On Windows 10, Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) is a tool designed for network administrators to prepare, modify, and repair system images, including the Windows Recovery Environment, Windows Setup, and Windows PE (WinPE). However, anyone can also use the tool to fix common problems with the hidden recovery image on your computer.

Usually, when your device is experiencing performance issues, doesn’t start correctly, or you’re troubleshooting errors, you can use the System File Checker tool to scan, detect, and replace corrupted or missing system files using the locally available recovery image.

However, if the replacement files inside the Windows 10 image are damaged in any way, the SFC tool won’t work. In this particular situation, you can use the DISM tool to scan and repair the /”install.wim/” image, which you can then use with SFC to repair your installation.

In general, DISM (short for Deployment Image Servicing and Management) will download the necessary files from Windows Update to replace the bad file. But, sometimes, DISM may fail to repair the corrupted image. In this case, you can try DISM command-line with source option.

NOTE: It is highly recommended to create a system image or at least a system restore point before proceeding!

REPAIRING ISSUES WITH DISM USING WIM IMAGE
The DISM tool is unlikely to run into issues, but in the rare case that Windows Update is causing problems getting the replacement files or you don’t have an internet connection, you’ll need to use an alternative source to repair the files using another image with the Source option.

Before you can specify a different source, you’ll need an install.wim or install.esd file from another computer, bootable installation media, or ISO file. Also, it’s important that the source of the known good files matches the same version, edition, and language of Windows 10 that you’re using on your computer.

DOWNLOAD WINDOWS 10 ISO FILE
If you need to use a different source for the files, it is recommended to use the Media Creation Tool to download a fresh copy of Windows 10.

To download the ISO file of Windows 10, use these steps:
1. Open this Microsoft support website: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
2. Click the Download tool now button.
3. Double-click the MediaCreationToolxxxx.exe file to launch the setup.
4. Click the /”Accept/” button to agree to the terms.
5. Select the /”Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC/” option.
6. Click the Next button.
7. Click the Next button again.
8. Select the /”ISO file/” option.
9. Click the Next button.
10. Select your desired location where you would like to store the Windows 10 ISO file.
11. Click the /”Save/” button.
12. Once finished, click the link to open the file location with File Explorer.
13. Click the Finish button.
14. Double-click the Windows.iso file to mount the image.
15. Under the /”This PC/” section, confirm the drive letter for the mount in the left pane.

After you complete the steps, you can continue with the DISM tool using the /”Source/” option to repair the local image of Windows 10.

FIX WINDOWS 10 RECOVERY IMAGE
To run 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/” option.
3. Type the following command to repair the Windows 10 image and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:E://Sources//install.wim
IMPORTANT: In the command, replace /”F/” with the drive letter corresponding to the ISO mount point in File Explorer.
4. (Optional) Type the following command to limit the use of Windows Update and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:E//Sources//install.wim /LimitAccess
5. (Optional) Type the following variant of the previous command to accomplish the same task and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:wim:E://Sources//install.wim:1 /LimitAccess
NOTE: In the command, change F://Sources, for the path to the /”install.wim/” file.

Once you complete the steps, the command will scan and repair the most common problems using the /”install.wim/” file you specified as the alternative source.

OTHER POSSIBLE DISM COMMANDS:
To use a different repair source: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:d://test//mount//windows
Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /AnalyzeComponentStore
Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup
Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase

Hopefully, some of these methods will fix your Windows errors 🙂

MORE INFORMATION & RESOURCES:
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-dism-command-line-utility-repair-windows-10-image
https://www.ghacks.net/2018/03/16/use-dism-to-fix-issues-sfc-cant/
https://www.ubackup.com/windows-10/dism-offline-repair-windows-10.html

Please take the opportunity to connect and share this video with your friends and family if you find it useful.