The Deployment Image Servicing and Management command-line tool, aka DISM, has been around since Windows Vista, when it was first introduced as a method for creating and managing Windows images based on the Windows image (.wim) file format. Recently, with the introduction of the encrypted and compressed Electronic Software Download (.esd) file format in Windows 8, DISM has gained the ability to work with such files as well. In the context of the DISM utility's name, "servicing" is a broad term covering a wide range of functions that include the following:
- Capture disk (partition) images (also requires using the Diskpart utility)
- Mount and modify an image using DISM (includes description of how to customize images by adding and deleting files)
- Apply images using DISM
- Create a Windows image file for 32- and 64-bit images in a single .wim file
- Create a data image using DISM (contains only files and applications to be copied into a Windows installation using an unattended answer file)
My own recent use of DISM with Windows 10 has produced somewhat more modest tasks at which DISM is equally accomplished, but which are more likely to be of use in day-to-day system upkeep and maintenance. This list of tasks provides the basis for the remainder of this article:
- Check, scan and (where necessary) restore the health of Windows image files
- Compacting Windows installations; specifically, the WinSXS component store
- Adding updates to Windows 10 manually, usually when Windows Update items fail to install
- Identifying Windows images, installers and ISO files
- Identifying and changing international settings in Windows images