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Repair unbootable Windows Server

Brian Scheewe

30 Jan 2026 — 1 min read

Steps to take to repair a Windows Server that will not boot. The first step of course is to boot from the Windows setup CD / DVD / ISO and then go to the recovery command prompt. The following are things to try in order of simple to severe.

bootrec /FixMbr bootrec /FixBoot bootrec /ScanOs bootrec /RebuildBcd

Reboot.

Find where your Windows install is located. In WinRE this may be on a different drive than you are used to. BCDEdit will show the drive letter and path.

dism /image:c:\ /cleanup-image /restorehealth /source:wim:X:\sources\install.wim:1

If you suspect Windows updates are pending then do one or any combination of the following:

ren C:\windows\winsxs\pending.xml C:\windows\winsxs\pending.old.xml

ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution C:\Windows\SoftwareDistributionOld

Load offline hive (more to come here). Go to the following key and delete all sub-keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Component Based Servicing\PackagesPending

dism.exe /image:C:\ /cleanup-image /revertpendingactions

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/617868/uninstall-offline-windows-os-drivers-with-dism-command/

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