How to use DISM offline repair to fix Windows 10 [2021]

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.

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.

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:
2. Click the Download tool now button.
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.
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
1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the "Run as administrator" option.
IMPORTANT: In the command, replace "F" with the drive letter corresponding to the ISO mount point in File Explorer.

OTHER POSSIBLE DISM COMMANDS:
To use a different repair source: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:d:\test\mount\windows

Hopefully, some of these methods will fix your Windows errors :)

➤ MORE INFORMATION & RESOURCES:

[gingerglamerlas]

My question is, if I have 2 drives, one enters windows 10 with no issues and the other makes a constant boot loop. How do I run all this commands from the drive that can get into windows 10 to the drive that loops to try to fix it.

[SevenDeMagnus]

Hi, what's the Command Prompt or PowerShell Syntax to DISM Fix Drive C: But Using DISM from Windows to Go which is my backup Windows for repairing things?

This is where I'm at after many months of trying to fix my main C: internal drive which is booting fine buy a lot are messed up I've done almost everything in the Google search results (most are the same though):

I have no more external USB or Flashdrive to create a USB Windows 11 (build 22H2) Installer to fix the drive C: Windows 11 (build 22H2) nor can use its DISM or SFC (Checkdisk runs fine but it's not powrful enough to fix it) on its own Command Prompt among other issues- the C: Window is very messed up.
With my Windows to Go (build 23H2, it's a newer build) and .iso of the Windows 11 (22H2 build) mounted how do I DISM fix C: using Windows to Go? What's Command Prompt syntax?

On Windows to Go which I can't erase coz' of the amount of things installed (will take a lot of precious time to bring back to what it once was, if erased) in there the C: has a drive letter of H: and Windows Installer .iso (w/ the sources/install.wim) has a drive letter of F:).

I have tried the command (which doesn't work) with the syntax (been trying to fix Windows C: drive for weeks and came to the DISM and creating a Windows 2 Go w/ a spare drive on a powered USB hub):
dism /Image:H:\ /cleanup-image /restorehealth

What could be the syntax that'll DISM-fix the main internal drive Windows C: using Windows to Go?

Thank you in advance. God bless us.

P.S. Microsoft Forum designer friends, it's best to include 'Repair' in the dropdown textbox in the 'Topics' category. Also there's a bug when it comes to paragraph spacing on the body, if you noticed, the last paragraph above it double spaced coz' the system did not detect there's a space between the 'dism /Image:H:' line and 'What could be' line and paragraphs above it which I've double-spaced for good measure. Thank you in advance for fixing this bug.

[mohammedayub]

I am getting an error "source file is not founded".
I downloaded the Windows IOS file from my phone.
It is the same version, edition and language.
Followed your steps and didn't work.
Any suggestions? I had a lot of errors on my laptop.