath>] [/verifyfile=<filePath>]
[/offbootdir=<bootDriveLetter>] [/offwindir=<windowsDriveLetter>]
[/scanonce] [/scanboot] [/revert] [/purgecache] [/cachesize=x]
Description
The sfc utility has several flags, the most common of which is /scannow. Although not all flags and parameters are supported on all operating systems, the tool can be executed on any Windows PC and through the Windows recovery console. A list of platform-supported flags can be found in the “Compatibility” section below.
The possibilities are as follows:
/?
Displays a list of flags that are currently active.
/scannow
After running the command, it checks the integrity of all protected system files and repairs those that are corrupted or modified. Those files had their default values restored.
/verifyonly
After running the command, it checks the integrity of all protected system files but does not repair them.
/scanfile=<filePath>
Scans a file’s integrity using its absolute path (filePath) and restores it if any modifications are found. c:windowssystem32example.dll is an example filePath.
/verifyfile=<filePath>
Scans but does not fix the integrity of a file supplied by its absolute path (FilePath). c:\windows\system32\example.dll is an example filePath.
/offwindir=<windowsDriveLetter>
Used in conjunction with /offbootdir to indicate the drive on which Windows is installed to update its system files.
/offbootdir=<bootDriveLetter>
The /offbootdir=<bootDriveLetter> specifies the letter associated with the drive that needs to be repaired. It’s used with /offwindir=<windowsDriveLetter>. Here is an example of how these two commands are used in the Windows Recovery Console.
sfc /scannow /offbootdir=d:\ /offwindir=d:\windows
It scans and repairs the files specified by the offwindir flag using the original Microsoft files found on offbootdir path.
It uses the original Microsoft files discovered on the offbootdir path to scan and fix the files indicated by the offwindir flag.
/scanonce
Scan and repair protected files the next time Windows starts up.
/scanboot
Every time Windows starts up, it scans and restores the protected files.
/revert
This command is used to cancel commands that have already been executed. For example, if the user used the /scanboot command to run a scan every time Windows starts up, using the /revert command will disable it.
/purgecache
Deletes files from the Windows cache folder, which is where the original system files are stored after they are updated. This command should be used with caution because it can cause system failures. The program also scans and copies current system files to the cache folder.
/cachesize=x
Changes the cache size to meet the needs of the user. Some megabytes is supplied as the x parameter.
Exit Status
sfc.exe returns 0 if it succeeds and 1 if it fails.
Examples
To scan and repair corrupted system files as soon as possible:
sfc /scannow
To check the integrity of a sample file without restoring it, do the following:
sfc /verifyfile=c:\windows\system32\example.dll
The Windows installation disc on drive f: scan and repair an example file from the Windows Recovery Console.
sfc /scanfile=d:\windows\system32\example.dll /offbootdir=f:\ /offwindir=d:\windows
Compatibility
The sfc.exe program is compatible with Windows Vista and subsequent versions of Windows.
History
Windows Vista introduced the verify only, scanfile, verifyfile, offbootdir, and offwindir options.
Conclusion
I hope you found this information helpful. Please fill out the form below if you have any questions or comments.
User Questions
1. What is the purpose of SFC EXE?
SFC (System File Checker) is a standard tool with all contemporary versions of Windows. You can use this program to repair corrupt system files in Windows. System File Checker (SFC) can run as an administrator from Windows or the Windows recovery disk.
2. What’s the difference between chkdsk and SFC?
SFC (System File Checker) examines and repairs Windows system files, whereas CHKDSK discovers and fixes faults in the file system of your hard drive. When SFC detects that a file has been corrupted or updated, it automatically replaces it with the right version.
3. Is it necessary to run sfc regularly?
SFC is used to tell you whether you have any corrupted or modified system files, in addition to the system files not operating or giving you an error. While running SFC whenever you want isn’t a bad idea, it’s normally only used when you suspect you have corrupted or updated system files.
4. sfc scannow is NOT a reliable tool to detect file corruptions
sfc scannow is NOT a reliable tool to detect file corruptions from Amd
5. SFC /scannow and other “when things are not working right” fixes
SFC /scannow and other "when things are not working right" fixes from sysadmin
