SFC/scannow

I cannot run the SFC/scannow program to check my windows files on my windows XP Pro computer. I have the folder I386 full of files but the program runs for a bit and then asks for the windows XP Pro disc to be inserted presumably because there is a faulty file. I do not have a disc because the computer came ready loaded with OEM software. Can someone advise me where i am going wrong
Edit by paws: the correct syntax for this scan is:
sfc /scannow
note the space, it needs to be there.

This problem can occur if the source path in the registry is corrupted or drive letters have changed since installation. You can just keep pressing to continue, or you can edit the registry. Be sure to back up the registry before starting. To edit the registry, click Start > Run, then type regedit and press Enter. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion Double-click the Source path entry in the right panel and check that the path is the same as the path where your i386 folder is located. If incorrect, enter the exact path. If it is correct, then you may have a corrupt i386 folder, and that will likely require a system repair or reinstall. But before that, I suggest you post what problems you are having and maybe we can help with that without resorting to drastic measures.

This problem can occur if the source path in the registry is corrupted or drive letters have changed since installation. You can just keep pressing to continue, or you can edit the registry. Be sure to back up the registry before starting. To edit the registry, click Start > Run, then type regedit and press Enter. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

Double-click the Source path entry in the right panel and check that the path is the same as the path where your i386 folder is located. If incorrect, enter the exact path. If it is correct, then you may have a corrupt i386 folder, and that will likely require a system repair or reinstall. But before that, I suggest you post what problems you are having and maybe we can help with that without resorting to drastic measures.

My original problem was malware that i could not remove and my computer kept freezing and would not work again until powered down and up. I went through to a spy bot help desk and they have helped remove the malware but several of the programs they asked me to run would not including this scannow and OTM.exe OTL .exe.
I have just looked at the location you gave me and it was pointing to an e drive the I3486 folder is on the c drive so i have changed the setting but it is still asking for a disc every now and again.
The c drive is the local disc the e drive is a cd drive and the f drive is a cd r drive
the computer locked up again twice while trying to write this so i am now replying on my laptop, strange thing is it didn't lockup at all for the last couple of days and it was running all day. I haven't got a xp pro disc but have access to another computer running XP pro
thanks for your assistance

Then it may be necessary to contact the PC maker for a recovery disk. Note the registry pointing to the CD location, if the that was the same drive letter when the OS was installed, is fine. Even though the malware may have been removed, it sounds like some collateral damage was done. Most factory made computers have a [often hidden] recovery section on the hard drive. You might want to check the makers website or your manual.

Hello Digerati,

Thanks for helping. I worked with this lady over at Safer Networking and this is the error she got when she tried to run OTL by Old Timer, a few of the other programs ran ok. I wasnt sure if this was windows related and at the time I didn't have access to a XP System to run her through the correct path.


Sorry every time i try to run the OTL or OTM programs I get:-OTL(or OTM) has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience. Then the following data:-
AppName: otl.exe AppVer: 3.2.20.2 ModName: kernel32.dll
ModVer: 5.1.2600.5781 Offset: 00012afb


The correct entry in SourcePath should be C:\

If we can get her to run System File Checker successfully and OTL still won't run than I will contact Old Timer and see if he can shed some light on it

Thanks.
Ken

Well, I'm not sure what more to offer except as paws noted in his edit, there is a critical space before the "/".

Here is some info I have saved on this:

Use this registry change to point SFC and Windows File Protection to the C:\I386 directory. Copy everything in red to the clipboard then open Notepad and paste it in. Save it as RunSFCFromHD.reg. Open My Computer and navigate to the folder you saved it in, right click on it and select Merge. Click OK as necessary.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup]

"SourcePath"="C:\\"
"ServicePackSourcePath"="C:\\"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion]

"SourcePath"="C:\\"

More info here:

http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=222473

That looks good, thanks Ztruker, beats editing the registry yourself

Here's a link to the thread that Ken is working with wepxc11 over at Safer-Networking
http://188.165.126.154/showthread.php?p=393869
Regards
paws

That looks good, thanks Ztruker, beats editing the registry yourself

Thank you for that.
The source path was set to D:\English and the Service pack source was set to c:\windows\servicepackfiles. These were changed using your method and computer restarted SFC /scannow was run and instead of the 8 or more requests for an XP disc I now only get 1 request for a Service Pack 3 disc. Unfortuantly service pack 3 came as a download from Microsoft so I haven't got the disc.
I have tried again to run the OTL.exe and OTM.exe programs but they still fail even in safe mode. Any more clues???
Thank you for your help so far.

It looks to me like you're trying to run OTL from a temp file. Won't work. You need to put it on your desktop per Ken's instructions.

c:\temp\OTL.exe

Posted, thanks Tom

It looks to me like you're trying to run OTL from a temp file. Won't work. You need to put it on your desktop per Ken's instructions.

c:\temp\OTL.exe

I did try to run it from the desktop and today i deleted it and downloaded it again but it still doesn't work same error message about having a problem and needing to close
the path is C:\Documents and settings|diana\desktop

Well… I'm out of ideas then. What do you think Ken… maybe try OTLPE?

the path is C:\Documents and settings|diana\desktop

This may not be relevant, but there is a syntax error in the above….. what looks to me like a pipe should be a backslash.

Otherwise If there is only one file missing that needs to be added to the dll cache and an installation disc with SP3 on is needed, it might be worth borrowing a disc from a chum, its Ok to do that for the purpose of running sfc and this might just fix the problem.

I am loath to suggest creating a slipstreamed SP3 installation disc purely for this purpose……. but neverthless, its a jolly handy thing to have… and useful for a repair install of Windows, should this become needed.
Regards
paws