How to Repair Windows Server 2016 Using DISM: A Comprehensive Guide

If you’re experiencing issues with your Windows Server 2016 installation, such as unresponsive features or corrupted system files, you may need to repair your operating system. One powerful tool for this task is the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) utility. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to repair your Windows Server 2016 using DISM, both from the recovery environment and safe mode.

Repairing Windows Server 2016 from the Recovery Environment

If your server fails to boot normally, you can perform an offline repair using DISM from the recovery environment. Here’s how:

1. Boot your Windows Server 2016 into the recovery environment.
2. In the “Choose an option” window, select “Troubleshoot > Command Prompt”.
3. Log in with an administrative account and click “Continue”.
4. Determine the drive where your Windows installation is located by typing DIR c: and pressing Enter. If the drive has a folder called “Windows”, it’s likely where your OS is installed. If not, try DIR d: and DIR e: until you find the correct drive.
5. Execute the DISM repair command by typing DISM.exe /Image:C:\ /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth (replace “C” with the drive letter for your Windows installation) and press Enter.
6. Once the DISM command completes, type exit and press Enter.
7. Click “Continue” to boot your server to Windows.

Repairing Windows Server 2016 from Safe Mode

If your server boots to Windows but you still need to repair it, you can use DISM from safe mode:

1. Boot your server into the recovery environment.
2. In the “Choose an option” screen, select “Troubleshoot > Startup Settings”.
3. Click “Restart” and choose “Safe Mode” from the Advanced Boot Options menu.
4. Log in with your normal admin account.
5. Right-click the Start menu and select “File Explorer”.
6. Navigate to the C:\Windows\System32 folder and locate the cmd file.
7. Right-click cmd and select “Run as administrator”.
8. In the command prompt, type DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /Restorehealth and press Enter.
9. Wait for the command to complete and restart your server in normal mode.

Remember, the DISM command may fail to repair the corrupted image if there are problems or you’re not connected to the internet. In such cases, you can try the DISM offline command line with the source option.

By following these steps, you should be able to repair your Windows Server 2016 installation using DISM, whether from the recovery environment or safe mode. If the issues persist, you may need to consider more advanced troubleshooting methods or seek further assistance from Microsoft support or the server administration community.