Windows File Integrity Check – With sfc /scannow Tutorial

I am going to show you today how you can possibly fix your problems on Microsoft windows operating systems. If you notice that your Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10 operating system has problems or even crashes, you may want to run a windows file integrity check with sfc. Windows system files even on Windows 10 operating system can become corrupt.

SFC stands for System File Check. If you have corrupted Windows system files you may notice symptoms like crashes, does not work as expected, and some functions will fail to work. System File Check will check for corrupted Windows system files and attempt to repair them.

I would recommend that you run an sfc scan periodically as part of your computer maintenance. On most modern Microsoft windows operating systems such as Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10 you can start this scan from a command prompt. You want to run command prompt with administrative rights.

Once a command prompt window opens then you just type this following command and hit ENTER:

sfc /scannow

This is an example of what your command prompt window will look like, including this sfc /scannow command.

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.15063]
(c) 2017 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\WINDOWS\system32>sfc /scannow

This scan can take awhile depending on factors such as speed of your computer, hard drive health, overall operating system condition, etc. You want to make sure to allow this scan to complete. Once this windows file integrity check sfc scan begins you will see a progess indicator like this example.

Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.

Beginning verification phase of system scan.
Verification 56% complete.

When that sfc /scannow process completes you will be returned to an empty command prompt and told whether or not any integrity violations were found.

Verification 100% complete.

Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.

I am about to give you a bonus tip. I found that running a System File Check scan three times sometimes gives better results.

As part of my computer repair regiment, I always scan my customers computers with three passes of sfc /scannow. I would recommend you kick off a chkdsk scan as well while your at it. System File Check only checks Microsoft Windows system files.

This tool does NOT scan your personal files, program files, or any other files except Microsoft windows system files. If your running windows 8, 8.2, or 10 operating systems, there is one additional command you are supposed to run before sfc /scannow.

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

System File Check can potentially fix your problems on Windows operating systems.