Fix Windows corruption errors by using the DISM or System Update Readiness tool

Windows corruption errors may prevent Windows updates and service packs from installing. For example, an update might not install if a system file is damaged. The DISM or System Update Readiness tool may help you to fix some Windows corruption errors. 

If you have some other problems that prevent you from installing updates by using Windows Update, view Troubleshoot problems with installing updates.

Resolution

For Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows Server 2012 R2 or Windows Server 2012To resolve this problem, use the inbox Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool. Then, install the Windows update or service pack again.

Open an elevated command prompt. To do this, swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search. Or, if you are using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, and then click Search. Type Command Prompt in the Search box, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.

Type the following command, and then press Enter.

It may take several minutes for the command operation to be completed.

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /RestorehealthImportant When you run this command, DISM uses Windows Update to provide the files that are required to fix corruptions. However, if your Windows Update client is already broken, use a running Windows installation as the repair source, or use a Windows side-by-side folder from a network share or from a removable media, such as the Windows DVD, as the source of the files. To do this, run the following command instead:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:\RepairSource\Windows /LimitAccessNote Replace the C:\RepairSource\Windows placeholder with the location of your repair source. For more information about using the DISM tool to repair Windows, reference Repair a Windows Image.

Close the command prompt, and then run Windows Update again.DISM creates a log file (%windir%/Logs/CBS/CBS.log) that captures any issues that the tool found or fixed. %windir% is the folder in which Windows is installed. For example, the %windir% folder is C:\Windows.

For Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows Server 2008To resolve this problem, use the System Update Readiness tool. Then, install the Windows update or service pack again.

Download the System Update Readiness tool.

Click the download link in the following table that corresponds to the version of Windows that is running on your computer.

Find out if your computer is running the 32 or 64-bit version of Windows

This tool is updated regularly, we recommend that you always download the latest version. 

Operating systemDownload link

x86-based (32-bit) versions of Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 7 Download the package now.

x64-based (64-bit) versions of Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 7 Download the package now.

x64-based (64-bit) versions of Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Download the package now.

Itanium-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Download the package now.

x86-based (32-bit) versions of Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Vista SP1 Download the package now.

x64-based (64-bit) versions of Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Vista SP1 Download the package now.

x86-based (32-bit) versions of Windows Server 2008 SP2 Download the package now.

x64-based (64-bit) versions of Windows Server 2008 SP2 Download the package now.

Itanium-based versions of Windows Server 2008 SP2 Download the package now.

Install and run the tool.

Click Download on the Download Center webpage, then do one of the following:

To install the tool immediately, click Open or Run, and then follow the instructions on your screen.

To install the tool later, click Save, and then download the installation file to your computer. When you're ready to install the tool, double-click the file.

In the Windows Update Standalone Installer dialog box, click Yes. 

When the tool is being installed, it automatically runs. Although it typically takes less than 15 minutes to run, it might take much longer on some computers. Even if the progress bar seems to stop, the scan is still running, so don't click Cancel.

When you see Installation complete, click Close.

Reinstall the update or service pack you were trying to install previously.To manually fix corruption errors that the tool detects but can't fixed, see How to fix errors that are found in the CheckSUR.log.

Download the package from Microsoft Update Catalog directlyYou can also try to directly download the update package from Microsoft Update Catalog, and then install the update package manually. 

For example, you may have problems when you try to install update 3006137 from Windows Update in Windows 7. In this situation, you can download the update package and try to install the update manually. To do this, follow these steps:

Open Microsoft Update Catalog in Internet Explorer.

In the search box, input the update number that you want to download. In this example, input 3006137. Then, click Search.

Find the update that applies to your operating system appropriately in the search results, and then clickAdd to add the update to your basket.

Click view basket to open your basket.

Click Download to download the update in your basket.

Click Browse to choose a location for the update you are downloading, and then click Continue.

Click Close after the download process is done. Then, you can find a folder that contains the update package in the location that you specified.

Open the folder, and then double click the update package to install the update.