How to use DISM command tool to repair

Windows 10 image
When there's a missing or corrupted file on Windows 10, you can fix the problem using the DISM and
SFC command tools, and here's how.
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Windows 10 DISM and SFC repair (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)
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Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) is a command-line tool built into Windows 10
that allows network administrators to prepare, modify, and repair system images, including Windows
Recovery Environment, Windows Setup, and Windows PE (WinPE). However, you can also use the tool
with the local recovery image to fix most system problems.
When you try to fix a specific error, figure out why the computer stopped boo ng correctly, or resolve
performance problems, the System File Checker (SFC) is one of the best to replace missing or
corrupted system files using the recovery image. The only caveat with this approach is that if one or
more system files in the local image are damaged, the SFC command won't work. In this scenario, you
can use the "install.wim" image file with DISM to repair the image and then use the SFC tool to fix the
setup without reinstalling the opera ng system.
In this how-to guide, I will show you how, in 2024 and beyond, the DISM and SFC are the best tools for
restoring a computer from a broken to a healthy working state without reinstalla on.
How to use DISM to repair image of Windows 10
The DISM command tool includes mul ple features to repair a system image, including
"CheckHealth," "ScanHealth," and "RestoreHealth," and you want to use them in that order. Also,
depending on the issue, you can use the "RestoreHealth" op on to fix the locally available image
using different source files.
Warning: The commands outlined in this guide are non-destruc ve, but since you will be making
system changes, it is s ll recommended to create a temporary full backup before proceeding.

DISM command with CheckHealth op on

The "CheckHealth" op on with the DISM determines any corrup ons inside the local Windows 10
image. However, this op on does not perform any sort of repair.
To check the image of Windows 10 for issues with DISM, use these steps:
1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator
op on.
3. Type the following command to perform a quick check and press Enter: DISM /Online
/Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Once you complete the steps, the DISM tool will run and verify any data corrup on that may require
fixing inside the local image.

DISM command with ScanHealth op on

The "ScanHealth" op on performs a more advanced scan to find out whether the image has any
issues.
To check image problems with the "ScanHealth" op on, use these steps:
 1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator
op on.
3. Type the following command to perform an advanced DISM scan and press Enter: DISM
/Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

A er comple ng the steps, the scan may take some me to check whether the image needs fixing.

DISM command with RestoreHealth op on

If the system image has problems, use DISM with the "RestoreHealth" op on to scan and repair
common issues automa cally.
To repair Windows 10 local image problems with DISM, use these steps:
1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator
op on.
3. Type the following command to repair the image and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-
Image /RestoreHealth
• Quick note: It's normal if the command appears stuck. A er a few moments, the process will
be completed successfully.
(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)
Once you complete the steps, the Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool will connect to
the "Windows Update" servers to download and replace damaged files (if applicable).

Fix problems with DISM using install.wim image

The Deployment Image Servicing and Management commands typically don't cause issues. However,
if the tool finds problems replacing the damaged files or the computer doesn't have an internet
connec on, you can use another image using the "Source" op on. Usually, you can use an
"install.wim" or "install.esd" file from another device, install media, or ISO file. You only need to
ensure the files match the version, edi on, and language of the version you are trying to fix.
Download Windows 10 ISO file
If you need another file source, use the Media Crea on Tool to download a fresh copy of Windows 10.
To download the ISO file of Windows 10, use these steps:
1. Open this Microso support website.
2. Click the Download Now bu on.
3. Double-click the MediaCrea onToolxxxx.exe file to launch the setup.
4. Click the Accept bu on to agree to the terms.
5. Select the "Create installa on media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC"
op on.
(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)
6. Click the Next bu on.
7. Click the Next bu on again.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

8. Select the ISO file op on.
(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)
9. Click the Next bu on.
10.Select the des na on to store the Windows 10 ISO file.
11.Click the Save bu on.
12.Click the link to open the file loca on on File Explorer.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

13.Click the Finish bu on.
14.Double-click the Windows.iso file to mount the image.
15.Confirm the drive le er for the mount point of the ISO file under the "This PC" sec on.
(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)
A er you complete the steps, con nue with the DISM tool using the "Source" op on to repair the
image locally stored on the computer.
Fix Windows 10 recovery image
To run the Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool with an alternate source (install.wim)
image, use these steps:
1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator
op on.
3. Type the following command to repair the image and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-
Image /RestoreHealth /Source:E:\Sources\install.wim
In the command, replace "E" with the mount point drive le er on File Explorer.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

4. (Op onal) Type the following command to limit the use of Windows Update and press Enter:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:G\Sources\install.wim /LimitAccess
 5. (Op onal) Type the following variant of the previous command to accomplish the same task
and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:wim:G:\Sources\
install.wim:1 /LimitAccess
In the command, change "G:\Sources," for the path to the "install.wim" file.
Once you complete the steps, the command will scan and repair the problems using the "install.wim"
file you specified as the alterna ve source.

Fix problems with DISM using ESD image

In case you have an encrypted "install.esd" image, it's possible to use that image to repair the
damaged system files on Windows 10.
To use DISM with an "install.esd" image file as the source to repair Windows 10, use these steps:
1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator
op on.
3. Type the following command to repair the image with an "install.esd" file and press Enter:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:\ESD\Windows\sources\install.esd
In the command, change "C:\ESD\Windows\sources" with the path to the loca on of the ".esd" file
(if different).

(Image credit: Future)

4. (Op onal) Type the following command to limit the use of Windows Update and press Enter:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:\ESD\Windows\sources\
install.esd /LimitAccess
5. (Op onal) Type the following variant of the previous command to accomplish the same task
and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:esd:C:\ESD\
Windows\sources\install.esd:1 /LimitAccess
 6. (Op onal) Type the following command to use an install.esd file located in another drive and
press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:E:\Sources\install.esd
In the command, replace "E:\Sources" with the path to the loca on of the "install.esd" file.
A er you complete the steps, the tool will repair the damaged files using the files included in the
"install.esd" image.

How to run SFC to repair problems on Windows 10

The above steps are meant to repair issues with the system image, not the problems with the
installa on of Windows 10. A er restoring the image to a healthy state, you can use the System File
Checker command tool to repair the current setup of Windows 10.
To use the SFC command tool to repair system problems, use these steps:
1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator
op on.
3. Type the following command to repair the installa on and press Enter: SFC /scannow
• Quick p: If errors are found, you may want to run the command around three mes to ensure
that everything was fixed correctly.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Once you complete the steps, the System File Checker tool will repair the system files using the local
image files, and the log files will be saved on "%windir%/Logs/CBS/CBS.log" and "%windir%\Logs\
DISM\dism.log," which you can view to get more details about the process.
You can use these instruc ons to learn more ways to use the SFC tool to fix problems on Windows 10.