Windows - can't run "sfc /scannow", because another maintenance task is in progress

Question

I tried to fix a friends laptop by repairing corrupt system files with sfc /scannow but I always get a message saying something like "there is another maintenance in progress" please try it later. But this always shows even if I execute it directly after the reboot?

Why is this happening, how can I find out which maintenance task is blocking it?

Solution

You can try disabling it with psexecas descibed here.

Download the PSTools and run psexec to disable it (Otherwise even as admin you will get an access denied)

psexec -s schtasks /change /tn "\Microsoft\Windows\TaskScheduler\Maintenance Configurator" /DISABLE

Comments

[n8te]

Try this. Go to Control Panel > Security and Maintenance .... click on Maintenance to expand and under Automatic Maintenance click on Stop Maintenance.

[Ramhound]

SFC shouldn’t be used on Windows 8+ DISM should be used it’s more effective.

[Black]

I will try it out as soon as I have to opportunity. Thanks!

[Community]

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[Ravindra Bawane]

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