What is the DISM command? How to use it to fix Windows images?

While using an operating system like Windows, users might often encounter issues that could affect their stored files. In such cases, the DISM command can scan and fix issues within the .wim store in Windows. You can also check for disk errors and repair them using SFC and DISM.

DISM stands for Deployment Image Servicing and Management. Today, we'll discuss how to use this command and various tricks to fix Windows images.

What is the DISM command?

DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) is a command-line tool built into Windows that you can access through Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell. The DISM commands are used to service and prepare Windows images, including those for Windows installations, Windows PE, and the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE).

DISM is located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder of all Windows 10 and 11 installations. It can also be run from a Command Prompt terminal located anywhere.

However, you can't use DISM commands on a Windows image that is newer than the version of DISM that is installed.

How to Run DISM in CMD?

Next, let's explore the steps to open the Command Prompt and run the DISM command in your system. These steps are straightforward and will help you understand how the DISM command works. Here are the steps to run DISM through CMD on a Windows 10/11 device:

Step 1. From the Start button, choose Command Prompt (Admin).

Step 2: A Command Prompt window will appear. Type in dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth, then press Enter. You can right-click to copy and paste this into the window.

Step 3: A progress indicator for the integrity conflict scan appears in the command prompt window.

Step 4. After the previous step, wait for the process to complete. It will show if any integrity violations were found and fixed.

Step 5: Finally, if any issues were found and fixed, it is recommended that you restart your system.

How do I use DISM to repair a Windows image?

Finally, this section will discuss the steps involved in using DISM to repair a Windows image and the various commands used for this purpose. In Windows 10, there are three options available when the operating system is missing or has corrupted files that need to be repaired.

• CheckHealth
• ScanHealth
• RestoreHealth
These are three separate terms in English: 1. CheckHealth - This could refer to a process or action of assessing the health status of something, like a person, system, or device. 2. ScanHealth - This suggests a more systematic examination of health, possibly using technology, similar to a health scan or medical checkup. 3. RestoreHealth - This implies taking actions to bring something back to its optimal or healthy state, whether it's a person's health, a software system, or any other entity.

"DISM command with the CheckHealth option"

The CheckHealth option checks for corruption in a Windows 10 image but doesn't fix it.

Step 1: Click the "Start" button and search for "Command Prompt."

Step 2: Right-click the first result and select "Run as administrator."

Step 3: Type dism /online /cleanup-image /checkhealth and press Enter. This runs a quick check. If the DISM command finds any corruption that needs fixing, it will display that information.

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DISM command with the ScanHealth option

ScanHealth carries out a more sophisticated scan process, highlighting any issues in an image through the following steps:

Step 1: This part is the same as before. Click “Start,” search for “Command Prompt,” and then run it as an administrator.

Step 2: Type dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth, and then press Enter. This process might take a few minutes to display the results if Windows 10 needs to be repaired.

The DISM command with the /RestoreHealth option

The /RestoreHealth option not only scans for system image corruption but also repairs any issues it finds. Here's how to do it.

Step 1: Click the "Start" button, search for "Command Prompt," and then choose the "Run as administrator" option.

2. Type in dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth, then press Enter. This may take a few minutes. When it's finished, the tool will connect to Windows Update and download and replace any corrupted files.

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Bottom line

In short, it's not uncommon to encounter issues with the OS and the files it stores, but there are ways to fix them. The DISM command and its three available options can easily repair Windows images.

Next time you encounter such an issue in your system, remember to use the DISM command. Hopefully, your files will recover correctly from the corruption. Hence, always back up important files and data in such scenarios.