6 Effective Ways to Fix SFC SCANNOW Stuck at 4/30/69/93

Updated By

Tracy King 

Written By

Cici 

Last Updated on May 14, 2024

Main findings

• The SFC SCANNOW usually takes only a few minutes to finish; if it's stuck, it might be due to corrupted system files.
• The error may get stuck at a specific point, such as at Verifying 4/30/69/93 or Starting System Scan.
• This article introduces the best SFC alternative, Partition Master, to fix more errors. Additionally, we provide 5 extra effective solutions.

The System File Checker (SFC) is a utility in Windows that allows you to scan for and repair system files. The command SFC /scannow scans the entire system and fixes any corruption in Windows system file directories. However, this tool doesn't always complete its job successfully.

This article will analyze the problem and its causes of why SFC /SCANNOW is not working properly. This guide will provide you with 6 effective procedures to fix the SFC /scannow stuck issue.

How long does SFC /SCANNOW take to complete?

Typically, an SFC scan takes only five to ten minutes. If the system is heavily loaded, it might take longer. However, if the process takes more than an hour, it could indicate that the SFC is stuck.

The SFC /scannow may get stuck at the beginning of the system scan or during the verification process, displaying numbers such as SFC /Scannow stuck at 4/30/73/100, and so on.

Don't worry; this article provides some effective methods to resolve the sfc /scannow issue.

How to fix the SFC SCANNOW stuck issue?

This article will provide 6 solutions. Since all of the fixes require some computer knowledge and experience, we'll start with the easiest and quickest one. Let's check them out:

Solution 1: Quick Fix - Run SFC Scan to Repair Hard Disk

Finding a professional SFC alternative tool or program can save us more time when fixing corrupted system files on Windows. We recommend using the Partition Master Tool, a versatile disk management utility. It offers a "Check File System" feature that thoroughly scans, detects, and repairs damaged system files on Windows in just three simple steps.

Thanks to its intuitive interface, you'll master the repair functions in no time, even if you're a beginner:

Step 1: Right-click on the problematic partition.

Step 2: Choose Tools > Check File System.

Step 3. Choose whether or not to hide the partition.

Step 4: In the Check File System window, select the option to attempt to repair errors if found.

Click “Start” to begin checking for errors on your partition.

AOMEI Partition Assistant is a powerful tool that can help you repair Windows 10 from USB by creating a bootable USB. You can also rely on this tool when you encounter other issues, like fixing:

• Cannot delete files from SD card
• Default boot device missing or boot failed
• The computer has rebooted from a bugcheck

Download it and enjoy the benefits of this powerful tool.

Solution 2: Run the DISM scan

When SFC /SCANNOW isn't working in Windows, you can try another command-line tool provided by Windows – DISM. This tool serves and prepares Windows images for users.

If the SFC scan is stuck, run the DISM scan with the following steps:

Step 1: Search for “CMD” on your Windows computer and run it as an administrator.

Step 2: Type the commands below in order, and press Enter after each one:

• Check health status: **Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth** • Scan health status: **Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth** • Restore health status: **Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth**

Step 3. Restart the computer and check if SFC is working properly.

Other similar errors: SFC SCANNOW Finds Corrupted Files But Unable to Fix

Solution 3: Run SFC Scan in Safe Mode

If the Windows Resource Protection finds corrupted files but is unable to fix certain ones, this could cause the SFC /scannow to hang. You can try running SFC in Safe Mode instead. Here's a simple step-by-step guide:

Step 1. Press Windows+R to open the “Run” window, and type msconfig.

Step 2: Open System Configuration and go to the “Boot” tab, then choose “Safe Boot.”

Step 3: Restart your computer and apply the changes.

Your computer will start in Safe Mode, and you can try running SFC to see if that resolves the issue.

Fix 4: Use CHKDSK to Fix SFC Stuck Issue

If the data corruption on your disk causes the SFC /scannow stuck issue, you can try to scan your hard drive with CHKDSK.

Step 1: Run CMD as an administrator.

Step 2: Type chkdsk/f, and then press Enter.

Step 3: When Windows asks if you want to check the partition the next time you start your computer, type Y and hit Enter.

Step 4: Restart your computer and check if the SFC issue is resolved.

Fix 5: Perform a System Restore

A System Restore point allows you to undo system changes and revert your computer to a previous state. If you have created a restore point previously, you can follow these steps when SFC /scannow fails:

Step 1: Search for “System Restore” on your computer and open it.

Step 2: Choose a restore point. You can select the latest restore point or a different one, then click Next to proceed with the restoration.

Step 3: Follow the wizard through its other steps.

Step 4. Once done, open Command Prompt again and run the SFC /SCANNOW command again.

Fix 6: Reset your computer

If all else fails, try the nuclear option: reset or reinstall your computer. This will fix most system-wide issues.

Step 1: Open Settings and go to Update & Security.

Step 2: Select “Recover,” then click “Get started” under “Reset this PC.”

Step 3: You may keep these files or delete their contents as needed.

Step 4: Click Next in the dialog box to continue.

If that doesn't work, try resetting again and choose Remove everything and Just remove my files.

That's how you can fix the SFC scannow stuck issue. Found the guide helpful? If you did, please click the share buttons to pass it on to others who might need it.

Why does SFC /SCANNOW get stuck?

"Sfc /scannow" can fix a lot of issues, but if it gets stuck at a certain percentage, users can't use it. We've seen a few users with the same problem on the forums:

We have an effective solution for this problem. The most common reason why SFC Scannow gets stuck is corrupted system files on your computer, which can prevent it from carrying out tasks related to the SFC/scannow command. Additionally, hard drive data corruption can also lead to the freezing issue.

We also catalogued some common errors associated with SFCs.

• sfc /scannow stuck on verifying stage during system scan - The most effective solution is to replace corrupted files.
• sfc /scannow freezing in Windows - Try restoring your computer using a System Restore point.
• sfc scannow unresponsive - Run a DISM scan as an alternative.
• sfc scannow stops scanning - Disable the Turbo Memory feature.

No matter what your SFC error is, the best solution is to fix it all in one go with Partition Master. It can solve any problem that you encounter with SFC SCANNOW.

Conclusions

When running the System File Checker (SFC) scan using the SFC /SCANNOW command, it might get stuck at 4%, 23%, 73%, 80%, or 100%. This usually happens during the verification or initialization of the system scan. Don't worry; this article has you covered with six effective solutions. You can easily fix the issue with any of these options.

Of course, for long-term computer maintenance, the most effective solution is to use an SFC alternative – Partition Master. Apart from fixing system file-related errors, it offers more features like checking hard drive health, boosting SSD read and write speed, etc., to enhance your PC performance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About SFC /SCANNOW Stuck Issue [UTF-8]

This section provides more issues related to sfc/scannow errors. Continue reading if you have further concerns.

How do I stop sfc /scannow on Windows 10?

Stopping a scan in Windows 10 is simple – you can just end the Command Prompt read with Ctrl+C. If you want to end the process, the easiest way is to restart your computer, clearing out the command running in the background.

2. Can I stop an SFC scan?

Stopping an SFC scan shouldn't cause any issues. SFC is used to scan for and fix problems with your Windows system. So you can let the SFC command finish its scan.

3. How to fix if SFC /scannow is not working?

"The Windows System File Checker (SFC Scannow) may fail to function properly due to a corrupted file system, missing files, or an disconnected network. You can try resolving the issue with these solutions:"

• Change the administrator account
• Switch to DISM scan
• Disable or remove domain apps/VPNs
• Perform a clean boot, then try running an sfc scan

For a more detailed method, refer to this guide, or check SFC not working.