Tue Jul-06-10 01:34 PM by alba1314

Hi Folks!

Forgive me, but it has been a brave while since I last posted but I really need some advice on a problem I'm having with running a sfc /scannow procedure on my Windows XP Home Edition (SP2) PC.

Each time I try to run the system file check using my legit OEM Windows XP Home Edition (SP2) disk, I am being told I am using the wrong disk and need to insert Windows XP Professional Edition (SP2) disk instead. I've downloaded Windows XP Pro Edition (SP2) for the purpose of trying to run a system file check, but each attempt to run the sfc /scannow procedure results in the same message to insert the Pro disk... Consequently, I am unable to run a system file check.

Incidentally, I've got PC Tools Spyware Doctor® 2010 for Windows® v7.0.0.545 installed after having purchased the required license for $45 and it tells me that my system is clean and clear, as does ZA Free Edition and AVG. I've also checked my System Properties and it confirms I'm running Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002 Service Pack 2 (See attachment). Can anyone please advise?

I REALLY do not want to have to format and start again and I am wondering if I simply overwrite Windows, if this will restore the sfc /scannow function back to the original Windows XP Home Edition (SP2) state once again? I realise that by doing this, I will have endless updates to install, but this is far more preferable than having to start from scratch again.

Thanx,

alba.

Attachment #1, (jpg file)

In response to Reply # 0
Tue Jul-06-10 04:27 PM by ADZIRK

Humm...Could be It's looking for the I386 folder

See these articles

http://ask-leo.com/i_dont_have_an_installation_cd_for_windows_xp_what_if_i_need_one.html

http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html



HTH



Adzirk

In response to Reply # 1

Two Choices :

1) Put the CD in the drive before you start the exercise.

AutoPlay will start then cancel it with the red X. {i]Then run Scannow.

2) Rewrite the two files it's suppose to be checking:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/897128

LurkHere

In response to Reply # 2
Thu Jul-29-10 07:46 AM by alba1314

Thanks Renovator, the links really helped. I was able to discover that one file had been corrupted in the Windows inf folder and I was able to make the required amendments to it (having backed up the original copy first). However, this was not sufficient for me to be able to run sfc /scannow check. Boy, was it infuriating?!

So much so that I ended up overwriting Windows completely by doing a system repair, but that resulted in me getting stuck on a hung boot-up screen. It was hanging for 20 minutes and just would not boot directly into Windows. With a lot of perseverance, I was able to start Windows using the 'Last known good configuration mode and proceeded to try to get my sfc scan running. But, Sod's Law decreed that, even though the files had been amended in my Windows inf folder, I was still being told that I needed to insert the Windows Service pack 2 disk. Not the Home Edition, or the Professional Edition disk, just the Windows Service Pack 2 disk. This I did, only to be told I had inserted the wrong disk?! Aaargh! More headache and a whole lotta hassle!

So, having used the help you guys gave, I was able to track down a solution via http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html webpage. My first job was to copy my I386 folder from my OEM Windows XP Home Edition disk to my HDD and then had a little work to do with the registry. Making adjustments in the registry, following Marc Liron's instruction, I was able to point sfc process towards my C:\I386 folder and get sfc to run.


Here's what I found that I had to do:

Back up the Fp40ext.inf and Ims.inf files
1. In Windows Explorer, click Folder options on the Tools menu.
2. Click the View tab.
3. Under Hidden files and folders, click Show all files and folders.
4. Open the C:\Windows\Inf folder.
5. Click the Fp40ext.inf file, click Edit, and then click Copy.
6. On the Edit menu, click Paste. This creates a copy of the Fp40ext.inf file that is named Copy of Fp40ext.inf.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for the Ims.inf file.

Then:

Modify the Fp40ext.inf and Ims.inf files
1. Open the Fp40ext.inf file in Notepad. The Fp40ext.inf file is located in the C:\Windows\inf folder.
2. Locate the line that contains the following text:

3. Locate each line that contains the word "Professional."
4. Delete each instance of "Professional" and replace each instance with "Home."
5. Save and close the Fp40ext.inf file.
6. Open the Ims.inf file in Notepad. The Ims.inf file is located in the C:\Windows\inf folder.
7. Locate the line that contains the following text:

8. Locate each line that contains the word "Professional."
9. Delete each instance of "Professional" and replace each instance with "Home."
10.Save and close the Ims.inf file.
11. Quit Notepad.

It seems that the corrupted file was just a singular corruption to two lines of the Fp40ext.inf file, and it needed the word "Professional" replaced with "Home." I discovered this amendment was required after after I had installed Windows Vista Toolbar for XP. This changed the wording in just the two lines of the section of of the Fp40ext.inf file. BTW - I noticed that when I updated my system with Win XPSP3 and checked the Fp40ext.inf file again, I had to amend it from SP_CD_NAME = "Windows XP Home Service Pack 3 CD" back to SP_CD_NAME = "Windows XP Home Service Pack 2 CD" in order to run sfc /scannow check from my original OEM Win XPSP2 installation disk.

Hope my predicament helps others who may run into this same problem and grateful thanks to Renovator and Adzirk for their help in pointing me in the right direction to getting the problem resolved.

Thanx,

alba.

In response to Reply # 3

Nicely Done.

_____

It's great to hear from someone that actually did the editing. It'll really help those that get caught with this fairly regular headache.

_____

And thanx for taking the time to do the long update.

I realize our forum snag, from last week or so, messed with your timing.

LurkHere

In response to Reply # 4

Not a problem, Ren. The downtime gave me the chance to do a few things aside from my main problem and that included me formatting my hard-drive as it had become so cluttered up with junk and needed a real good clean up. So everything was started again from scratch and that's how I discovered the change that needed to be made to the SP_CD_NAME = "Windows XP Home Service Pack 3 CD" back to SP_CD_NAME = "Windows XP Home Service Pack 2 CD" amendment.

We all, ultimately learn by trial and error, as well as having good guidance and it feels good to turn a negative experience such as my own into a positive one (even if it is the most infuriating thing in the world at that precise moment in time!) for someone else who may encounter the same problem in the future.

Thanx,

alba.