System File Checker
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| System File Checker | |
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| Developer: | Microsoft |
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| OS: | Microsoft Windows |
| Use: | System software |
| License: | MS-EULA |
| Website: | Microsoft SFC Documentation |
System File Checker utility allows system administrator to scan for and restore corruptions in Windows system files. This utility is available on Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003.
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[edit] Brief history
Due to problems with Windows application able to overwrite system files in Windows 95, Microsoft has since implemented a number of security measures to protect system files from malicious attacks, corruptions, or DLL hell.
System File Checker was first introduced on Windows 98 as a GUI utility. It offered scanning and restoration of corrupted system files. This version of SFC was very basic. It determined system files by file extension and file path. It was able to restore files from the installation media or a source specified by the user. Windows 98 did not offer real-time system file protection beyond file attributes; therefore, no preventive or reactive measure was available.
In Windows Me, System File Checker was replaced with System File Protection (SFP).[1]System File Protection offered real-time protection. The stand-alone SFC utility was removed and not available on Windows Me.[2]
In Windows 2000, System File Protection was replaced by Windows File Protection (WFP)[3]. In addition, System File Checker was reintroduced. The new System File Checker is a more robust command-line utility that was integrated with Windows File Protection. Unlike Windows 98 SFC, the new SFC only allows the restoration of system files from DLL Cache or installation media.
[edit] Issues
Older versions of System File Checker are known to override patches distributed by Microsoft. This problem has since been rectified in the newer version of System File Checker.[4]
[edit] Usage
System File Checker can be invoked with the following command.
sfc /scannow
If it finds a problem, it will attempt to replace the problematic files from the DLL Cache (%SystemRoot%\WINDOWS\System32\Dllcache\). If the file is not in DLL Cache or the DLL Cache is corrupt, the user will be prompted to insert or locate the Windows installation media.
[edit] References
- ^ System File Protection and Windows Me. Microsoft (2001-12-04). Retrieved on 2006-08-28.
- ^ Spector, Lincoln (2001-02-14). Answer Line: Windows 98 Utilities Missing in Windows Me?. PC World. IDG. Retrieved on 2006-08-28.
- ^ Description of the Windows File Protection Feature. Help and Support. Microsoft (2003-12-15). Retrieved on 2006-08-28.
- ^ The SFC /SCANNOW Command May Overwrite Hotfix Files. Help and Support. Microsoft (2003-07-01). Retrieved on 2006-08-28.
