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If DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth appears stuck at a percentage, do not cancel it immediately. DISM can spend a long time processing the component store, especially on a slow disk, a damaged Windows installation, or a system that must obtain repair files through Windows Update. A percentage that remains unchanged is not proof that the process has frozen.
Use the steps below to determine whether DISM is still working, repair it with a suitable source, and identify the cause if it actually fails.
What the command is doing
The command targets the currently running Windows installation and repairs its component store:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth| Part | Purpose |
|---|---|
DISM.exe |
Windows Deployment Image Servicing and Management, built into Windows 10 and Windows 11. |
/Online |
Targets the Windows installation currently running, rather than an offline image. |
/Cleanup-Image |
Selects component-store and Windows-image servicing operations. |
/RestoreHealth |
Checks for component-store corruption and attempts an automatic repair. |
It does not reset Windows, remove your applications, undo registry changes, or restore factory settings. It repairs Windows servicing files and the component store used by updates, features, and system components.
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1. Give DISM time to finish
Leave the Command Prompt window open and wait if the computer is responsive. DISM may appear to pause while it analyzes manifests, verifies packages, or retrieves replacement files. The progress percentage is not a reliable real-time activity indicator.
Check for signs of activity rather than watching only the number:
- Open Task Manager with
Ctrl+Shift+Esc. - On the Processes tab, look for
dism.exe,TrustedInstaller.exe, or related servicing activity. - Check whether disk, CPU, or network activity changes periodically.
- Do not shut down the computer while DISM is actively servicing Windows.
There is no universal completion time. A healthy system may finish quickly, while a damaged installation, slow hard drive, limited network connection, or unavailable Windows Update source can take substantially longer.
2. Confirm that it was started as administrator
DISM needs an elevated Command Prompt. If you closed the original window or received an access-related error, start it again correctly:
- Select Start and type Command Prompt.
- Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
- Select Yes at the User Account Control prompt.
- Run:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealthDISM and DISM.exe are equivalent here, and the switch capitalization does not matter.
3. Check whether Windows is still responsive
If the command window is unchanged but Windows still responds, continue waiting or monitor the logs. If the entire desktop is frozen, the disk is continuously active, and you cannot interact with other applications, allow a reasonable period for recovery before forcing a restart.
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If you must stop a genuinely unresponsive process, press Ctrl + C in the Command Prompt first. Restart Windows normally, then run the repair again from an elevated Command Prompt. Avoid repeatedly powering off the computer during servicing.
4. Check the image before running another repair
These commands provide different levels of diagnosis:
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealthCheckHealth reports whether Windows has already recorded the image as corrupted. It does not perform a repair.
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealthScanHealth performs a deeper corruption scan and can take several minutes. Neither command is a mandatory prerequisite for RestoreHealth; Microsoft documents RestoreHealth as the operation that scans and repairs automatically.
5. Repair with a matching Windows source
Without a /Source option, DISM normally attempts to obtain missing repair files from Windows Update, subject to Windows servicing and repair-source policy. If Windows Update is damaged, blocked by policy, offline, or unable to provide the required files, RestoreHealth may remain in progress and eventually fail.
A repair source must match the target computer’s Windows version. A source from a different release, edition, or servicing level may not contain the required component payloads.
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Use a mounted Windows image
If a suitable Windows image has been mounted at C:testmountwindows, run:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:testmountwindows /LimitAccess/LimitAccess prevents DISM from contacting Windows Update, so it uses the specified source instead.
Use a network Windows folder
For a matching Windows installation on a network computer, Microsoft documents this form:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:\servernamec$windows /LimitAccessReplace servername with the source computer’s name. The source computer must run the same operating-system version as the computer being repaired.
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Installation media can also provide a source, but the media must correspond to the installed Windows release and edition. Do not point DISM at an arbitrary ISO and assume it is compatible.
6. Read the DISM and CBS logs
When the command reports an error, inspect the logs instead of repeatedly rerunning the same command. The main Component-Based Servicing log is:
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%windir%LogsCBSCBS.logThe persistent log is:
%windir%LogsCBSCBS.persist.logOn a typical installation, %windir% is C:Windows. To quickly search the CBS log for common corruption entries, run:
findstr /i /c:"CSI Payload Corrupt" /c:"CBS MUM Missing" /c:"CSI Manifest Corrupt" "%windir%LogsCBSCBS.log"Entries such as CSI Payload Corrupt, CBS MUM Missing, and CSI Manifest Corrupt indicate the type of component data that could not be repaired.
7. Handle error 0x800f081f
Error 0x800f081f generally means DISM could not find the required replacement files or package metadata. Microsoft documentation gives missing replacement MUM/CAT files as an example.
Use a valid local, mounted, network, USB, or DVD source that matches the installed Windows version, then run the command with /Source and /LimitAccess. If the source is incompatible, changing only the path will not solve the problem.
8. Run System File Checker after DISM succeeds
Once RestoreHealth completes successfully, run System File Checker in the same elevated Command Prompt:
sfc /scannowMicrosoft’s Windows Update repair sequence is:
- Run
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth. - Run
sfc /scannow. - Try Windows Update again.
SFC checks protected system files; DISM repairs the Windows component store that SFC may use as its repair source. Running SFC first can therefore be less useful when the component store itself is damaged.
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When to stop troubleshooting
Escalate the problem if DISM repeatedly fails with a valid, matching source, the CBS log identifies persistent payload or manifest corruption, or Windows Update and system-file repairs continue failing. At that point, back up important files and consider an in-place repair installation or another supported Windows recovery option rather than deleting files from WinSxS or manually replacing component-store files.
Do not delete the WinSxS folder to make DISM finish. It is part of Windows servicing, and removing files from it can make updates and recovery substantially worse.
FAQ
How long should DISM RestoreHealth take?
There is no fixed duration. It may finish quickly on a healthy system but can take much longer when the component store is damaged, the disk is slow, or DISM is obtaining files from Windows Update. A static percentage alone does not prove that it has frozen.
Can I close Command Prompt while DISM is running?
Do not close it while DISM is actively servicing Windows. If the computer is genuinely unresponsive, try Ctrl+C first, restart normally, and run the command again from an administrator Command Prompt.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Do I have to run ScanHealth before RestoreHealth?
No. CheckHealth and ScanHealth are diagnostic commands. RestoreHealth performs its own scan-and-repair operation, so you can run it directly.
Why is DISM stuck at 62.3 percent or another specific percentage?
A progress percentage is not a reliable activity monitor. DISM may be processing a particular servicing phase for an extended period. Check Task Manager and the CBS log before assuming it has stopped.
What does error 0x800f081f mean in DISM?
DISM could not locate required replacement files or package metadata. Provide a matching Windows installation source with /Source, and use /LimitAccess if Windows Update should not be contacted.
Does RestoreHealth reset Windows or remove programs?
No. It repairs the Windows component store and servicing files. It is not a factory reset and does not generally repair ordinary third-party applications.
The Bottom Line
First, wait and verify whether the computer or servicing processes are still active. If DISM truly fails, run it again from an administrator Command Prompt, provide a matching Windows repair source when Windows Update cannot supply files, and inspect %windir%LogsCBSCBS.log. After a successful repair, run sfc /scannow and retry Windows Update.
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