Bob,
Unfortunately, sfc is notoriously bad about telling you what it did. Since it asked for the CD, you know some XP file(s) was missing/damaged and a backup copy wasn't available on your HD.
The simplest answer is if the orginal problem is fixed, then sfc found whatever it needed on the CD. If you want to poke around, open XP's Event Viewer and click System in left pane. Look in right pane at date/time you ran sfc for entries that say Windows File Protection. There should be at least 2 of them. Double-click first one. It should say "Windows File Protection file scan was started." Second one should say "Windows File Protection file scan completed successfully." If #2 says anything other than "successfully", you still have problems, or if there are more than 2 Windows File Protection entries, you may have some other problems.
I hope that sfc hadn't tried to reinstall 8000 dlls!
If sfc won't run again, then you may have to do a Repair/Reinstall. You won't lose personal files (always good to back up first), or software you added, but you will have to reinstall all the XP updates and hotfixes.
Not sure I followed all that. When Dell installs XP, they use their own OEM key. If you reinstall XP from the Dell CD, it should verify that it's a Dell PC and then usually installs without asking you to activate the OS. If you do need to activate it with a product key, there should be a sticker with your individual product key on the side of the tower.
If you do a repair/reinstall, you shouldn't need to activate again because the OS is already on the HD, you're just replacing the files. And that's what you want to do, so you don't have to reformat the HD, and then install XP, the drivers, and all the software. Repair/reinstall won't delete your personal files, but a reformat/reinstall deletes everything and you start over with a blank drive.
Old news I'm sure-but just wanted to update on my Dell. It took about a week, but Dell tech came to my home with new HD and replaced bad HD. He even loaded up all my Dell software and made sure it worked whew!
Sure glad I requeted necessary disks as you guys had suggested. thanks again for your imput into my issues.
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
April 14th, 2006 20:00
click start>run
type in: sfc /scannow
(space between sfc and /)
click ok
sfc will replace any missing/damaged XP system files. Insert XP CD if sfc requess it. Reboot when it's done.
Ron
Bob Sampson
32 Posts
0
April 14th, 2006 20:00
Bob Sampson
32 Posts
0
April 14th, 2006 22:00
Ron,
I ran sfc /scannow and when requested inserted CD wanted DLL files-not sure if they where ever found? Was there something that I missed?
Bob
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
April 15th, 2006 00:00
Unfortunately, sfc is notoriously bad about telling you what it did. Since it asked for the CD, you know some XP file(s) was missing/damaged and a backup copy wasn't available on your HD.
The simplest answer is if the orginal problem is fixed, then sfc found whatever it needed on the CD. If you want to poke around, open XP's Event Viewer and click System in left pane. Look in right pane at date/time you ran sfc for entries that say Windows File Protection. There should be at least 2 of them. Double-click first one. It should say "Windows File Protection file scan was started." Second one should say "Windows File Protection file scan completed successfully." If #2 says anything other than "successfully", you still have problems, or if there are more than 2 Windows File Protection entries, you may have some other problems.
Ron
Message Edited by RoHe on 04-14-200606:49 PM
Bob Sampson
32 Posts
0
April 15th, 2006 01:00
Ron,
Checked event log windows file protection last entry successfull, but had numerous entries with looking for DLL's
Bob
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
April 15th, 2006 16:00
If the original problem gone, I be inclined not to worry.
If you do a file search for any of the dll's named in those "looking for dll messages", do you find them on your system? And in what folder?
Ron
Bob Sampson
32 Posts
0
April 15th, 2006 20:00
I found over 8,000 in my C:/ file
I also did sfc /scan now again and my cd not recognized? I wonder if dell sent me wrong one?
As much as I hate to do it i may have to do reinstall again GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
April 16th, 2006 18:00
If sfc won't run again, then you may have to do a Repair/Reinstall. You won't lose personal files (always good to back up first), or software you added, but you will have to reinstall all the XP updates and hotfixes.
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1056993&l=en&langid=1&c=us&cs=19&s=dhs
Ron
Bob Sampson
32 Posts
0
April 17th, 2006 17:00
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
April 17th, 2006 23:00
If you do a repair/reinstall, you shouldn't need to activate again because the OS is already on the HD, you're just replacing the files. And that's what you want to do, so you don't have to reformat the HD, and then install XP, the drivers, and all the software. Repair/reinstall won't delete your personal files, but a reformat/reinstall deletes everything and you start over with a blank drive.
Ron
Bob Sampson
32 Posts
0
September 10th, 2006 17:00
Old news I'm sure-but just wanted to update on my Dell. It took about a week, but Dell tech came to my home with new HD and replaced bad HD. He even loaded up all my Dell software and made sure it worked whew!
Sure glad I requeted necessary disks as you guys had suggested. thanks again for your imput into my issues.
Bob