If the Windows 10 installation is damaged, it can be repaired using SFC and DISM online:

1. Run SFC from an elevated command prompt to perform an initial scan and replace corrupt files
   
   sfc /scannow
   
   
   
   
2. Use the CheckHealth option with DISM to quickly determine if there are any corruptions in the local image
   
   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
   
   
   
   
3. If no issues are found, you can run a more advanced scan using the ScanHealth option
   
   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
   
   
   
   
4. If issues are found, use the RestoreHealth option to scan and automatically repair corrupt files
   
   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
   
   
   
   

If DISM is unable to access Windows Update, you can use an offline disc image to repair your installation.

1. Download a Windows 10 ISO file
   • Open the Microsoft Windows 10 Download Site
   • Click the Download tool now button
   • Run the MediaCreationToolxxxxx.exe application
   • Accept the terms and conditions
   • Choose Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC and press Next
     
     
     
     
   • Select the correct language and architecture that matches the corrupted installation
     
     
     
     
   • Select the ISO option, click NEXT, choose a destination, click SAVE
     
     
     
     
   • Click FINISH and browse to the location of the ISO. Double-click on the Windows.iso file to mount it
     
     
     
     
2. Once the image is mounted, you can use it to restore the installation’s health (replace the “F” drive letter with the mount point’s drive letter)
   
   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:F:\sources\install.wim
   
   Or you can limit the use of Windows Update with the LimitAccess option
   
   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:F:\sources\install.wim /LimitAccess

If you have an encrypted install.esd image from an upgrade to the latest version of Windows 10, you can use it to repair the damaged files.

1. Run the command for the ESD file (update C:\$Windows.~BT\Sources to match your source)
   
   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:\$Windows.~BT\Sources\Install.esd
   
   You can also limit access to Windows Update as well with the LimitAccess switch
   
   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:\$Windows.~BT\Sources\Install.esd /LimitAccess
   
   

The log files for SFC and DISM are stored in the following locations: %windir%/Logs/CBS/CBS.log and %windir%\Logs\DISM\dism.log. The logs will show if the programs had trouble replacing a file.

The Windows Vista Check for System Update Readiness (CheckSUR) tool will try to fix certain Windows Update installation failures.

System resources, such as file data, registry data, and even in-memory data, can develop inconsistencies during the lifetime of the operating system. These inconsistencies may be caused by various hardware failures or by software issues. In some cases, these inconsistencies can affect the Windows Servicing Store, and they can cause a Windows Vista update to fail. When the update fails, it blocks the user from installing updates and service packs. CheckSUR addresses this issue.

When Windows Update detects inconsistencies that are related to system servicing in system files or in the registry, Windows Update offers CheckSUR as an available update package.

• Update for Windows Vista and Server 2008 (KB947821)

Note This Windows Update or Automatic Update package will only be offered if such inconsistencies have been detected on the system. CheckSUR should run automatically after it has been installed from Windows Update.

To manually install and run CheckSUR, follow these steps:

1. Click Start , click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.
2. In the User Account Control dialog box, click Continue.
3. Type reg add HKLM\COMPONENTS /v StoreCorruptTimeStamp /t REG_SZ /d “0” /f, and then press ENTER.
4. Type reg delete
   HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CheckSUR\, and then press ENTER.
5. Download and then install CheckSUR from the Microsoft Download Center.
6. As soon as the file has been successfully downloaded, double-click the file to install and run CheckSUR.

We recommend that you restart your computer after you run CheckSUR to make sure that any changes take effect. Additionally, you must try to reinstall any software updates that previously could not be installed. If CheckSUR detected and fixed the cause of the failures, these updates will now install successfully.

CheckSUR creates a log file that captures the issues, if any exist, that were found or fixed. The log file will be located at %WINDIR%\Logs\CBS\CheckSUR.log

CheckSUR is run by Windows Update after you install KB947821. Windows Update can take as long as 10 to 15 minutes to complete this scan. The time may be significantly longer on some computers. However, the Windows Update progress bar is not updated while this process is running, and it will not move. This means that the Windows Update progress bar may indicate that it is 0 percent complete, or 20 percent complete, and so on, for some time. This behavior is expected, and you should not cancel the update. If you cancel the update, some problems may not be identified, and this package may have to run again.