DISM - Fixing Component Store Corruption in Windows 8

How to Use DISM to Fix Component Store Corruption in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012​

One of the most used tools when fixing corruption for Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 was the System Update and Readiness Tool (KB947821), commonly called CheckSUR. The CheckSUR tool was an excellent way for most people to see what corruption had happened on their store, and potentially fix that corruption if the tool contained the payload to do so.

In Windows 8/8.1 and Windows Server 2012, this has changed. It’s called Inbox Corruption Repair and it brings the functionality of CheckSUR into Windows rather than requiring a separate download to get the utility like you do now. This is exposed in two ways, the first is really unseen by the end user and happens when Windows detects a corrupted state when attempting to install fixes via Windows Update. When this happens, Windows fix the corruption silently and then re-install the prior packages. The manual way to use this tool is via DISM (Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management). The way this is exposed is via the DISM /Cleanup-Image functionality.

If a Windows image (Windows component store) becomes unserviceable, you can use the Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management (DISM) tool to update the files and correct the problem.

For example:

• To use to fix Windows component store corruption when a SFC /SCANNOW command is unable to repair corrupted system files because the store (source) is corrupted, then run the SFC command again.
• To use to fix Windows component store corruption when the same Windows Updates continue to appear to be available to install even though they already show successfully installed in update history.

For more information, see:

• Fixing component store corruption in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 - The Windows Servicing Guy - Site Home - TechNet Blogs
• How to Repair a Windows Image

This tutorial will show you how to do an Inbox Corruption Repair with the DISM /Cleanup-Image tool to fix component store corruption in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do an Inbox Corruption Repair with the Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management (DISM) tool.

   Note

The DISM /Cleanup-Image tool saves it's log files in the file locations below. To be able to view these logs, you would need to copy them from the locations below to your desktop, then open them from your desktop.

C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log

C:\Windows\Logs\DISM\dism.log

   Tip

If you get an error like below when running a DISM command in an option below, then run the command below and try again afterwards.

Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup

   Note

Error: 0x80240021

Failure DISM. No operation was performed.

CONTENTS:

• Option One: To Run "DISM /Cleanup-Image" tool in an Elevated Command Prompt
• Option Two: To Run "DISM /Cleanup-Image" tool in an Elevated PowerShell

OPTION ONE

To Run "DISM /Cleanup-Image" tool in an Elevated Command Prompt

1. Open an elevated command prompt.

2. Do step3, step 4, step 5, or step 6 below for what DISM command you would like to use.


3. To Use DISM /CheckHealth Command

   Note

You would use /CheckHealth to only check whether the image has been flagged as corrupted by a failed process and whether the corruption can be repaired. This is just a quick way to see if corruption currently exists, and to inform you if there is corruption. This does not fix anything or create a log. This will finish running almost instantly.

A) In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below, press Enter, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

:ar: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth





4. To Use DISM /ScanHealth Command

   Note

You would use /ScanHealth to scan the image for component store corruption. This option does not fix any corruption. It only checks for component store corruption and records that corruption to the log file. This can take around 5-10 minutes to finish. It will stay at 20% for a while before continuing.

A) In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below, press Enter, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

:ar: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth





5. To Use DISM /RestoreHealth Command

   Note

(recommended) You would use /RestoreHealth to scan the image for component store corruption, perform repair operations automatically, and records that corruption to the log file. This can take around 10-15 minutes up to a few hours to finish depending on the level of corruption. It will stay at 20% for a while before continuing.

A) In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below, press Enter, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

:ar: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth





6. To Use DISM /RestoreHealth /Source:wim Command

   Note

You would use /Source with /RestoreHealth to specify the location of an install.wim file as the source of known good versions of files that can be used for the repair. This can take around 10-15 minutes up to a few hours to finish depending on the level of corruption. It will stay at 20% for a while before continuing.

This can be useful if step 5 above was not able to repair the Windows image (component store).

The install.wim file will be in the Sources folder of a mounted Windows 8.1 ISO file.

A) In the elevated command prompt, type the command below you want to use, press Enter, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

:ar: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:wim:Full Path to install.wim file:1

OR

(To prevent DISM from using Windows Update for online images)
:ar: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:wim:Full Path to install.wim file:1 /limitaccess

For example:

:ar: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:wim:D:\sources\install.wim:1 /limitaccess





7. If you did step 5 or step 6 above, it is recommended to restart the computer to fully apply.

OPTION TWO

To Run "DISM /Cleanup-Image" tool in an Elevated PowerShell

1. Open an elevated PowerShell.

2. Do step3, step 4, step 5, or step 6 below for what DISM command you would like to use.


3. To Use DISM /CheckHealth Command

   Note

You would use /CheckHealth to only check whether the image has been flagged as corrupted by a failed process and whether the corruption can be repaired. This is just a quick way to see if corruption currently exists, and to inform you if there is corruption. This does not fix anything or create a log. This will finish running almost instantly.

A) In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below, press Enter, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Repair-WindowsImage /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth





4. To Use DISM /ScanHealth Command

   Note

You would use /ScanHealth to scan the image for component store corruption. This option does not fix any corruption. It only checks for component store corruption and records that corruption to the log file. This can take around 5-10 minutes to finish. It will stay at 20% for a while before continuing.

A) In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below, press Enter, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Repair-WindowsImage /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth





5. To Use DISM /RestoreHealth Command

   Note

(recommended) You would use /RestoreHealth to scan the image for component store corruption, perform repair operations automatically, and records that corruption to the log file. This can take around 10-15 minutes up to a few hours to finish depending on the level of corruption. It will stay at 20% for a while before continuing.

A) In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below, press Enter, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Repair-WindowsImage /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth





6. To Use DISM /RestoreHealth /Source:wim Command

   Note

You would use /Source with /RestoreHealth to specify the location of an install.wim file as the source of known good versions of files that can be used for the repair. This can take around 10-15 minutes up to a few hours to finish depending on the level of corruption. It will stay at 20% for a while before continuing.

This can be useful if step 5 above was not able to repair the Windows image (component store).

The install.wim file will be in the Sources folder of a mounted Windows 8.1 ISO file.

A) In the elevated command prompt, type the command below you want to use, press Enter, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

:ar: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:wim:Full Path to install.wim file:1

OR

(To prevent DISM from using Windows Update for online images)
:ar: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:wim:Full Path to install.wim file:1 /limitaccess

For example:

:ar: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:wim:D:\sources\install.wim:1 /limitaccess





7. If you did step 5, step 6, or step 7 above, it is recommended to restart the computer to fully apply.





That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Run the "SFC /SCANNOW" Command at Boot or in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Do a Repair Install of Windows 8 and 8.1 without Losing Anything
• How to Reset Windows Update in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Refresh Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Reset Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Do a System Restore in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Determine Size and if you should Clean Up Component Store (WinSxS folder) in Windows 8.1
• How to Clean Up the WinSxS Folder (Component Store) in Windows 8.1

 

[dacoolmike]

yeah i did the third option you said right? and when i run the troubleshooter again it says the installing recent updates fixed. but when i use sfc /scannow it still says corrupted files where found but was unable to fix some of them and when i use dism /restorehealth it says source files could not be downloaded. So what do i do now?

 

[dacoolmike]

Windows update troubleshoot now says installing recent updates not fixed. Even when I reinstall it.

 

[Brink]

In that case, you might consider to refresh or reset Windows 8.1.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2293-refresh-windows-8-a.html

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2302-reset-windows-8-a.html

 

[dacoolmike]

Will updating from windows 8.1 to windows 10 solve the problem? as it may replace all files including the corrupted ones or not?

 

[Brink]

It should since the OS would be fresh.

 

[dacoolmike]

Thank you that's all I need to know. If I cant fix it I might resort to updating to windows 10 before I resort to reformat. Also I just want to ask will updating to windows 10 delete or affect my programs and application in anyway or not? Just being sure.

 

[ivanoviskie]

What If I'm using win 10 and the file install.wim is not with the wim extension .. it is esd extension instead of wim .... I don't know how to make it work for me!

 

[Brink]

What If I'm using win 10 and the file install.wim is not with the wim extension .. it is esd extension instead of wim .... I don't know how to make it work for me!

Hello Ivan, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Please see the site and tutorial below instead for Windows 10.

DISM - Repair Windows 10 Image - Windows 10 Forums

 

[consultantbis]

Hi, I was looking at the DISM Tutorial. I know that there is a possibility to give the DISM command prompt the file path for a file to file online sharing of windows image files for windows 8. I don't have an image or the ability to make a downloaded image. Do you have a path that I can use to give the command for DISM to allow it to access an online source to get the corrupted files fixed? And if so, what is the command that I should enter in the command prompt?

 

[Brink]

Hello consultantbis, and welcome to Eight Forums.

You would want to use the command in step 5 in OPTION ONE.

 

[consultantbis]

reply to moderator to use step 5

Hi, I was told to use step 5 when I do that I got Error: 0x80240021 DISM failed. No operation was performed. I was hoping that what MS told me about finding a file share online that has the file to give it the path was possible. I could be mistaken and that this is what the command does, online/, is it accesses MS online repositories. Because I have also gotten the error 2 that it is unable to access the image, when using the online / restore health command. I think this was run in the command prompt in advanced startup or safe mode.

 

[Brink]

If you like, the note box under step 6 in OPTION ONE has a link to download a Windows 8.1 ISO file from Microsoft to use as a source for DISM.

 

[consultantbis]

Hi, so I put the deal into a USB from the site listed in the option 1 deal 6. And upon use in elevated command prompt this is what it said what is pasted below. I went to the site and found the wording that I was originally looking for with the Windows side-by-side folder from a network share.

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.3.9600]
(c) 2013 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\WINDOWS\system32>Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:wim:E:\so
urces\install.wim:1 /limitaccess

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 6.3.9600.17031

Image Version: 6.3.9600.17031

[==========================100.0%==========================]

Error: 0x800f081f

The source files could not be found.
Use the "Source" option to specify the location of the files that are required t
o restore the feature. For more information on specifying a source location, see
Configure a Windows Repair Source.

The DISM log file can be found at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log

C:\WINDOWS\system32>

 

[Brink]

See if having the ISO on an internal hard drive instead, then mount it to see if may work instead.

If still not, then you might see if a repair install may fix the issue you are having.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/26095-repair-install-windows-8-a.html

 

[consultantbis]

So, when I place the ISO into a hard drive the location is fine in the file path, and I also used the command to limit the windows update bc it's been giving me an error code 800f0922 when trying to uninstall kb3022345 to work around these issues. I even tried to remove the package from the elevated command line. I have 119 updates on deck, that fail all the time with many different steps taken. I have also run a disk scan clean.

I mean to say that I want to make sure that I am giving it a good command line entry with regards to the image, and the command itself to make sense. When I look in the sources folder, I see install but not install.wim or what is listed in tutorials as the correct file path or source

 

[Brink]

Since you're dealing with Windows Update issues, you might see if doing OPTION THREE in the tutorial below to completely reset Windows Update may help.

Windows Update - Reset - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[consultantbis]

Yes, I have done the windows update reset a couple of times.

 

[Brink]

If you like, a repair install would be a good choice without losing anything.

 

[consultantbis]

I tried the DISM with the ISO on hard drive and this was the outcome:
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.3.9600]
(c) 2013 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\WINDOWS\system32>Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:wim: D:\so
urces\install.wim:1

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 6.3.9600.17031

Image Version: 6.3.9600.17031

[==========================100.0%==========================]

Error: 0x80240021

DISM failed. No operation was performed.
For more information, review the log file.

The DISM log file can be found at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log

 

[Brink]

The error code 0x80240021 is generally displayed when an operation times out.

Clean up the component store first using the tutorial below, then see if you may be able to run your DISM command above afterwards.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/44351-winsxs-folder-component-store-clean-up-windows-8-1-a.html