SFC issues

[Zennixx]

I'm not sure which section of the forum this question particularly goes in so I apologize ahead of time if in wrong section.

I'm currently fixing a customer's computer and his DLL files are constantly missing. I re-installed windows as my last option and the files are still missing. When I run an SFC scan, it shows files are missing but I take care of that by placing original Windows XP OS cd. It finishes the scan after with no problems, but soon after I re-scan SFC w/o XP cd and still has missing files.

I checked the harddrive, it passed chkdsk with no errors. . . Now I'm stuck. What could be the issue?

[Broni]

Was it clean installation?

Possibilities:
1. Bad Windows CD

2. Bad hard drive
Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287 (or http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=28744&hl=hard+drive+diagnostic)
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.
For Toshiba hard drives, see here: http://sdd.toshiba.com/main.aspx?Path=ServicesSupport/FujitsuDrivesUSandCanada/SoftwareUtilities#diagnostic

3. Bad RAM
A. If you have more than one RAM module installed, try starting/running computer with one RAM stick at a time.

NOTE Keep in mind, the manual check listed above is always superior to the software check, listed below. DO NOT proceed with memtest, if you can go with option A

B. If you have only one RAM stick installed...
...run memtest...

1. Download - Pre-Compiled Bootable ISO (.zip)
2. Unzip downloaded memtest86+-....iso.zip file.
3. Inside, you'll find memtest86+-....iso file.
4. Download, and install ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/
5. Insert blank CD into your CD drive.
6. Open ImgBurn, and click on Write image file to disc
7. Click on Browse for a file... icon:



8. Locate memtest86+-....iso file, and click Open button.
9. Click on ImgBurn green arrow to start burning bootable memtest86 CD:



10. Once the CD is created, boot from it, and memtest will automatically start to run.

The running program will look something like this depending on the size and number of ram modules installed:




It's recommended to run 5-6 passes. Each pass contains very same 8 tests.

This will show the progress of the test. It can take a while. Be patient, or leave it running overnight.



The following image is the test results area:



The most important item here is the “errors” line. If you see ANY errors, even one, most likely, you have bad RAM.

4. Who knows....

[Zennixx]

I work @ a computer store (in training) so I'm familiar with memtests and diagnostics of hardware and so on.

The windows CD I used has been used before and its worked with other customers. XP was a clean installation. Re-installed windows and updated drives/security. I ran a Hard Drive diagnostic and it passed.

I checked to see if the RAM had anything to do with it. Used one stick at a time and still, DLL files are missing. Currently running memtest to see what could be the issue. Will get back to you on that.

[BC_Programmer]

What are some of the missing files. (Sounds like there are a lot, but give an example of a few).

Do they have something in common? Are they all DLL files, for example, as you note?

Was this a Clean Install from a Windows CD or a "recovery" from, say, a restore partition?

[Computer_Commando]

Sounds more like an issue with SFC.
http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html
Why would you even run SFC?  I don't think I've ever used it before.

[patio]

Cause it works...not for all issues but it's a valuable tool...

[Broni]

Very...