Fixed: SFC (System File Checker) Not Working on Windows

The System File Checker (SFC) is not functioning to fix corrupted files on Windows 10, assistance needed!

"Hello, how many of you have encountered the issue where the System File Checker suddenly stops functioning while attempting to repair corrupted files on a Windows PC? I'm facing a problem where my E: drive becomes inaccessible. I suspected that there might be corrupted files or bad sectors on the drive. Consequently, I attempted to run the SFC command line with the sfc / scannow command to repair the corrupted files and restore the drive's functionality. However, the SFC tool refused to run on my Windows 10 computer. Is there an alternative method that can assist me in resolving this issue even when the SFC is not working? How can I do that?"

According to Microsoft Windows Support, SFC, also known as System File Checker, is a utility in Windows that enables users to scan for and repair corruption in Windows system files, as well as restore damaged files.

However, occasionally, Windows users might encounter difficulties running the sfc /scannow command line to fix corrupted files on their Windows 10/8/7 PCs due to certain issues. So, how can you promptly restore corrupted system files and get SFC functioning again? Simply follow the steps below to resolve this problem on your own: 1. **Boot in Safe Mode**: - Restart your computer and press F8 repeatedly during startup to access the Advanced Boot Options menu. - Select "Safe Mode with Networking" and proceed. 2. **Run System File Checker (SFC) in Safe Mode**: - Once in Safe Mode, open the Command Prompt as an administrator. - Click the Start button, type "cmd," right-click on "Command Prompt," and choose "Run as administrator." - In the Command Prompt, type `sfc /scannow` and press Enter. - Wait for the process to complete. It may take some time. 3. **Perform a DISM scan**: - After the SFC scan, run the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool to repair the Windows image. - Type `DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth` and hit Enter. - This process may also take some time as it connects to Windows Update to download necessary components. 4. **Reboot and run SFC again**: - Restart your computer normally and open the Command Prompt as an administrator. - Run the `sfc /scannow` command once more to verify if the repairs were successful. 5. **Check for updates**: - Ensure that your Windows is up to date, as updates often contain crucial bug fixes and improvements. - Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and click "Check for updates." 6. **If the issue persists**: - Try performing a System Restore to a point before the corruption occurred. - As a last resort, consider a clean installation of Windows. By following these steps, you should be able to fix corrupted system files and get the SFC utility working again on your Windows 10/8/7 PC.

Further Reading: SFC SCANNOW Stuck

Part 1. Check and View 'SFC Won't Run' Error Details

Before proceeding with fixing the SFC (System File Checker) not working error on your computer, we strongly advise following these tips to examine and gather more information about the issue:

1. Press Win + X to open the Power User menu and choose Command Prompt. 2. Type: sfc /scannow and press Enter.

3. Wait for the process to finish, and if you encounter the messages below, take appropriate actions based on the respective issues:

• Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations: This indicates that no system files are missing or corrupted. No action is required.
• Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation: This suggests that there is an issue while running the scan or the offline scan command. You may consider using a SFC alternative tool for assistance.
• Windows Resource Protection found corrupted files and successfully repaired them. Details are included in ...: This means that the SFC command lines functioned properly and corrected the corrupted files. No further action is needed.
• Windows Resource Protection found corrupted files but was unable to fix some of them: This implies that the sfc / scannow command detected corrupted files but was unable to repair them.

Translation: "SFC is not working error."

Thus, you need to find an alternative tool or method to fix the corrupted files on your Windows PC. The method in Part 2 can be of assistance.

Part 2: Repair Corrupted Files with an SFC Alternative Tool on a Windows PC

When the System File Checker (SFC) fails to function properly, your initial step should be to seek an alternative tool or program capable of identifying and repairing corrupted files on your Windows PC. We recommend trying out tools Partition Master, which can comprehensively scan, locate, and fix corrupted system files on Windows 10/8/7 with just three straightforward steps:

After this, you will be able to use saved data on the hard drive partition and even save new data on the drive.

Part 3. Resolve the "SFC (System File Checker) is Not Working" Error on Windows 10/8/7

So how can you get the SFC working again on your Windows 10/8/7 computers? Below, you'll find several recommended methods that will assist you in manually repairing and fixing a non-functional System File Checker on Windows 10:

Method 1: Utilize the DISM command to address the issue where sfc /scannow fails to run

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog, then type: cmd to launch the Command Prompt.
2. If prompted, log in with your administrator account and password.
3. Type: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter.
4. Restart your PC to apply the changes and fix the SFC issue.

Method 2: Manually repair a corrupted system file and restore SFC functionality

1. Press Win + I to open the Settings window and click on Update & Security.
2. Click on Recovery, then choose Restart now under Advanced startup.

3. Click Troubleshoot > Advanced Options, and then select Command Prompt.

4. Upon reboot, enter your Administrator account and password, then type: wmic logicaldisk get deviceid, volumename, description and press Enter. 5. Type: sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=D:\Windows and press Enter to proceed.

By taking this step, Windows will fix the corrupted system files offline on your computer. 6. Once the scanning and repair process is finished, close the Command Prompt. 7. Click on Continue to exit and return to your Windows 10. After this, you should be able to use the SFC utility again to check and repair corrupted files on your computer.