How to Fix Corrupted Windows 10 Installation Using DISM and SFC Commands

If your Windows 10 PC is experiencing problems such as blue screens, driver errors, or performance issues, you may have corrupted system files that need to be repaired. Fortunately, Windows 10 has built-in tools that can help you fix these issues without having to reinstall the operating system.

In this article, we will show you how to use the DISM and SFC commands to scan and repair your Windows 10 image and files.

What are DISM and SFC Commands?

DISM stands for Deployment Image Servicing and Management. It is a command-line tool that can be used to service and repair Windows images, including the Windows Recovery Environment, Windows Setup, and Windows PE. You can use DISM to check the health of your Windows image, fix any corruption problems, or restore it from another source.

SFC stands for System File Checker. It is another command-line tool that can be used to scan and repair corrupted system files on your PC. You can use SFC to verify the integrity of your system files and replace any damaged or missing ones with a cached copy.

How to Use DISM and SFC Commands to Repair Windows 10?

Before you use the DISM and SFC commands, you should boot your PC in Safe Mode. This will ensure that no other programs or processes interfere with the repair process. To boot in Safe Mode, follow these steps:

1. Click the Start button and select Settings.
2. Click Update & Security and then Recovery.
3. Under Advanced startup, click Restart now.
4. After your PC restarts, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
5. On the Startup Settings screen, press F4 to enable Safe Mode.

Once you are in Safe Mode, you can use the DISM and SFC commands as follows:

Step 1: Run the DISM Command

To run the DISM command, you need to open an elevated Command Prompt. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click the Start button and type cmd.
2. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
3. If prompted by User Account Control, click Yes.
4. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

This command will scan your Windows image for any corruption issues and try to fix them using Windows Update as the source. This may take some time, so be patient and do not close the window.

If you have a Windows installation media (such as a DVD or USB drive) or another source (such as a network share or a folder on your PC) that contains a valid Windows image, you can use it instead of Windows Update as the source. To do this, you need to specify the location of the source using the /Source option. For example:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:D:\Sources\Install.wim

This command will use the install.wim file on the D: drive as the source. You can also use an index number if your source contains multiple images. For example:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:D:\Sources\Install.wim:2

This command will use the second image in the install.wim file on the D: drive as the source.

You can also limit the use of Windows Update by using the /LimitAccess option. This will prevent DISM from contacting Windows Update for online images. For example:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:D:\Sources\Install.wim /LimitAccess

This command will use only the install.wim file on the D: drive as the source and will not contact Windows Update.

After running the DISM command, you should see a message saying that the operation completed successfully. If not, you may see an error code indicating what went wrong.

Step 2: Run the SFC Command

After running the DISM command, you should run the SFC command to scan and repair your system files. To do this, follow these steps:

In the same elevated Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:

SFC /scannow

This command will scan all protected system files and replace any corrupted or missing ones with a cached copy. This may also take some time, so be patient and do not close the window.

After running the SFC command, you should see a message saying that it found corrupt files and successfully repaired them, or that it did not find any integrity violations. If not, you may see an error code indicating what went wrong.

Step 3: Restart Your PC

After running both the DISM and SFC commands, you should restart your PC to apply the changes. To do this, follow these steps:

In the same elevated Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:

shutdown /r

This command will restart your PC.

After your PC restarts, you should check if your Windows 10 installation is working properly. If not, you may need to use other recovery options, such as a system restore point, a reset, or a clean install.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about using DISM and SFC commands to repair Windows 10.

Question: How do I know if my Windows 10 installation is corrupted?

Answer: Some signs of a corrupted Windows 10 installation are:

• Frequent blue screens or crashes
• Missing or damaged system files
• Driver errors or conflicts
• Performance issues or slowdowns
• Startup or boot problems
• Malware infections or security breaches

Question: Can I run the DISM and SFC commands in normal mode?

Answer: Yes, you can run the DISM and SFC commands in normal mode, but it is recommended to run them in Safe Mode to avoid any interference from other programs or processes.

Question: Can I run the DISM and SFC commands in offline mode?

Answer: Yes, you can run the DISM and SFC commands in offline mode if your Windows 10 installation is not bootable. To do this, you need to boot from a recovery drive or a Windows installation media and access the Command Prompt from there. You also need to specify the location of the offline Windows image using the /Image option. For example:

DISM /Image:C:\ /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

This command will scan and repair the Windows image on the C: drive.

SFC /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=C:\Windows

This command will scan and repair the system files on the C: drive.

Question: How often should I run the DISM and SFC commands?

A: There is no definitive answer to how often you should run the DISM and SFC commands, but it is a good practice to run them whenever you encounter any problems with your Windows 10 installation, or as part of your regular maintenance routine.

Summary

In this article, we have shown you how to use the DISM and SFC commands to repair a corrupted Windows 10 installation and restore your system files. We have also answered some common questions about these commands. We hope this article has been helpful and informative for you.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice. We are not responsible for any errors or omissions in this article, or for any damages or losses arising from its use. You should always consult a qualified professional before making any decisions related to your Windows 10 installation.