Fix Windows 10, 8 & 7 Errors: DISM and SFC Not Working

Fix Windows 10, 8 & 7 Errors: DISM and SFC Not Working

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. What is DISM?
3. What is SFC?
4. How to Boot into Advanced Recovery Environment
5. General Solution for Most Common Errors
6. Second Method: Repairing Corrupted or Missing Files
7. Creating a Bootable USB
8. Checking the WinSxS Folder
9. Identifying Windows Version and Build Number
10. Extracting and Replacing Files

Article:

How to Fix DISM and SFC Errors for Corrupted System Files

1. Introduction

Have You ever encountered DISM and SFC errors when trying to fix corrupted system files? In this article, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to resolve these errors efficiently. DISM, which stands for Deployment Image Servicing and Management, is an administrative tool used in Windows operating systems for various tasks, including repairing corrupted files, adding or removing Windows components, and editing Windows images. On the other HAND, SFC (System File Checker) is an administrative tool specifically designed to check and repair system files in Windows.

2. What is DISM?

2.1 DISM stands for Deployment Image Servicing and Management. 2.2 DISM is an administrative tool used in Windows operating systems. 2.3 DISM can be used to perform various tasks, such as repairing corrupted files, adding or removing Windows components, and editing Windows images.

3. What is SFC?

3.1 SFC stands for System File Checker. 3.2 SFC is an administrative tool used to check and repair system files in Windows.

4. How to Boot into Advanced Recovery Environment

Before using DISM and SFC in a running Windows environment, it is recommended to boot into the Advanced Recovery Environment. Here's how you can do it:

4.1 Type CMD into the search box. 4.2 Right-click on Command Prompt and select "Run as Administrator". 4.3 Check the Recovery Environment Status using the command: ReagentC /info. 4.4 If the Windows recovery is disabled, search for the WinRE file using the command: DIR /A /S C:\WINRE.WIM. 4.5 If the file is available, enable recovery using the command: REAGENTC /ENABLE. 4.6 If you are unable to enable Recovery, refer to the video description for instructions on how to enable it. 4.7 Now click on the Start icon, select the Power button, press and hold the Shift key, and click on Restart. 4.8 Select Troubleshooting option, then select Advanced Options, and open Command Prompt. 4.9 If you have a password for your account, type it to login. Otherwise, click continue directly.

5. General Solution for Most Common Errors

The first method we will discuss is a general solution for most common and simple errors. These commands can help fix issues such as "System resource protection could not perform the requested operation" when executing sfc /scannow, or "Access is denied" when executing DISM RESTOREHEALTH. Follow these steps:

5.1 Type BCDEDIT and press Enter to determine the Windows partition. 5.2 Change CMD path to the system32 folder inside the Windows partition using this command: CD /D D:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32. 5.3 Execute this command to reset the system attributes of the WinSxS folder to defaults: ICACLS D:\WINDOWS\WINSXS* /T /Q /C /RESET. 5.4 Execute this command to grant full access to administrators: ICACLS D:\WINDOWS\WinSxS* /T /Q /C /GRANT ADMINISTRATORS:F. 5.5 Use the up arrow key from the keyboard to explore previous commands. 5.6 Execute this command to reset Windows security settings to default: SECEDIT /CONFIGURE /CFG D:\WINDOWS\INF\DEFLTBASE.INF /DB DEFLTBASE.SDB /VERBOSE. 5.7 Execute the following two commands to configure and start the trusted installer: SC CONFIG TRUSTEDINSTALLER START= DEMAND and NET START TRUSTEDINSTALLER. 5.8 Now the system is ready to execute DISM and SFC commands without any issues: DISM /IMAGE:D:\ /CLEANUP-IMAGE /RESTOREHEALTH and SFC /SCANNOW /OFFBOOTDIR=D:\ /OFFWINDIR=D:\WINDOWS.

6. Second Method: Repairing Corrupted or Missing Files

If the first method did not fix the errors, the required files in the WinSxS folder may be corrupted or missing. Follow these steps to repair or add the missing files:

6.1 Boot from a bootable USB pendrive of Windows. Refer to the video description for instructions on creating a bootable USB and booting from it. 6.2 Once you have booted from the USB, check the WinSxS folder as follows: 6.2.a. Type NOTEPAD and press Enter. 6.2.b. Click on File, then select the Open option. 6.2.c. Open the Windows partition, then open the Windows folder. 6.2.d. Right-click on the WinSxS folder and select Properties. 6.3 If the number of files inside the WinSxS folder is significantly lower than the minimum required amount (e.g., 1222 files instead of 51000), it indicates a problem with the folder. 6.4 To repair the corrupted or add the missing files, follow these steps: 6.4.a. Navigate to this path to check the Windows edition: D:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\LICENSES\NEUTRAL_DEFAULT. 6.4.b. Back to the command prompt and change the CMD path to the System32 folder: CD /D D:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32. 6.4.c. Execute this command to identify the Windows version: WINVER. 6.4.d. Check the version of Windows in the USB drive using this command: DISM /GET-WIMINFO /WIMFILE:H:\SOURCES\INSTALL.WIM. 6.4.e. Select the index number corresponding to the Windows edition in the USB drive using this command: DISM /GET-WIMINFO /WIMFILE:H:\SOURCES\INSTALL.WIM /index:6. 6.4.f. Check the default UI language of the installed Windows using this command: DISM /IMAGE:D:\ /GET-INTL. 6.4.g. Extract the index number corresponding to the missing files in the WinSxS folder: DISM /MOUNT-IMAGE /IMAGEFILE:H:\SOURCES\INSTALL.WIM /INDEX:1 /MOUNTDIR:D:\MOUNT /READONLY. 6.4.h. Copy the WinSxS folder to a created folder: XCOPY /H /S D:\WINDOWS\WinSxS* D:\WINDOWS\WinSxS.BACK. 6.4.i. Copy the files from the mounted folder to the WinSxS folder: ROBOCOPY D:\MOUNT\WINDOWS\WinSxS\ D:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\ /E /ZB /XN /XC. 6.5 If you cannot wait for the long process of copying files, you can try renaming your existing WinSxS folder and copying the entire WinSxS folder from the mount folder to the Windows folder. 6.6 Finally, execute the DISM and SFC commands again or boot into Windows to check if the issue has been resolved.

Pros:

• The article provides a comprehensive guide on how to fix DISM and SFC errors for corrupted system files.
• The step-by-step instructions make it easy for readers to follow along and implement the solutions.
• The article covers both the general solution for most common errors and the second method for repairing corrupted or missing files.

Cons:

• The article does not provide an alternative solution if none of the methods Mentioned in the article work.
• The article does not mention the potential risks or drawbacks of executing these commands.

Highlights:

• DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) is an administrative tool used in Windows operating systems to perform various tasks.
• SFC (System File Checker) is an administrative tool specifically designed to check and repair system files in Windows.
• Booting into the Advanced Recovery Environment is recommended before using DISM and SFC in a running Windows environment.
• The general solution for most common errors involves resetting system attributes, granting full access to administrators, and resetting Windows security settings.
• The second method focuses on repairing corrupted or missing files by booting from a bootable USB and replacing the WinSxS folder.

FAQ:

Q: What is the purpose of DISM? A: DISM is an administrative tool used in Windows operating systems for tasks such as repairing corrupted files, adding or removing Windows components, and editing Windows images.

Q: How can I boot into the Advanced Recovery Environment? A: To boot into the Advanced Recovery Environment, type CMD into the search box, right-click on Command Prompt, select "Run as Administrator," and follow the provided steps in the article.

Q: What should I do if the first method doesn't fix the errors? A: If the first method doesn't fix the errors, it may indicate corrupted or missing files in the WinSxS folder. Follow the second method mentioned in the article to repair or add the missing files.

Q: Are there any potential risks or drawbacks to executing these commands? A: While the commands provided in the article can help fix DISM and SFC errors, it is essential to proceed with caution and ensure you have backups of important data before making any changes to the system files.