Topic awaiting preservation: System File Checker--WIN 2K (Page 1 of 1)

When I try to run the sfc from the Run dialog, the sfc interface flashes on the screen almost long enough to identify it (maybe .25 sec), then disappears.
Any ideas on why it won`t run ?

2.26 Ghz P4
1 GB RAM
Win 2K Pro, SP2

Run it from the command line: cmd from the Run dialog.

Running just sfc from the command prompt will give you all the switches needed to run the utility.

The poster has demanded we remove all his contributions, less he takes legal action.
We have done so.
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Don't follow his example - seek real life help first.

silence:
ok, when I run it from the command line, the dialog opens, but an alert comes up that asks for the Service Pack 2 CD, "Files that are required for Windows to run properly must be copied to the DLL cache". SP2 was installed with the operating system, so no service pack 2 CD exists. Although the name of the OS install CD is " W2KSP2", it doesn`t find what it is looking for there.
And a re-install did not help.

ini :
I don`t understand "with your Windows XP cd by you"...

Thanks for the help.

The poster has demanded we remove all his contributions, less he takes legal action.
We have done so.
Now Tyberius Prime expects him to start complaining that we removed his 'free speech' since this message will replace all of his posts, past and future.
Don't follow his example - seek real life help first.

DB was making a joke InI my friend...he's doing this on Windows 2000, as he said in the thread title.

The poster has demanded we remove all his contributions, less he takes legal action.
We have done so.
Now Tyberius Prime expects him to start complaining that we removed his 'free speech' since this message will replace all of his posts, past and future.
Don't follow his example - seek real life help first.

Good luck with Monday...
I just love deadlines. Especially that whooshing sound they make as they rush by..
Also, with the install CD in the drive, it still asks for files it can`t find, but doesn`t specify any filenames.

That's odd.

The fact that it is actually requesting files could be significant of the fact that their are problems, but I'm not sure why it is having problems finding the CD.

Is it the CD from which 2K was installed?

Are you able to navigate SFC to the CD? I can't remember the last time I used SFC, but I've a feeling that it doesn't give you this option.

Try:

sfc /purgecache /scannow

...on the command line.

Can you tell us why you are trying to use the system file checker?

Oh yeah - there is just a possibility that it'll list the files it has attempted to replace under the event logs - I think. I'm probably wrong, but it's worth checking.

White Hawk:
Yes, it is the CD that installed the OS.
I didn`t try to point it at the CD. However it did spin the drive up, as if it were looking. I`ll try again and see if the "Insert CD" dialog has a browse button.
~time warp~
No, it doesn`t have a browse button. Your command line suggestion brings the same results.
Didn`t see anything in the event logs that meant anything to me.

The computer has been displaying some "personality" lately, (just those annoying little quirks that usually lead to a corrupt or missing system file), and I used to run sfc as part of the maintenence routine, and haven`t done it for a long time. Although I have run the Repair utility, and re-installed in recent months.

docilebob: Have you tried to run sfc at boot time? I'm almost afraid to suggest this, because the problems you're having may cause it to hang and not allow the system to boot.

Another option would be to make a boot diskette (unfortunatley in W2K this requires 4 floppies) and try to run sfc from there.

-- not necessarily stoned... just beautiful.

Hey DB, sorry it took a while to get back to you.

Here's an MS knowledge base article that might help. It describes symptoms similar to yours and might be what you're looking for.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=http://support.microsoft.com:80/support/kb/articles/263/4/99.asp&NoWebContent=1

If you need help implementing the suggested resolution, let me know thru email if you want a quick response.

Excellent piece of research, silence. Thanks a lot.
However, when I got to the "Disable CD ROM" dialog, it was already disabled, as per instructions.
A re-boot and attempt at sfc, results are the same.

Is this weird, or do electrons just hate me ?
;-)

Okay, we'll try a different tack.

Here's what happens when you run sfc.

1. It checks the dllcache directory to see if it's corrupt and that it has the backup versions of all necessary system files. (location: c:\winnt\system32\dllcache)

2. It may attempt to repopulate the contents of the dllcache folder if it is corrupted or files are missing.

3. In repopulating the dllcache folder, it looks for the installation files in order to copy them over, specifically the I386 directory on the install CD.

I believe your problem happens during step 3.

First thing you can do is to check the install CD you have and make sure it has the I386 directory. If it doesn't have this directory, you may be in trouble. If this is the case, read the "Looking for the backup files" section below.

If it does have the directory, you can try an alternate method of using the directory. WARNING: This method involves editing the registry and I take NO RESPONSIBILITY for what may happen.

Editing Source Path in Registry:
Always back up the registry first.

The source path is located in the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup

It is a string value and will probably contain the drive letter of your CD-ROM.

What we are going to do is copy the I386 directory to your main drive so that you now have c:\I386
Once you have done this, change the SourcePath value to "C:\", without the quotes.

Now, run sfc again and see if it works.

If it doesn't, change the SourcePath value back to the original value (most likely "D:") and we'll search for other solutions.


*Looking for the backup files*
If you do not have an I386 directory on your CD, you can attempt to find the backup versions of these files. Do a complete search for "sfc.ex_" without the quotes on the CD-ROM. If you find a directory that contains this file, copy that entire directory to your root drive (c:\) and rename it to I386.

Afterwards, change the registry setting for SourcePath as noted above and run sfc.

However, there is no gaurantee that this will work.

Outstanding, silence. You should do this for a living.
I followed the directions above, still asked for the SP2 CD.
Removed the new file from the C drive, restored the registry to the original and tried to run it again, just for the hell of it. It "verified that all Windows files are intact and in their original versions" and closed.
Sometimes, I just don`t get it. ANYway, it seems to be ok.
It`s not the dialog I remember, but there`s a lot I don`t remember...

Just for the record, the second method works, also.

Thanks a million for all your effort, silence, et al.

Soothed by the sounds of Silence....

==I don't believe it! Somebody stole my sig!!==

Glad we got you sorted out.

At work I do it for mindless company drones, but at least here I'm doing it for my friends.