How to delete/replace a single known corrupted file

In an earlier thread, I've learned how to correct system problems using 'sfc' and 'dism'. The question I'm asking here, is once you know exactly which files are corrupted, how can they manually be replaced?

The PC I'm still working on had several bad files, but between 'sfc' and 'dism' only two remain. Using 'sfc /scannow' there are no more problems, but 'dism' still finds two, one that relates to 'flash', and the other being 'skydrive.exe'.

My plan for tomorrow is to remove 'Flash' completely, which I expect to remove that corrupted file. But 'skydrive' seems to be a part of Windows Explorer. On a mounted, running file system, is there any way to replace a single file with a non-corrupted version?


The best idea I can think of is to place a copy of the file, in this case 'skydrive.exe' in the same folder as the corrupted file, but with a modified name, maybe 'skydrivexxx.exe'. Then, boot to Safe Mode with Command Prompt, navigate to the appropriate folder, rename the corrupted file to 'skydrive-bad.exe', and finally rename the good version to 'skydrive.exe'. Would Windows actually let me do this?

Last question - on another computer I used for checking, skydrive.exe is in this folder:
c:\Windows\WinSxS\amd64_microsoft-windows-skydrive-exehost_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17484_none_77b78082feb70f58
If this idea is even plausible, are there other things I would need to do, possibly with the 'attrib' command, to allow the system to accept what I've done?

(I doubt that this will work; it's too simple. )

Why not simply delete the bad known file and immediately copy in the good file? I think you can do this easier within Safe Mode.

As said in the other thread that you created. Most files under WinSxS are hardlinked so you need to find out which is the real file name of the file then you can replace it. For example: notepad.exe

From Admin Command prompt, type: fsutil hardlink list c:\windows\notepad.exe then you'll find out the result as follows:

topgundcp said:

As said in the other thread that you created. Most files under WinSxS are hardlinked so you need to find out which is the real file name of the file then you can replace it. For example: notepad.exe

From Admin Command prompt, type: fsutil hardlink list c:\windows\notepad.exe then.....

Click to expand...

I have two files to remove or repair from a desktop. I have the full pathname to both - got that from the diagnostic reports. (Thanks to you, I now understand this.)

I've never heard of 'fsutil hardlink list' until just now. One more tool to document and add to my toolbox.


One of the file names is 'skydrive,exe' and I do have the complete path to it. 'dism' won't remove it. SFC doesn't see it as a problem. I was hoping to find a way to manually replace it with a non-corrupted version. I tried to re-install Skydrive (now called Onedrive?) earlier today. No change in the error. I haven't yet found a way to completely remove Skydrive/Onedrive from my OS. That would be my first choice, especially since I never use it.

Windows is very picky sometimes and not allowing you to delete file/folder freely due to security settings especially under C:\Windows folder. The easiest way I find is to boot up from linux then delete/replace etc....

For this, you can use: Slacko Puppy Linux release.
It's only 160MB in size, use: Rufus - Create bootable USB then boot up from it. You'll see the list of HD's on the bottom left corner, Browse to the folder, right click and delete.

I haven't yet found a way to completely remove Skydrive/Onedrive from my OS. That would be my first choice, especially since I never use it.

Click to expand...

I found this---

How to Completely Disable OneDrive - Microsoft Community

Thanks to both of you; Linux does sound like a good way to do this, as the file will no longer be protected. By the way, here is the 'dism' entry in the log file, with directory path and file name:


David Bailey, that's one of the places I already found, but 'disabling' it isn't likely to remove the files? If I could delete it, then maybe - but from what I've read so far, I'd have to remove Internet Explorer to do that.

I've only got one week left before I move from Madurai to Pondicherry, so maybe I'll just leave it as-is until my next visit.

Quick question - if I boot into Safe Mode, with DOS prompt, does that in any way start "Windows"? I've already found how to go to a "long directory name" (put it in double quotes). If my memory is correct, I think I could then use the "attrib" command to remove any system permission it had, change it to "rw" instead of "r", and then rename it. I guess if I want to do that, I should first do whats in the link David Bailey posted before the change, so presumably nothing on the PC will be trying to find "skydrive".

.............................or just give up, and refresh Windows.