# DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management)

> What DISM is, the /CheckHealth, /ScanHealth and /RestoreHealth commands, and how DISM and SFC work together to repair Windows.

DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) is a command-line tool built into Windows that services Windows images, including the running system. Home users mostly meet it as the repair tool for the component store: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth fixes corruption that SFC alone cannot repair.

## The three health commands

/CheckHealth quickly reports whether corruption has already been recorded. /ScanHealth performs a longer scan of the component store. /RestoreHealth scans and repairs, downloading good files from Windows Update by default.

With no internet access, /RestoreHealth can use another source, for example a mounted Windows image, with /Source and /LimitAccess.

## DISM and SFC

SFC repairs protected system files from the component store. If the store itself is damaged, SFC cannot finish its repairs. The usual order is therefore DISM /RestoreHealth first, then sfc /scannow.

## Other uses

DISM also adds or removes Windows features and packages, manages drivers in offline images and cleans the component store (/StartComponentCleanup).

## How to repair Windows with DISM

1. Open Terminal (Admin).
2. Run: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
3. Run: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
4. If corruption is reported, run: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
5. Then run: sfc /scannow and restart.

## Cautions

- /RestoreHealth can take a long time and may appear stuck at a percentage; let it finish.
- Use a source image of the same Windows version and edition when you repair offline.

## Sources

- [Repair a Windows image (Microsoft Learn)](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/repair-a-windows-image)
- [What is DISM? (Microsoft Learn)](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/what-is-dism)
- [DISM operating system package servicing options (Microsoft Learn)](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/dism-operating-system-package-servicing-command-line-options)

Last updated: 2026-10-08
URL: https://raincleaner.eu/wiki/windows/dism