Windows’ built-inside Deployment Picture Servicing and Administration (DISM) command, the.k.a. dism.exe, is definitely something of a Swiss Army knife with regards to focusing on Windows OS pictures. Among its many features – such as for example adding optional Windows deals and features, taking picture inventories, performing picture cleanups, and much more – DISM contains an /Add-Package choice. This program allows users to set up Microsoft Catalog up-dates in .cab or even .msu files to the targeted Windows image.

.cab is brief for “ Home windows Cabinet ,” a kind of compressed document that stores guidelines and data for Home windows that may update device drivers, system files, etc. The .msu file expansion is linked to the Microsoft Up-date Standalone Installer . Normally, the Windows can be used by this installer Update Broker API to set up update packages. Both .cab and .msu files use the DISM order against Windows image data files also, which might be of varieties .wim, .esd, .ffu, or even virtual hard disk drive files of kind .vhd or .vhdx.

Remember that .msu updates just focus on offline images, as the more common .cab files may be put on an online picture to update a jogging Windows install.

Why make use of DISM rather than Windows Update?

Good question! Occasionally, DISM provides a solution to install an upgrade when Windows Upgrade (WU) could be having issues. Sometimes, Windows Revise may won’t work simply, or it could hang or crash on a specific update. DISM offers a handy solution to install improvements when WU itself may be unable to oblige.