[Rick441]

Last night I tried to use System File Checker (sfc /scannow), for the first time since upgrading to SP3. As usual, it asks me to insert the XP installation CD. I knew it would reject my SP2 CD, but I can't understand why it also rejects the slipstreamed SP3 CD I created, which I have verified is functional for Windows boot and installation.

Fortunately I have my I386 folder on my PC and learned of a registry mod that will point sfc there instead, and have it stop nagging for a CD.

But it makes me uncomfortable that sfc wouldn't accept the slipstreamed SP3 CD, which AFAIK is equivalent to a new full-installation CD for XP-SP3.

Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[Fred Garvin]

If you pointed to the SP3, i386 directory on your hard drive - even better, plus it will work faster. Is the CD you are using for SFC the same cd that was used to install this copy of Windows?

 

[Rick441]

If you pointed to the SP3, i386 directory on your hard drive - even better, plus it will work faster. Is the CD you are using for SFC the same cd that was used to install this copy of Windows?

I actually did end up pointing to the i386 folder after I searched for how to do that via a registry tweak. (I could have sworn that SFC offered a browse-to-folder option, but apparently that recollection was wrong -- it was either "the cd" or nothing, until the registry mod.) That's how I was ultimately able to run SFC.

No this isn't the CD I used to install Windows. I still have that one, but since it's SP2 SFC rejected it (as I expected). The CD I am using is a slipstreamed CD I created, after upgrading to SP3, as a surrogate XP-SP3 installation CD. It sure seems to have everything on it, and when tested it properly boots up the pc into the Windows installation or repair dialog. Shouldn't this have sufficed for SFC when it asked for a CD?

 

[Fred Garvin]

I know I've been through this before, but don't recall exactly what the problem was. It may have to do with the unique product ID for the version of Windows XP installed. If you made the slipstreamed cd from the same disc that was used to install Windows, the slipstreamed cd should work.

 

[Rick441]

I created the SP3 disc using the XP SP2 installation CD that came with my custom-built pc, so it shouldn't be a Product ID issue unless I'm overlooking something...

Thanks for the thoughts, anyway. At least I've got the workaround, and have verified that the slipstreamed disc still works for recovery (this episode had me concerned about that).

Just as a comment: SFC's pickiness is annoying... seems it should just let you just navigate to an I386 folder, even if you have to go through a Windows validation first. Would also be nice if it told you what files it was replacing, and gave you options. Toward the end it even insisted I insert my Windows Media CD -- I didn't even know there *was* such a thing. Glad I lucked onto another solution for the Windows Media portion of the issues I was having...

 

[Fred Garvin]

Ahhhh, Media Center. At the end of the scan you need to either have disc 2 or a path in your registry pointing to the cmpnents directory. If not, SFC will insist you have the wrong disc. If you look in Event Viewer under apps, you'll see any files that are replaced.