A. DISM is a new tool introduced with Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. It unifies functionality previously available in multiple other commands such as pkgmgr, PEimg and Intlcfg. DISM is included with Windows 7, Windows 2008 R2 and the Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK). While DISM also incorporates ImageX functionality that's used for WIM mounting and manipulation, ImageX is not being replaced by DISM and is still used for image capture and deployment.
DISM can be used for:
- Enumerating and modifying packages and drivers
- Enabling/disabling Windows roles and features
- Configuring international settings
- Upgrading a Windows image
- Servicing versions of Windows online
- Applying offline servicing components of Unattend.xml file
See the following for an example of viewing then mounting a WIM file with DISM. The bold text inidcates commands that I entered.
dism /Get-WimInfo /wimfile:d:\temp\install.wim Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool Version: 6.1.7600.16385 Details for image : d:\temp\install.wim Index : 1 Name : Windows 7 HOMEBASIC Description : Windows 7 HOMEBASIC Size : 11,500,789,302 bytes Index : 2 Name : Windows 7 HOMEPREMIUM Description : Windows 7 HOMEPREMIUM Size : 12,012,660,212 bytes Index : 3 Name : Windows 7 PROFESSIONAL Description : Windows 7 PROFESSIONAL Size : 11,910,752,928 bytes Index : 4 Name : Windows 7 ULTIMATE Description : Windows 7 ULTIMATE Size : 12,070,211,908 bytes The operation completed successfully. dism /mount-wim /wimfile:d:\temp\install.wim /index:4 /mountdir:d:\temp\mount Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool Version: 6.1.7600.16385 Mounting image \[==========27.0% \] dism /unmount-wim /discard /mountdir:d:\temp\mount Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool Version: 6.1.7600.16385 Image File : d:\temp\install.wim Image Index : 4 Unmounting image \[
= 11.0% \]
Related Reading:
- Control Windows Features with DISM
- Using DISM to disable Solitaire from a Windows 7 deployment image
- Q. How do I remove a component from my Windows Server 2008 R2 server core installation?
- Q. What are the new features in Server Core in Windows Server 2008 R2?

Check out hundreds more useful Q&As like this in John Savill's FAQ for Windows. Also, watch instructional videos made by John at ITTV.net.
0 comments
Hide comments