How to use system file checker in windows xp

System File Checker is a utility in Windows that checks for problems with files on your computer. To run it, follow these steps:. Make sure you've installed the latest updates for Windows, and then restart your machine. To find out more, read Update Windows. In the search box on the taskbar, type Command Prompt , and right-click or press and hold Command Prompt Desktop app from the list of results.

Select Run as administrator , and then select Yes. Type DISM. Note: This step may take a few minutes to start and up to 30 minutes to complete. More info about System File Checker. Windows 11 Windows 10 More Because a many common computer problems can be solved by running it; but very few people ever use it. To be honest, we forget about it too. It just so happens that this week we had a problem with one of our computers, and we happened to remember SFC and used it to repair some system files that had been replaced when we were trying an experiment.

Yes, we do things like that sometimes…. The System File Checker is used to scan for missing, altered or corrupted system files and to extract the original correct file and replace or repair damaged files. It requires users to run it from DOS-like window and to enter commands and use switches.

There are only slight differences in these instructions for different versions of Windows. In Windows XP you can run this without opening the Command window with administrator rights, while Vista and Windows 7 users will need to open the Command window as an administrator. This must have occurred to them after Windows XP came out.

Plan on at least 45 minutes to run System File Checker. It may not take it that long, but plan on at least 45 minutes just in case. In the Run command line type CMD and press enter. To boot into Safe Mode, follow these steps:. To get the full instructions on how to boot into Safe Mode, read our guide on Safe Mode with instructions for each Windows version:.

To run chkdsk related guide: chkdsk , follow these steps:. Where c: is where your Windows is installed. Press Enter. Read more at Windows Recovery Disks. The NeoSmart Support Forums , member-to-member technical support and troubleshooting.

Applicable Systems This Windows-related knowledgebase article applies to the following operating systems:. Download Easy Recovery Essentials.