Elevated Command Prompt on Non Booting PC?

[Berserk87]

I have a friends laptop with me that wont boot into windows because of a failed update.

Looks like windows is starting then just hangs there for hours and hours, never actually loading.

So I'm trying to run sfc /scannow hoping that will find the messed up files and replace them, but windows resource protection keeps blocking me because the cmd prompt isnt being run as admin.

I can't boot the computer, so I can't figure out how to get elevated permissions to run sfc /scannow from the startup repair options.

[n_K]

runas /user:administrator cmd

[Berserk87]

that does nothing.

[Berserk87]

it looks like that command is from windows xp.

[+Ryster Subscriber²]

it looks like that command is from windows xp.

runas is a ubiquitous command that has existed in XP, Vista, 7, 2003, 2008 and 2008R2... it may even have been in 2000 and NT4 too, but I can't remember that far back. It is not just a windows xp command.

Where are you trying to run sfc from? In the recovery console?

[Berserk87]

windows wont boot, so im in 'system recovery tools'.

trying the runas command tells me "not recognized as a internal or external command."

[+Ryster Subscriber²]

If you're in the recovery console, then you don't need to do runas. The console should automatically have the rights it needs.

Try a chkdsk of the C drive first.... chkskd c: /f

[Berserk87]

running it. looks like its stuck at 60%.

[Berserk87]

I've left check disk running since you first posted to.

It scans up to 60% in a matter of seconds, then goes very very slow. its now at 64% showing a couple errors fixed.

[articuno1au]

That means it's doing something.

Let it keep running, and try booting once it's done.

Let us know.

[Berserk87]

check disk finished, fixed a bunch of stuff, still hangs on the loading windows screen.

its not freezing there, and ive seen the user screen once.

[articuno1au]

Might be getting close to a Linux Live CD + Reformat.

[Berserk87]

yep.

clean install time...