Use DISM to fix issues SFC can't
A common suggestion on Windows support forums is to scan the system for file integrity issues using the command sfc /scannow which you may run on the active system but also on external drives.
SFC, which stands for System File Checker, is a built-in administrative tool to verify the integrity of operating system files and to repair files that are corrupt, damaged or changed.
SFC scans have three possible outcomes:
- The scan did not find any issues.
- The scan did find issues and fixed them.
- The scan did find issues and couldn't repair them (Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them).
Note: It is recommended that you do a full backup of the Windows system partition before you run DISM. Use free backup solutions such as Macrium Reflect, Veeam Endpoint Backup, or other backup tools.
Use DISM if SFC /Scannow fails to correct issues
The screenshot displayed above shows a result where SFC was unable to correct corrupt files that it detected.
SFC may also correct issues but it may not resolve the issue that you tried to correct in first place by running it.
DISM comes to the rescue in these situations. Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM)Â is a command line program for Windows that is used for a variety of purposes.It is available in all versions of Windows starting with Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008
You need to run DISM from an elevated command prompt:
- Tap on the Windows-key to bring up the start menu.
- Type cmd.exe and wait for the results to populate.
- Right-click on the result named cmd.exe and select "run as administrator" to run it with elevated privileges.
DISM can be run in dry-mode to reveal corruption without attempting to fix issues found. I recommend that you check the health first to find out if corruption exists before you run repair operations.
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
The command checks the image for the corruption flag and returns its findings to you but does not run repair operations.
The scan should not take longer than a second or two. Previous operations may have flagged the image as corrupt.
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
The command scans for component store corruption but does not correct any issues.
The scan takes longer to complete and the findings of the scan are returned in the command prompt window.
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
The /RestoreHealth parameter runs a scan for corruption and attempts to repair any issues that it finds automatically.
The scan takes longer to complete if corruption is found during the scan of the image. Note that the operation may appear stuck at times but this is no cause for concern as scanning should commence after a moment automatically.
If the scan finds corruption, it attempts to correct the issue using Windows Update by default.
DISM Advanced commands
- To repair an offline image: Dism /Image:C:\offline /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- To use a different repair source: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:d:\test\mount\windows
- To prevent the use of Windows Update:Â /LimitAccess as a parameter.
Group Policy
You can specify a different source using the Group Policy.
Do the following for that:
- Tap on the Windows-key to bring up the start menu.
- Type gpedit.msc and hit the Enter-key to open the Group Policy Editor. Note that it is only available in professional or Enterprise editions of Windows.
- Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System.
- Double-click on Specify settings for optional component installation and component repair.
- Set the policy to enabled, and configure it accordingly.
- You need to specify an alternate source, and may block use of Windows Update. Systems configured to use WSUS by default may be configured to use Windows Update instead for repair operations.
Dism using PowerShell
You may use DISM in Windows PowerShell as well. The commands are slightly different.
- CheckHealth: Repair-WindowsImage -CheckHealth
- ScanHealth: Repair-WindowsImage -ScanHealth
- RestoreHealth: Repair-WindowsImage -RestoreHealth
DISM Instructional Video
Related articles
- Analyze and clean the WinSXS folder
- Dism++ Windows optimizer with impressive functionality
- The Winsxs Folder Explained
- Windows Repair 4.0 released: repair Windows software
- Windows Repair Toolbox review
What mental age of reader are you targeting with the first sentence? 10?
Why not write an article on how to *avoid* upgrading from W10 to W11. Analogous to those like me who avoided upgrading from 7 to 10 for as long as possible.
If your paymaster Microsoft permits it, of course.
5. Rufus
6. Ventoy
PS. I hate reading these “SEO optimized” articles.
I used Rufus to create an installer for a 6th gen intel i5 that had MBR. It upgraded using Setup. No issues except for Win 11 always prompting me to replace my local account. Still using Win 10 Pro on all my other PCs to avoid the bullying.
bit pointless to upgrade for the sake of upgrading as you never know when you’ll get locked out because ms might suddenly not provide updates to unsupported systems.
ps…. time travelling?
written. Jan 15, 2023
Updated • Jan 13, 2023
This happens when you schedule a post in WordPress and update it before setting the publication date.
Anyone willing to downgrade to this awful OS must like inflicting themselves with harm.
I have become convinced now that anybody who has no qualms with using Windows 11/10 must fit into one of the following brackets:
1) Too young to remember a time before W10 and W11 (doesn’t know better)
2) Wants to play the latest games on their PC above anything else (or deeply needs some software which already dropped W7 support)
3) Doesn’t know too much about how computers work, worried that they’d be absolutely lost and in trouble without the “”latest security””
4) Microsoft apologist that tries to justify that the latest “features” and “changes” are actually a good thing, that improve Windows
5) Uses their computer to do a bare minimum of like 3 different things, browse web, check emails, etc, so really doesn’t fuss
Obviously that doesn’t cover everyone, there’s also the category that:
6) Actually liked W7 more than 10, and held out as long as possible before switching, begrudgingly uses 10 now
Have I missed any group off this list?
You have missed in this group just about any professional user that uses business software like CAD programs or ERP Programs which are 99% of all professional users from this list.
Linux doesn’t help anyone who is not a linux kid and apple is just a fancy facebook machine.
Microsoft has removed KB5029351 update
only from windows update though
KB5029351 is still available from the ms update catalog site
1. This update is labaled as PREVIEW if it causes issues to unintelligent people, then they shouldn’t have allowed Preview updates ot install.
2. I have installed it in a 11 years old computer, and no problems at all.
3. Making a big drama over a bluescreen for an updated labeled as preview is ridiculous.
This is probably another BS internet drama where people ran programs and scripts that modified the registry until they broke Windows, just for removing stuff that they weren’t even using just for the sake of it.
Maybe people should stop playing geeks and actually either use Windows 10 or Windows 11, but don’t try to modify things just for the sake of it.
Sometimes removing or stopping things (like defender is a perfect example) only need intelligence, not scripts or 3rd party programs that might mess with windows.
Windows 11 was a pointless release, it was just created because some of the Windows team wanted to boost sales with some sort of new and improved Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft cannot support one version well let alone two.
Windows 11 is the worst ugly shame by Microsoft ever. They should release with every new W11 version a complete free version of Starallback inside just to make this sh** OS functionally again.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released a statement regarding the “unsupported processor” blue screen error for their boards using Intel 600/700 series chipsets & to avoid the KB5029351 Win11 update:
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/MSI-On–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–Error-Message-of-Windows-11-Update-KB5029351-Preview-142215
check out the following recent articles:
Neowin – Microsoft puts little blame on its Windows update after UNSUPPORTED PROCESSOR BSOD bug:
https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-puts-little-blame-on-its-windows-update-after-unsupported-processor-bsod-bug/
BleepingComputer – Microsoft blames ‘unsupported processor’ blue screens on OEM vendors:
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-blames-unsupported-processor-blue-screens-on-oem-vendors/
While there may be changes or updates to the Windows 10 Store for Business and Education in the future, it is premature to conclude that it will be discontinued based solely on rumors.
My advice, I left win 15 years ago. Now I’m a happy linux user (linuxmint) but there is Centos, Fedora, Ubuntu depending on your needs.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released new BIOS/firmware updates for their Intel 600 & 700 series motherboards to fix the “UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR” problem (Sept. 6):
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/Updated-BIOS-fixes-Error-Message–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–caused-BSOD-on-MSI-s-Intel-700-and-600-Series-Motherboards-142277