What is the "system file checker"?

[gorath]

In Windows XP:

A tech support guy told me to go to "run" and type "sfc" (without quotes) to run the system file checker, which is supposed to make sure no Windows files are damaged or missing.

But when I do this in "run", nothing happens, just a black box appears for a split second and then I'm back to the desktop.

Anybody know how to run the System File Checker another way?

[squeech]

System File Checker WAS a utility in Windows 9X/ME that allowed technicians to go in and test the vailidity of system files and extract missing or corrupt files from the Windows CAB files with ease.

However, in Windows XP the idea is a tad different. You can no longer type "sfc" and get the utility because it is now a DOS command that requires switches (those little parameters with slashes in front).

Here's how sfc breaks down in WinXP:

Syntax
sfc [/scannow] [/scanonce] [/scanboot] [/revert] [/purgecache] [/cachesize=x]

Parameters

/scannow
Scans all protected system files immediately.

/scanonce
Scans all protected system files once.

/scanboot
Scans all protected system files every time the computer is restarted.

/revert
Returns the scan to its default operation.

/purgecache
Purges the Windows File Protection file cache and scans all protected system files immediately.

/cachesize=x
Sets the size, in MB, of the Windows File Protection file cache.

/?
Displays help at the command prompt.



Other notes: You must be an administrator or sfc doesn't work right. The other things sfc USED to do (like extract system files) can still be done using "msconfig" (the System Configuration Utility).

Hope this all helps! If you have more specific questions, feel free to post.

[gorath]

thanks very much for the help

hmm..it's still not working for me. In the "run" line, I'm typing in:

sfc/scannow

and pressing enter, and nothing is happening. Is that the right way to do it?

I also tried

sfc [/scannow]

in case that was the right way, but that's not working either, unless you're not supposed to see anything happen after you run it.

[bwcc]

Sounds like your tech is a tier 1 support guy - reads from the book he's given.

WinXP inherited the Win2K Windows File Protection - prevents overwriting or replacement of certain system files. Therefore removing the need for sfc.

What problems are you having that this 'tech' told you to run this?

[gorath]

It's the Blizzard Entertainment support guy for Warcraft III.

The game is freezing on my computer. I downloaded the latest Video, Sound, and Via chipset drivers. I scandisked and defragged. I reinstalled the game. It's still freezing.

by the way, I got the "sfc" command to do something with

sfc /scannnow

but it prompts me to insert my "Windows XP Professional" cd into the drive, and I'm running XP Home, so that's not going to work.

[bwcc]

Hmm - ok, time for system specs.

There is a 1.01 patch, but it doesn't seem to affect anything that might be causing your lockups.

Any other programs locking up on you?

[gorath]

I got this pc about 2 weeks ago. At first I had some problems with freezing, but then I download the generic nVidia drivers from their site, instead of the Leadtek brand drivers, and that seemed to solve the problem. No more freezing. Until now.

Okay, specs. Here goes.

Windows XP Home Edition.

Leadtek Geforce4 ti4200 64mb (I have downloaded the latest drivers from the nVidia website.

Sound Blaster Audigy (I have downloaded the latest drivers from the Creative Labs website)

Gigabyte GA-7VRX VIA KT333 motherboard. (I have downloaded the latest chipset drivers from the VIA website.)

Athlon XP 1.67 GHz
512 MB pc2100 ram
80 GB maxtor 7200 rpm hard disk.

I have run a scandisk, and defragmented my hardrive, and reinstalled the game. I have scanned my system for viruses, and the latest Norton definitions didn't detect anything. I have disabled my screensaver and power management before starting the game. I have updated the game to version 1.01. I have installed all the updates for Windows XP.

I pressed ctrl+alt+del to make sure there were no programs running the background. Nothing was listed under the "programs" tab. There were things listed under the "processes" tab, but those aren't programs, are they?

Anyhow, the game is still freezing. It'll be a miracle if anyone can solve this problem.

The thing that sucks is that I've waited 3 years for this game to come out, and now it's messing with me.

Oh, and I ran "dxdiag" and I ran the video and sound tests, and everything seemed to work properly.

[Bones1]

This is a little off topic but... I had the same prob as you gorath I would be playing away and it was about 1/2 hr my machine would lock and I'd hear the audio repeating.

I switched the game resolution from 800X600 in 32bit color to 16 bit color and mine works fine now. I can play for hours. But I'm running Win98 not XP.

Hope this helps narrow the problem down.

Jim

[gorath]

Interesting...

When it locks up on you, does the sound skip for a couple of seconds, and then go silent and thing freezes?

I've been running 1024x768x32. I wonder if this this is my problem.

But how does the game look in 800x600? Isn't everything really big, and not much fitting on the screen?

Maybe it will still solve my problem if I run at 1024x768, but switch it to 16bit. Does it still look good in 16 bit?

[Bones1]

When the game freezes on me the sound keeps repeating until I reset my system.

I haven't run the game at 1024X768 so I couldn't tell you. But ya everything is quite big. I'll have to try running it at the higher res to see what it looks like.

But switching color modes I don't think there was much difference between the two well not much that I could see anyway.

Jim