Why Can't Run SFC

WinCrazy's XP Help & Info

Why You May Not Be Able To Run SFC or Do a Repair Install

To either run SFC or do a Repair Install you must have an "XP CD" otherwise known as an "XP Installation CD" or “XP OEM CD” which is not a "Recovery CD". A PC manufacturer’s will supply a “Recovery CD” much more often than a XP Installation CD.

You are even more likely not to been given any CDs at all. In this case either the BIOS is used to rewrite XP or you can run a special pre-installed Windows program to allow you to burn a set of Recovery CDs yourself. If you only have the option to burn a set of Recovery CDs then do this immediately after purchasing your PC and store them in a safe place. If the XP OS or the hard drive becomes damaged you will then no longer have the ability to burn these CDs and you could be really hosed ! You may or may not be able to contact the manufacturer and purchase a set of Recovery CDs.

A Repair Install using an XP Installation CD will preserve all your files, customizations, program settings and programs you have made since the computer was new.

A Recovery will wipe out all programs, files and settings that you added to your PC since the time you first got it. You should back up your important files and program installer files before you do a Recovery.

What You Have Available	What You Can Do	What Will Be the Result	Other Effects
“XP CD” aka “XP Installation CD” aka “XP OEM CD”	Full Install	Can create, delete partitions and format partitions. Can select partition in which to install XP (same one or new). When reinstalling XP to the same partition, this will wipe out all settings and programs that have been added since the last install. Can install another copy of XP to a different partition and will automatically create a dual-boot startup menu.	Eliminates all viruses and other malware if you overwrite the original XP partition. Will have to reinstall XP updates (hotfixes aka “critical updates”) Will have to reregister XP.
	Repair Install	Repairs many operating system problems. Recopies XP OS files to the system. Loads basic drivers for any changed hardware devices it finds. Runs Scandisk on the partition that holds OS file system, making repairs if necessary. Reinstalls and repairs OS-related Registry settings and omissions. Does not modify any application programs or their Registry settings other than Internet Explorer. Does not remove or modify any application programs, user settings or user accounts. You will need to run Windows Update to install the XP hotfixes again.	Does not correct any problems due to a corrupt application. May not remove viruses or malware. Will have to reregister XP.
	Run Repair Console: Run chkdsk Run SFC Run Scandisk Rewrite the MBR Rewrite boot.ini	SFC replaces corrupted or missing XP OS files with those from the Installation CD. Will have to run Windows Update to install the XP hotfixes again.	You can copy, delete files in C:\ and anywhere in or under C:\WINDOWS. Can delete otherwise hard-to-delete virus and malware files.
BIOS-Driven Recovery (which uses a hidden partition on your hard drive)	Drive Erase and then XP Recovery	Deletes all partitions other than the hidden partition, recreates a single partition that will hold XP, reformats the partition and then installs XP into it. Always wipes out programs and settings that have been added. Returns the PC to the original condition that it was in when it was first bought.	Eliminates all viruses and all other malware. Will have to reinstall XP updates (hotfixes aka “critical updates”) Probably will not have to reregister XP. Reinstalls all “bloatware” programs originally supplied by the PC manufacturer.
Windows Program to Burn Recovery CDs	Drive Erase and then XP Rewrite	Wipes out all partitions, recreates a single partition that will hold XP, reformats the partition and then installs XP into it. Always wipes out programs and settings that have been added. Returns the PC to the original condition that it was in when it was first bought.	Eliminates all viruses and all other malware. Will have to reinstall XP updates (hotfixes aka “critical updates”). By recovering you will probably not have to reregister XP. Reinstalls all “bloatware” programs originally supplied by the PC manufacturer.
Recovery CD(s) that were supplied with the new PC	Drive Erase and then XP Rewrite	Wipes out all partitions, recreates a single partition that will hold XP, reformats the partition and then installs XP into it. Always wipes out programs and settings that have been added. Returns the PC to the original condition that it was in when it was first bought.	Eliminates all viruses and all other malware. Will have to reinstall XP updates (hotfixes aka “critical updates”). Probably will not have to reregister XP. Reinstalls all “bloatware” programs originally supplied by the PC manufacturer.

Using the CD-based Recovery or Installation operations you must make sure that the BIOS is configured to try to boot from the master optical drive before it tries to boot from the hard drive. This is typically found in the BIOS under a heading such as Boot device order. Be sure to choose Save settings and reboot when exiting the BIOS setup program. Make sure the first CD of a CD set is loaded into the optical drive just before you save and reboot. The recovery or install program on the CD will automatically load and start running when the PC restarts.