How do you use SFC as a part of your virus removal procedures?

[Vicenarian]

How to you use SFC (/scannow) as part of your virus removal procedures? I'm just curious.

(From my understanding, the tool checks system files and verifies their integrity. If a system file is found to be modified it replaces it)


Correct me if this is wrong, but I think it would fit this way:

Do virus removal
Apply specific registry fixes for specific problems
Run SFC to make sure system files are uncorrupted

 

[xxsilk109xx]

i do only if something doesnt seem to be working correctly

more importantly than an sfc scan is to run a chkdsk afterwards to clear any issues up.

 

[vdub12]

I honestly don't like sfc because if you don't have a windows disk of the exact version that you are running then it does not matter what it finds because you can't replace the files anyway.

 

[trapped]

I like running it from ERD Commander. It runs much quicker and has been effective for me.

 

[reesk92]

SFC? as in southern fried chicken i imagine youd eat it tbh unless you offer it to the angry dog eying you from the doorway

 

[MobileTechie]

If you have an infection which has infected a driver file or similar then SFC can find and replace that file.

This is obviously useful. I've had it where a virus has replaced atapi.sys and the system won't boot. An offline SFC found and replaced the file thus neutralising the virus and allowing boot.

 

[Vicenarian]

great, thanks for your input everyone! This is the kind of stuff they don't teach you when studying for A+ certification. Thanks again.

 

[NYJimbo]

I only use SFC if I think the important windows file system is corrupt.

Even with 1,000+ "detections" on scans of a machine doesn't mean the critical windows files system has been damaged.

 

[red12049]

great, thanks for your input everyone! This is the kind of stuff they don't teach you when studying for A+ certification. Thanks again.

I've never taken the A+. But...if that teaches you what SFC does, then with some critical thinking....


Rick