Resolved Further problems trying to run sfc /scannow

I have used this command several times, following the instructions on Marc Liron's site at http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

I came to do it again this evening and discovered that there isn't an entry for either SourcePath or ServicePackSourcePath at
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup

nor is there an entry for SourcePath at
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\

Since I last used sfc I have repartitioned and performed a full reinstallation of XP Home and I install all critical updates.

Why don't these entries appear in the registry? and how can I reinstate them?

 

You didn't say what kind of problem or error message you get when attempting to run SFC /scannow. More details of how you reinstalled the system and updates would also help. I can't explain why they're not there but you can create them if you wish.

Anyway, I usually find the three salient ones are:

ServicePackCachePath, ServicePackSourcePath, and SourcePath.

They are all String Values. If you are comfortable doing the job, open a Regedit session and go to the key named HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup and right-click in the open field on the right hand pane. Select New > String Value. Give it one of the names above. Repeat the process to create a String Value for each of the three items.

Now you must open each newly created String Value and enter the necessary Value Data as below:

For the ServicePackCachePath value data enter: C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles\ServicePackCache

For the ServicePackSourcePath enter:
C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles

For the SourcePath enter the drive that you will use to supply the I386 folder. That can be the Cd-ROM drive if you want to always be ready to put the Windows setup CD in when running SFC. Otherwise you can copy the I386 folder from your setup CD onto any drive of your choosing and enter that letter as the SourcePath Value Data. The important point to remember for this value data is, do not enter anything but the drive letter and a colon followed by a backslash. DO NOT enter the I386 folder as part of the data. To summarize, the value data for this string will simply be D:\ or F:\ or Z:\ depending on how you want to operate. I have my I386 folder on my Z:\ drive since it's a 640Gig. usb with lots of room. I run SFC without having to ever be bothered to supply a setup CD.

Edit: BTW, You should verify that the first two string value paths that I gave are actually in existence in your Windows Directory. The point is, if you installed the system clean and used a setup CD that had SP3 on it, the C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles directory will not exist. In that case, all three of the String Values will need to have a value data that equals the CD-ROM drive letter that was used for the install. That is true even if the setup CD was created by slipstreaming the SP's into it.

That opens up an interesting possibility for freeing up space on a cramped system that is getting drive space warnings - you could slipstream the latest SP onto a setup CD and then proceed to edit the registry, pointing all value data to the CD-Rom drive and then delete the C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles folder to free up 500 Gig ± of drive space. You would always be required to insert the CD when running SFC but you would be free of carrying the files on your hard drive. That might help someone with a small hard drive to keep operating when things get too crowded.

 

The damned system says I need to add 5 more characters because my post was too short ...... there, that should do it.

 

I mean that the string value data for the ServicePackCachePath and ServicePackSourcePath will both be the same value as the Source. hence, all three String Values will have the same value data entry. Makes sense since they all came from the same place, your setup CD that contained the SP3 info.

However, if you have copied the I386 folder from the setup CD and it contained SP3, you can set all the value datas to the drive where your I386 folder resides. That way you won't have to supply the CD when running SFC.

 

Thanks for your help. I've got it sorted out now.

 

Great! Did you end up having to create the String Values and was the value data for each C:\ or did you put the I386 folder elsewhere?

 

Yes, and I copied the I386 folder to the C drive.

 

Good deal. I'm sorry I can't explain why those Value Strings were missing in the first place but all's well that ends well.

You can mark this thread Resolved if you are satisfied with the results.