Summary: Windows users use the System File Checker (SFC) to scan and repair corrupted files. But sometimes, when they tried to execute the SFC/scannow command, they found that the system file checker SFC stopped working. Is there any effective method to fix SFC San not working in Windows 10? This article will share the plans with you.
SFC is shorted for System File Checker, a system utility that helps users scan and restore any files on the Windows file system. However, some Windows users reported that they could not execute sfc /scannow command when trying to repair corrupted archives on Windows PC. However, the reasons for SFC Sannow not working are various, such as:
- Not access command Prompt or Windows Powershell as administrators.
- Shut down the computer improperly.
- The Windows Module Installer on the computer is not enabled.
- There is might major hardware-related issues on your PC.
Although the SFC Sannow not working issue is common in Windows, we recommend you first use professional data recovery software to rescue unviewable files to prevent permanent data loss.
Recover Data with Data Recovery Software
We recommend using Bitwar Data Recovery Software to restore the corrupted or lost data from your computer because it provides a 100% clean scan result and an efficient tool to retrieve different file types from internal or external storage devices.
Follow the guided tutorial below to recover corrupted data on your computer quickly:
- Go to Bitwarsoft Download Center, find and install Bitwar Data Recovery on the computer.
- Select the driver you want to recover from the Disk Partitions and Devices list.
- Choose the Quick Scan mode. You can choose the Deep Scan mode if the deleted data can’t be found. It performs an in-depth search to look for data in every corner of your computer. After that, click on the Next button.
- Choose your target file type, and click Scan.
- Choose, preview the scanned files you need, then click Recover and save the files into different devices or partitions.
NOTE: Remember to save all the files you want to recover to a different file location to prevent data from being overwritten!
Methods to Fix SFC Not Working Error in Windows 10
Method 1: Run DISM Command
- Press Win + S to open the Search window, type in CMD, and then run the command prompt as administrator.
- Type in the command: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, and hit Enter.
- After completing the process, reboot your PC to keep all the changes.
Method 2: Run the CHKDSK scan
Sometimes the data on your hard drive can get corrupted, causing the SFC scan to get stuck. However, you can fix the problem by running a CHKDSK scan.
- Press Win + S to open the Search window, type in CMD, and then run the command prompt as administrator.
- When Command Prompt starts, enter the command: chkdsk /f C: and press Enter.
- When you are asked to schedule a scan and restart your PC, enter Y and press Enter.
Method 3: Update & Security
- Press Win + I to open the Windows Settings and choose Update & Security.
- Choose Recovery and select Restart now from Advanced start-up.
- Then choose to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt.
- In the command prompt window, type in: wmic logicaldisk, get deviceid, volumename, description, and hit Enter.
- Continue with the following command: sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=D:\Windows and hit Enter.
After completing the above command, your Windows will repair the corrupted file system offline and check whether you can use the SFC to check for the corrupted files again on Windows.
Conclusion
Whenever you are faced with the SFC San not working in Windows, you need to recover your critical data first with Bitwar Data Recovery Software and follow the methods mentioned to overcome it as soon as possible to prevent any further data loss on your computer!
