How to run SFC (System File Checker) Offline?

System File Checker (SFC) is one of the most useful tools on Windows operating system. This tool allows you to check and repair corrupted system files. To run the SFC tool on Windows, open the Command Prompt window under Admin, then enter the following command into:

sfc / scannow

The SFC command can run in Windows environment in Normal mode or Safe Mode. But in some cases you need to run the SFC command in Offline mode if Windows cannot start in normal mode or Safe Mode. In this case you can boot the system from the Windows Installation Media (DVD or USB) and run the SFC Offline command.

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In the article below, Network Administrator will show you how to use the System File Checker (SFC) to scan and repair system files in case Windows cannot start.

Run the SFC / SCANNOW command if the Windows system does not start (Offline)

Request:

To run sfc / scannow on a Windows system that does not boot, you need to boot the system from the Windows Installation Media (USB or DVD), depending on the operating system version and version (64 or 32 bit) you are use.

Without Windows Installation Media, you can create a Windows Installation Media directly from Microsoft.

1. Start the computer from the Windows Installation Media.

2. On the Language options screen, click Next .

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3. Next select Repair your computer .

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4. Select Troubleshoo t => Advanced Options => Command Prompt .

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5. On the Command Prompt window, enter the following command and press Enter:

BCDEDIT

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6. Navigate to the Windows installation drive letter.

In the example below, the Windows installation drive is drive D:

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7. On the Command Prompt window, enter the following command to scan and repair system files:

sfc / scannow / offbootdir =: / offwindir =: windows

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Note:

In the above command, replace "" with the Windows installation drive letter name.

For example, in the example below the command will be:

sfc / SCANNOW / OFFBOOTDIR = D: / OFFWINDIR = D: windows

8. The process of SFC command scanning and fixing the corrupted system files will take a while, so you should wait patiently.

Note:

If you receive an error message: " Windows Resource Protection could start the repair service ". Then check and make sure you are using Windows Installation Media in accordance with the version of Windows you are trying to fix.

This means that if you want to repair files from Windows 10 64Bit, then you must boot the system from Windows 10 64bit Installation Media.

9. After the repair process is finished, close the Command Prompt window and restart your computer.

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Refer to some of the following articles:

1. How to fix "An operating system not found" error on Windows 10 and Windows 8.1

1. Use the SFC command to fix Windows 10 file system errors

1. Steps to fix errors: 'Windows Protection Resource cannot start the repair service'

Good luck!