Full Guide to DISM Online Cleanup Image in Windows 7

Is your Windows 7 system feeling sluggish or encountering issues that hinder your productivity? Fortunately, you can revitalize your aging Windows 7 with the DISM online cleanup image command. In this article, we'll explore how to use the DISM scan command to breathe new life into your operating system.

What is the DISM command?

DISM, or Deployment Image Service and Management Tool, is a command line utility that plays a critical role in Windows system maintenance. It can be used to service and prepare Windows images, including Windows PE, Windows Recovery Environment, and Windows Setup.

One of the most common uses of DISM is to check the integrity of operating system files and repair system files that are corrupted, damaged, or modified. You can use the check, restore, and DISM scan command to automatically do that.

Can you run DISM online cleanup image in Windows 7?

Everything goes fine until you find that Windows updates and service packs fail to install or the system is having instability issues and other strange problems. Attention, corruptions may occur in system files! You should take immediate measures to repair these corrupted files.

However, some users have reported that the DISM command isn't available on Windows 7 and earlier versions. This statement is half right. From the Microsoft forum, I get that DISM does not work well on a 64GB drive. If you want to use this command line, you need a 128 GB or bigger drive on your Windows 7 so that you can run the DISM scan command.

Besides, there is a risk of data loss if you make a mistake in the process. To avoid this problem, you need to back up your system in advance.

Backup Windows 7 in case DISM fails

One or more system backups keep things simple. It enables you to restore the system to the previous working state when your computer goes wrong due to corrupted system files or other factors. With a system backup in hand, you don’t have to worry about DISM errors and data loss anymore.

Learn the instructions below to backup Windows 7:

1. Download AOMEI Backupper and open it after you've successfully installed this freeware.

2. Click Backup and System Backup subsequently.

3. Change the Task Name as you like. The required system partitions are selected by default. Select a destination path (here is F:\) to store the image backup.

4. Click Start Backup to begin backup.

Tips:
Options: you can enable email notification, backup compression, and backup splitting here.
Schedule: check this box to set up an auto backup based on Daily, Weekly, or Monthly. To enjoy Event triggers and USB plug-in modes, you should do an edition upgrade.
Scheme: click it to delete old backup images automatically. This feature is available in the Pro version and higher versions.
Remember the steps to restore the system: Home > the system backup task > Restore.

How to use DISM online cleanup image in Windows 7?

Windows 7 can accumulate unnecessary files over time, leading to sluggish performance. You can use "DISM online cleanup-image" to fix your corrupted files. Here are the simple steps to open Command Prompt and run a DISM command on your system. These steps will guide you through the process and help you understand how the DISM command works.

1. Type cmd in the search box (in the bottom left of the taskbar) and then right-click Command Prompt to choose Run as administrator. Enter the administrator username and password if prompted.

2. Type the following command and press Enter to scan, detect, and fix corrupted system files, ensuring your Windows 7 is running smoothly:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

*This may take about twenty minutes to complete. Do not make any changes during the repair process.

3. Additionally, if you encounter issues during Windows updates, running the following command can help you resolve these problems:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup

Although your system performance and stability will be improved after running these commands, the repair process takes a long time. You must always be careful with those operations, as data loss might occur if you make a mistake in the process.

Besides, you may meet DISM online cleanup image error 87 when using the above commands. Error 87 often indicates a syntax error in the command, even if you have written the commands correctly.

More commands to use in Windows 8/10/11

Users who are running Windows 8 and above versions can use DISM scan commands to repair Windows images. When your operating system has missing or corrupted files, there are three options you can use to fix them. These commands are essential for maintaining a healthy and functional system.

For users who are running Windows 8 and above versions, you can run the following command to check if there are any corrupted files:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

The DISM ScanHealth command performs a detailed scan to detect any issues in the Windows image. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator by clicking on Start, searching for "Command Prompt," and selecting "Run as Administrator."

2. Type dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth and press Enter. This scan may take several minutes to complete and will indicate if the Windows 10 image needs any repairs.

And type the command below to see if any corruption has been detected:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

The CheckHealth option identifies corruption in Windows images but does not repair them. Here’s how to use it. After running these commands, it will report if the system files are healthy, repairable, or irreparable.

1. Click on Start, search for "Command Prompt," and right-click the top result. Select "Run as Administrator."

2. Type dism /online /cleanup-image /checkhealth and press Enter. This quick check will scan for any corruption and display if there are issues that need repair.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealths

The RestoreHealth option not only scans the system image but also fixes any issues found. This is essential for maintaining the integrity of your Windows system. Follow these steps to use it:

1. Click on Start, search for "Command Prompt," and right-click the top result to select "Run as Administrator."

2. Type dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth and press Enter. This process may take a few minutes. The tool will connect to Windows Update to download and replace any damaged files.

DISM vs. System File Checker

You probably know another command to scan and repair corrupted or missing system files:

sfc /scannow

What are the differences between the DISM cleanup image and SFC /scannow? 

SFC /scannow is primarily used to repair individual system files at the user level, while DISM Cleanup Image is used to clean up and optimize the entire Windows image, which includes the operating system, its components, and other packages.

The choice between the two depends on your specific needs and the level of repair or maintenance required for your Windows system. It's not uncommon to use both tools in combination to ensure the overall health and integrity of the system.

FAQs on DISM Scan Command

1. Which is better, SFC or DISM?

DISM is more powerful and can fix corrupt files in the Windows system image. Use it when SFC cannot repair the files.

2. Is SFC/scannow worth it?

Run SFC/scannow when you notice a problem. One run should suffice. While SFC scans your system files, CHKDSK checks a specified disk and repairs or recovers data if needed.

3. How often should I run DISM?

Run DISM and SFC commands when you encounter error messages or notice your computer slowing down. For preventive maintenance, consider running them once a month.

Verdict

When your system files get corrupted, you can repair them by running DISM /online/cleanup-image/ in Windows 7. The DISM scan command line may fail sometimes. However, system backups created by AOMEI Backupper Standard eliminate your worries. More pleasing, this freeware can be used to create bootable backup for Windows 10/8/7.