System file check question

Hello, I was doing my monthly routine of disk cleanup, scannow and defrag when I received a message during sfc /scannow to insert my cd-rom disk with sp3. Well, my installation disk does not have sp3, it has sp2. I know that sp3 can be slipstreamed into the disk but have also read that I.E. 7 is not included in it. I have IE 7. My question, has anybody run in to this problem or anything similar? I worry about using my installation disk now because of possible damage to my files. Can I sliptream IE 7 into my disk? I want to keep the install disk as current as possible in the event of a irreversible infection. Can anyone help?

Hi,
The fact that, SFC has asked you to insert your Microsoft Windows Installation disc indicates that you have at least one or possible more either damaged, or missing protected files. This may have an immediate impact on your machine's performance and functionality…..alternatively it may have none at all………(sometimes protected System Files are only called for a specific purpose/function and if you don't use that particular function on your machine you could happily go on for years without even noticing!)

You can try your Windows XP SP2 disc and this may do the trick, otherwise yes its quite simple to Slipstream SP3 into an installation disc and yes you are quite right IE7 is a separate download (but can be included in a slipstreamed disc, as can all your drivers etc….) however you may need to watch the total size and it may be necessary to use a DVD rather than a CD if you put too much on. Nlite is the tool of choice, well its the one we generally use!, for these tasks:
http://www.nliteos.com/download.html

In the workshop we often tend to put all the stuff we can on to DVD so that a format and reinstall is undertaken quickly…keeping the cost to the customer as low as possible( time is money!)

However for a private individual a disc image is often the better choice. Using products, either free ones, like Drive Image XML and Barts Pre Installed Environment or paid for ones like Ghost, Paragon Acronis or similar can have your machine up and running in the time it takes to walk the dog.

The disc image is only used in circumstances when fixing your system by the normal means proves too difficult or time consuming,
If for example you reimage to a state when your machine is running fast and sweet and free from all undesirable elements, and with SP3 and IE7 and everything else that's important to you included on it then its a real timesaver….you just need to install the updates for XP and your Antivirus/spyware/firewall ,etc…issued since the date you made the disc image.

If you decide to make a disc image then there are 4 important points I would make:

1 Verify that your disc image is correct and reproducible immediately it's made (don't wait until you really need it, and then test it!……it's too late then if it's not a good and undamaged image

2 Keep a copy of your disc image on a separate partition or separate hard drive within your machine by all means, but also have a copy on removable media………an external hard drive is very useful here, and inexpensive…….especially so if you make one!

3 Make sure you create a bootable CD that provides for USB support (in the event that you can't even boot into Windows this can save the day)

4 When you reimage be sure you understand which image you are restoring and exactly where its going to be restored to…

Regards
paws

EDIT, sorry I have just noticed this is your first post to our forums so:
Welcome to the WTT forums

The fact that, SFC has asked you to insert your Microsoft Windows Installation disc indicates that you have at least one or possible more either damaged, or missing protected files.

There is also a bug(?) in XP that causes it to continually ask for a disk, even when it is already inserted. This is due to the "SourcePath" Registry not pointing to where SFC expects to find the i386 folder. I assume you installed SP3 from somewhere other than the CD - perhaps Windows Update?

As paws indicated, it has to do with Windows File Protection. If you feel comfortable working with the Registry, take a look at: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup

If the value of SourcePath is something other than your CD drive letter, it will continually prompt for a disk. This can be corrected as per MSKB Article 222473 - Registry settings for Windows File Protection. It applies to W2K, and XP too. I caution you to backup the Registry before making any changes.

And you might check out Marc Liron excellent article, Scannow SFC - it talks about working around the SourcePath issue in good detail.

I have not seen anyone use SFC on a monthly basis - not that it would hurt anything. Was that recommended to you or just something you decided to do?

And I second paws - welcome to WTT.

Thank you paws for your quick response and your excellent explanation. I will follow your advice and also to Digerati, thank you as well. I read the article about sfc scannow and it was very enlightning. Perhaps an imaging program such as Acronis may be the way to go. I intend to look for one this weekend. Thanks again.