In: Root » Computers and technology » Windows Vista » Windows Vista: Checking Files with System File Checker
Understanding Windows File Protection Windows includes a feature called Windows File Protection that limits the damage you or programs can cause to Windows system files, such as dynamic-link libraries DLLs and executable files. You probably won’t decide to delete system files, but poorly written programs, wayward installation routines, or malware sometimes overwrite system files with unauthorized versions of files that have the same name. Windows File Protection uses digital signatures and catalog files produced by code signing to check that the files are authorized versions. You may remember from Article 13 that Windows is very reluctant to let you install a driver that doesn’t have the appropriate digital signature. Windows File Protection extends this protection to all key system files, including all SYS, DLL, EXE, TTF TrueType font, FON font, and OCX ActiveX component files. If you delete a protected file, or if a program overwrites or replaces a protected file, Windows File Protection restores the file from its own cache or from the distribution media for the software as soon as it notices the file is missing. Windows then displays an alert message box to an administrator notifying them that the file has been replaced. There are no interface settings for Windows File Protection: It’s on all the time. Checking Files with System File CheckerIf you suspect that there may be a problem with your files, you can run the System File Checker tool to scan your protected system files and verify their versions. If System File Checker finds a protected file has been damaged or overwritten, it replaces it with the correct file from its cache. You may need to provide your Windows DVD if System File Checker needs files that aren’t held in the cache. To run System File Checker, follow these steps: 1. Choose Start All Programs Accessories. Windows displays the Accessories folder on the Start menu. 2. Right-click the Command Prompt, choose Run As Administrator from the context menu, and then authenticate yourself to User Account Control. If you’re logged in as a Standard user or the Guest user, you’ll need to provide an Administrator password. Windows displays an Administrator: Command Prompt window. 3. Type the sfc command with the appropriate options using the following syntax sfc [/scannow] [/verifyonly] [/scanfile=<file>] [/verifyfile=<file>] [/ offwindir=<offline Windows directory>] [/offbootdir=<offline boot directory>] These are the parameters: Parameter Makes System File Checker/scannow Scan all protected system files immediately and repair any problem files. /verifyonly Scan all protected system files but not repair any problem files. Parameter Makes System File Checker /scanfile Scan the file specified and repair it if there’s a problem. /verifyfile Scan the specified file but not repair any problem in it. /offwindir Use the specified offline Windows directory. /offbootdir Use the specified offline boot directory. Checking System Files and Drivers with File Signature Verification Windows includes a tool called File Signature Verification for checking that critical files on your computer include the appropriate digital signatures. You can run File Signature Verification by choosing Start Run, typing sigverif in the Open text box, and clicking the OK button. You can click the Advanced File Signature Verification Settings dialog box, which lets you specify exactly what to search for, where to search, and how and where to log the results. When File Signature Verification has finished running, it displays a message box such as the one shown here to let you know what it found. |
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