SFC refusing to run

If you encounter the message "There is a system repair pending which requires reboot to complete" when trying to run the System File Checker (SFC), it typically indicates that a previous repair operation is still in progress or has not been completed successfully. Here are steps you can take to resolve this issue:

1. Reboot the Computer: Sometimes, simply rebooting the system can clear the pending operations.
2. Check for Pending Updates: Ensure that there are no Windows updates pending that might be causing the issue. You can check this in the Windows Update settings.
3. Use DISM Tool: If the issue persists, you can try using the DISM tool to repair the Windows image. Open a Command Prompt with administrative privileges and run the following command:

      DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
   

   After this command completes, try running SFC again:

      sfc /scannow
   

4. Delete Pending.xml: If the problem still exists, you may need to delete the pending.xml file. This file is located in the following directory:
   • C:\Windows\WinSxS\
     You can delete it using the Command Prompt with administrative privileges:

      del C:\Windows\WinSxS\pending.xml
   

   After deleting the file, restart your computer and try running SFC again.
5. Check CBS.log: If you are still having issues, you can check the CBS.log file for more details on what might be causing the problem. This log file is located in %windir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, you may need to consider more advanced troubleshooting or seek assistance from Microsoft support.

References:

• System File Checker (SFC) incorrectly flags Windows Defender PowerShell module files as corrupted
• Analyze the log file entries that SFC.exe generates in Windows

1

Try running this command first, then when that command competes, try running the sfc command again>

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

2

If that does not resolve the problem, open the Settings App, then go to System - Recovery.

Click the 'Reinstall Now' button in the 'Fix problems with Windows Updates' section and wait for that process to complete, this process will not affect your files, settings or installed apps.