sfc /scannow Q

Been meaning to ask for a while now.

Friend gave me his laptop as it wouldn't load windows desktop, only had desktop pic and cursor, managed to get around this by typing 'explorer' in task manager and then the desktop would load as normal. So the plan was to download some anti spy/virus ware and see what happened then. But I couldn't connect to the net, the wireless network connection was missing and it was defiantly a wireless lappy. So I thought i'd try sfc /scannow to see what happened. It went through its scan and then closed, I thought the whole idea of scf /scannow was to replace missing files but as it didn't ask me for the cd I couldn't do that. Ended up formatting and reinstalling windows as I got fed up. lol.

So question is why didn't sfc ask for the disk if files where missing?

 

Because there were no files missing or the file in question is not a "critical system file"

SFC actually checks for changed files--when a program installs and older version of a file, the idea is it will restore the incorrect version (assuming system file protection service does not do this itself). I suppose it would also replace a missing file, but if a file that SFC checks for is missing, it's actually rare the computer would start. SFC does not check all files, just a very small subset of critical files.

If it was indeed a missing file it was not a critical Windows file, but some sort of non-Microsoft Windows file that was tied into Windows or a start up program that needed to load before explorer.

It is more likely it was a setting in the registry or elsewhere that was incorrect or corrupt.

The fact you could not connect to the net would seem to indicate an infection of some sort, quote possibly one that was tied into the ip stack. Since networking is such an integrated part of windows, that might explain explorer not loading.

Of course, this is just an eduicated guess...since you reinstalled, it's impossible to check

 

Thanks for that I thought sfc check all files, my bad.

Yeah I put the file missing down to a some nasty, I did do anti ware scans in safe mode and removed what was found, I still couldn't connect to the net and I have no idea about the registry so left well alone.

 

Quite a few malwares insert themselves into the IP stack and when you remove the malware file, you need to remove the corresponding setting that loads it into the ip stack---otherwise, your network connection fails. Think of it this way.

In order to get to point C from point A, you need to travel through point B. If point B ceases to exist, you can no longer reach point C. Think of it like a bridge being out.

 

Well that sounds like a right headache especially as I don't know how to fix it, so I'm just glad there wasn't much installed on the laptop and I was able to copy it back on after the re installation.

So unless you know what settings to check there isn't much you can do?

What about a windows repair at boot up didn't try that not sure if that would have helped?