Windows File Protection Error

Question

I loaded windows using the original XP disk a few years ago, and recently loaded XPsp2 using the auto update.

Now, every once in awhile i will get a popup that says "Windows File Protection" and reads "Files that are required for Windows to run properly have been replaced by unrecognized versions. To maintain sustem stability, Windows must restore the original versions of these files. Insert your Windows XP professional CD ROM now."

Then there are three options, retry, more information, and cancel. I have tried clicking more information, it is useless and just suggests that maybe I have not put a CD in the drive, or that it is broken, which it isnt.

I have tried using the XP cd i have to restore the files, but it will not work because it is a previous version of XP.

What can I do? I had these pop-ups before and ignored them, but recently my computer crashed and an expensive technician had to fix it. Im not sure if the crash was related to this problem, but I would like to find out.

If anyone here could give me some info thatd be great, I wouldnt want to ask my dad to pay more money to get this machine working.

Message Edited by jskiier9 on 01-04-2005 05:24 PM

maxd · Answer

This is a good summary about WFP.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/222193/EN-US/

I would enter this command from Start|Run and see if it runs from the C: drive or asks for the cd;(if it asks for the cd put it in and see if it will accept it).

sfc /scannow (there's a space after "sfc")

If it won't accept it and you are familiar with editing the registry re-read what this MS link says about adding the sfcdllcachedir key if it isn't there already. If it is there or you know how to put it there then do so. That in itself may get the sfc command to draw from the C: drive and you should be laughing. Remember to always backup (File|Export) the registry to C:\ before editing the registry. There is another registry edit that may be necessary but try this and see if it works. Re-boot after the registry changes.

jskiier9 · Answer

I tried the sfc scan, and like you said it required me to insert my XP Cd, but like i said I have the older version of XP, so it doesn't seem to work. I really have no idea about editing the registry, I have never tried and don't know anyhting about it, so I don't want to do something wrong and make the problem worse than it already is.

Thanks for the help, but does anyone else have any ideas?

wolf795 · Answer

We had several Win2000 users at work experience this error..Nearly all had a major spyware infection. I'm not 100% sure if this will solve your specific problem, but it's worth a shot...Try running Ad-Aware and Spybot, and then the following process, which I wrote up for our IT staff:

#1- Log on to the PC as the user,as long as he/she is a local admin. If not, log on with a local admin account.

#2- Open the Command prompt, and type the command below without the quotation marks.

#3- Type "REGSVR32 SOFTPUB.DLL INITPKI.DLL MSSIP32.DLL ", and hit Enter. You should see 3 dialog boxes indicating success for each of the DLL's.

#4- Reboot, and log on as the user. If the problem is resolved, the WFP message should not have shown up.

#5- Place the Windows 2000 CD in the CD-ROM, and close out of the Win2000 Setup program that auto-launches.

#6- Open the Command prompt, and type "SFC /scannow". It should begin copying files from the 2000 CD to the DLLCACHE folder.

#7- Reboot once again, just to verify resolution.

Nick

Windows General

Windows File Protection Error

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