A rchive Date
[ 21-12-2001 ]
Category
[ Information Technologies ]
sub-Categoy
[ Microsoft ]
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[http://searchwin2000.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid1_gci786665,00.html
System File Checker
In the newer versions of Microsoft's Windows platforms, there is a feature called System File Checker, or SFC. It is a simple command line tool that checks the versions of all your system files after you restart your PC. The syntax is simple, and because it uses a command line interface, it makes it very easy for system administrators to check all the desktops they're responsible for.
The syntax is:
sfc [/scannow] [/scanonce] [/scanboot] [/cancel] [/quiet] [/enable] [/purgecache] [/cachesize=x]
So to check your system right now, you'd type:
sfc /scannow
And to check your system every time you boot, you'd type:
sfc /scanboot
Also, know that if you run sfc and it finds a discrepancy, it will prompt the user to replace the file. This tends to freak users out and generate panicky calls to helpdesks. So consider using the /quiet parameter to have sfc automatically replace files without asking.
WARNING:
Like many system utilities, sfc is something of a resource hog and has been known to make some systems unstable. Even on some of our test systems with dual 800 Mhz processors and 1 GB of RAM, sfc took over 10 minutes to complete. So make sure you back up your systems before you try it, and test it on some of your desktops before you include it in automated login scripts.
Moreover, the command replaces damaged system files by getting the appropriate file from the %SystemRoot%System32Dllcache folder.
Make sure you have access to that folder before running the utility.
Thomas Alexander Lancaster IV is a consultant and author with over ten years experience in the networking industry, focused on Internet infrastructure]
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