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Can't run the sfc /scannow command in Win 7

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frank14612:
I have Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. I haven't been able to run sfc /scannow for about 6 months now, though I've tried many, many times. I always use the elevated command prompt.

Here is the message I always get:

"Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>sfc /scannow

Windows Resource Protection could not start the repair service.

C:\Windows\system32>"

That's it, no other helpful words.

I've googled all over and tried all the remedies proposed by various Microsoft MVPs and other qualified helpers on other forums, but nothing has yet enabled me to run the system file checker.

I've also run all the fixes in the Tweaking.com Windows Repair Custom Mode folder, but nothing changes.

I'd like to avoid doing an "in-place" system re-install. I just discovered this forum and thought I'd try once again.

Can anyone help? Thanks.   :smiley:

Frank D

chris635:
I recently had this problem on my laptop (go ahead and laugh Shane :tongue:). It was a bad hard drive. Try checking the disk for bad sectors. Lets just hope I'm wrong (as usual).


Chris

frank14612:
Thanks for your reply, Chris.

I've been running the built-in HP-sponsored PC Doctor (hardware diagnostics, at http://www.pc-doctor.com/) frequently, and chkdsk when indicated, and there have been no reports of any problems with my C: drive.

I find it disappointing that the very item that Microsoft includes in its operating system (sfc) to prevent the OS from accumulating defects is itself defective, and there's no error message or system-generated advice as to what's wrong or how to fix it. It's like a black hole, as if your car's engine develops a knock and your mechanic, the dealer and the manufacturer all admit they don't know what the problem is and advise you not to try to get it fixed, but to get a new car (i.e., reinstall your OS).  :sad:

Frank

Shane:
Give this a try :wink:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/139810-sfc-scannow-run-command-prompt-boot.html

and

http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/fix-for-error-windows-resource-protection-could-not-start-the-repair-service-when-running-sfc-in-vista/

Shane

frank14612:
Shane, thanks for the advice.

1) After running the procedure at the first link you posted (using a full install DVD with SP1), I ran the command "sfc /scannow /offbootdir=d:\ /offwindir=d:\windows" at the prompt. However, I got the same message as always: "Windows Resource Protection could not start the repair service." Then I got a message that said (in effect) "we couldn't find any problems with your system drive, would y0u like to restart from a System Restore?", to which I replied, no thanks, and when I rebooted to Windows, everything was back to where it was (i.e., sfc still would not run). But now something new popped up: a dialog box that said:

========================================
Proxy Authentication

Your proxy server requires a username and password.  Contact your network administrator for the correct settings and supply your proxy username and password in the "Connection" section of Settings.

Proxy server: 0.0.0.0:0

Username:

Password:

Retry      Cancel
===================================

I never had or needed a proxy server before, I don't have a username or password for such a thing, and I couldn't get rid of this mindless dialog box, so I did a System Restore to back before I had run the procedure above. Everything after the S.R. is back to normal.

2) Followed the procedure in the second link, but -- as seems to be par for this course -- sfc still did/does not work.

I will just give up on sfc for now and wait for something to happen that definitely requires an in-place reinstall of Windows.

Thank you for your help!  :smiley:

Frank D

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