The DISM command lets you fix Windows 10 by resorting the missing or corrupted system files. Here how to use the DISM command to restore Windows image.
The Windows operating system is complex. Though it works perfectly for a vast majority of people in a vast majority of situations, there will be times when it doesn’t work. There can be any number of reasons for this like system crashes, incompatible software, incompatible hardware, corrupted system files, missing system files, etc. When that happens, Windows has its own built-in tools to fix itself. However, those tools can only do so much. For example, in case of missing or corrupted system files, Windows cannot do much.
To deal with those kinds of situations, Windows 10 has a built-in tool called DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management). Using DISM in combination with the SFC tool, you can restore and fix missing or corrupted system files. Of course, DISM can do much more than that. For instance, developers often use DISM to prepare and modify system images to suit their deployment needs.
The good thing is, using DISM to fix Windows system image is pretty easy to do. All you have to do is execute a command or two and the tool will take care of everything.
In this simple and straightforward Windows 10 guide, let me show you how to use the DISM tool to restore missing or corrupted system files to fix Windows operating system.
Use DISM to restore system image
There are two major steps to use the DISM command. First, we need to scan the system for any problems. Second, execute the command to fix any problems found by the DISM tool. To learn how to do it, follow the steps below.
1. Scan system with DISM command
To scan the system for any corrupted or missing system files, use the below method.
- Open the Start menu.
- Search for “Command Prompt.”
- Right-click on Command Prompt.
- Select the “Run as administrator” option.
- Type the below command and press Enter.
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
The full scan will take some time to complete. If there are any missing or corrupted files or has any other issues, the scan will let you know the same.
2. Run DISM /RestoreHealth to fix Windows image
If the DISM /ScanHealth command finds any missing or corrupted files or any other problems, you can restore the system image with /RestoreHealth command. Here is how.
- Open the Start menu.
- Search for “Command Prompt.”
- Right-click on Command Prompt.
- Select the “Run as administrator” option.
- Type the below command and press Enter.
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Just like with the scan command, the restore command will take some time to complete. Once that is done, close the Command Prompt window and restart the system.
3. (optional) Use DISM with ISO file to fix Windows
If the DISM command is unable to restore Windows image directly, you can mount the Windows 10 ISO and point the command to use the install.wim file or install.esd file. That way, Windows can simply replace the corrupted or missing system files with the ones in the ISO. Here is how you can do it.
- Download Windows 10 ISO.
- Double-click on the ISO to mount it in File Explorer.
- Open the Start menu.
- Search for “Command Prompt.”
- Right-click on Command Prompt.
- Select the “Run as administrator” option.
- Type the below command if you have an install.wim file and press Enter. Replace the drive letter (X) with the actual drive letter of the mounted ISO.
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:X:\Sources\install.wim - If you have install.esd file, type the below command. Replace the drive letter with the actual drive letter of the mounted ISO.
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:X:\ESD\Windows\sources\install.esd
That is it. With the above command, Windows will pull the system files from the install.wim or install.esd file and restores them. Once that is it done, you can safely close the Command Prompt window. To make sure everything is applied properly, restart the computer.
That is all. It is that simple to use DISM to restore Windows 10 system image by replacing missing or corrupted system files.
I hope that helps. If you are stuck or need some help, comment below and I will try to help as much as possible.
