How to Use DISM Commands to Repair Windows 10 & 11

How to Use DISM Commands to Repair Windows 10 and 11​

When dealing with corrupted or missing system files in Windows 10 or 11, the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool can be invaluable. This guide will walk you through using DISM commands to repair your Windows image.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator​

See this guide for instructions if you are unsure how to open command as administrator.

Check the Health of the System Image​

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1. Type the following command to perform a quick check and press Enter:
   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
2. This command will determine if there are any corruptions inside the local Windows 10 image but won’t perform any repairs.

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Perform an Advanced Scan for Corruptions​

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1. Type the following command to perform an advanced scan and press Enter:
   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
2. This scan may take some time as it checks whether the image has any issues that need fixing.

Repair the System Image​

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1. Type the following command to repair the image and press Enter:
   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
2. The tool will connect to “Windows Update” servers to download and replace damaged files if applicable, which might make it appear stuck momentarily but let it complete its process successfully.

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Fix Problems Using install.wim Image (If Needed)​

If DISM encounters problems replacing damaged files or if there’s no internet connection:

For Both Windows Versions:​

1. Download a fresh copy of Windows ISO using Media Creation Tool from Microsoft.
2. Mount the ISO file.
3. Type one of these commands depending on your source file location:
   • If using install.wim:
     DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:wim:X:\sources\install.wim:1 /LimitAccess
   • If using install.esd:
     DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:esd:X:\sources\install.esd:1 /LimitAccess

Replace X: with your drive letter where ISO is mounted. Meaning the location of your USB or the drive letter.