Dism++: Windows management tool (free)

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From https://www.chuyu.me/en/index.html:

“Dism++ can be considered as a GUI frontend of DISM, but it is based on low-level Component Based Servicing (CBS) interface instead of DISM API or DISM Core API.”

Review: https://www.ghacks.net/2016/09/19/dism-windows-optimizer/.

This program has some features that are rarely (if at all) available in other programs, as far as I know.

One feature of this program is it lists Windows update history (including superseded updates) even if you deleted file datastore.edb, which stores Windows update history. You can also uninstall Windows updates with this program.

 

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Microfix, abbodi86, HiFlyer, BobbyB, ch100

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However, in the comments below the review, there is an anonymous poster who supposedly had problems with the tool when it tried updating itself:

“WARNING! Downloaded it from chip.de, installed it in a VM. After I launched it, it told me that there is an update and asked me if I want to install it. When I confirmed, it installed the update — and Avast popped up, telling me that it prevented the .exe from starting since it is infected with a virus. Great tool… (And I’m talking about Avast.)”

The above comment was posted on June 7th of this year. Granted, the basic executable from chip.de could’ve somehow been infected and the bug was just waiting for the right time to spring into action, or his settings within Avast could’ve just not liked what DISM++ was trying to do in the background.

Another poster (on Sept. 19th of last year) above the one quoted also stated that Virus Total ” Didn’t find much on it, but the file appears in numerous adware/malware packages.”. They also gave VirusTotal’s checksum for the package as well. I can see how the program could be flagged as malware by some programs due to the nature of what it can help you with at the system level, and how it probably goes about it

Either way, with what this program can do, it’s best to tread lightly so as to avoid problems with potentially bricking one’s system, and be careful of which site you download it from, getting it only from a site you trust implicitly.

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Dism++ is listed at softpedia.com, majorgeeks.com, and some other major software sites.

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… and the best of all, listed and discussed at MDL.
If it was not for MDL, I would be more concerned about what that tool can do in the background. 🙂

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Microfix, abbodi86, HiFlyer, MrBrian

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For those that don’t understand the MDL reference: https://forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/dism-new-windows-utility.59389/.

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KernowSteve, ch100

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Thank you for posting.
Extremely powerful tool. 🙂
Hopefully does only what it says it does and even so, it has the potential to be very dangerous in the hands of those who don’t understand the technicalities behind it.

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HiFlyer, MrBrian, BobbyB

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A feature that could free up a lot of disk space is the “Replaced WinSxS assemblies” feature, mentioned in a comment at Why does the /winsxs folder grow so large, and can it be made smaller?. Be sure to make a full backup before using this feature.

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I think the relief is only temporary, as that space tends to be taken back by the SxS assemblies pretty quickly.

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It will regain space cleaning out SXS packages for programs no longer on your system.

Choose the programmer’s website for download

For those concerned about Virus reports see VirusTotal results:

Note, the above refers to the link  tested today. Don’t rely on that. You should test the file you plan to download yourself by pasting the download link in VirusTotal URL tab then press Enter. After results load, check the date. If more than a day or so old scan again (via option top right hand side of screen).

I tried DISM++  a couple of days ago on a very tight Win 7 disk. It reported finding 34+gb space.  The following day I was receiving drive c: full messages. A look over the system located a lot of rubbish in C:\Users\{UserName}\AppData\Local\Temp Temp folder cleaned out, I had the disk space sought.

Group A (but Telemetry disabled Tasks and Registry)
1) Dell Inspiron with Win 11 64 Home permanently in dock due to "sorry spares no longer made".
2) Dell Inspiron with Win 11 64 Home (substantial discount with Pro version available only at full price)

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Sinclair

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I’m still using DISM++ to this day
Now on version 10.1.1000.90
Very useful advanced utilities/features and system tweaks within the portable program itself. Great for host file editing too 😉

If debian is good enough for NASA...

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Sinclair, Elly

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Recently I found DISM++ outside this site. Was going to post a topic about it asking if anyone knew about or was familiar with this tool. The forum search function brought up this topic.

I used the tool as a test to patch a fresh Windows 7 installation and it did so very fast. DISM++ even warns when you try to install a patch that adds telemetry or restricts the use of a Windows feature.

My concern was about the rather obscure nature/origin of the tool. Since it would be a great backdoor to infect a system if it had malicious intentions.

Am I right to be cautious or do people here feel it is okay to use this tool as a Windows updater. I have not installed the Windows 7 computer further. If there are concerns than I can easily reformat and use Windows Update or Catalog. But the fact that the tool is already known and discussed here puts my mind a bit at ease.

W10&11 x64 Pro&Home

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Microfix

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Thanks for using the askwoody search facility 😉 (just wish others would too)

Initially (and to this day), I had (have) the same concerns. My way around it was not to use the online facility at all, and block the program via firewall rules. Offline the program does a tremendous job of getting done what I want to do.
Remember to image your system before an assault on the OS using parts of this program, especially triming down the WinSxS assemblies/ temp files and .NET backup files in the cleanup mode.

If debian is good enough for NASA...

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Updated version Dism++ 10.1.1000.100 (improvements and fixes for W10 1903)
June 7th 2019
https://www.chuyu.me/en/index.html
or
https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/dism.html
(use majorgeeks hosted downloads if developer site is down)

Website Description:

If debian is good enough for NASA...

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Been a long wait but, Dism++ 10.1.1002.10 has been released 2021/08/29

No english translation to changelog 🙁
Available over on majorgeeks

Warning: Intermediate-advanced users only, this can seriously bork your system if misused

If debian is good enough for NASA...

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Rick Corbett, Alex5723

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Back in 2019 Born’s Tech raised concern regarding DISM++

I haven’t seen an updates posts.

Beware of Dism++ with Windows customizations

..The use of Dism++ does involve certain risks, which can lead to problems with Windows. In recent years I have occasionally seen forum posts where feature updates or updates terminates with installation errors and due to installation image altered with Dism++..

Addendum: The development of the tool has been stopped, the developer decided to put that project in maintenance mode – so only bug fixes will apply in future. But there is a successor – see Dism++: Switch to maintenance mode, and a new project.

Dism++: Switch to maintenance mode, and a new project

A short note about the software tool Dism ++. It looks like this tool won’t be developed further – the developer wants to concentrate on the maintenance of the basic library. In other words, the project switches to maintenance mode. But another developer has spun off a new project.

I noticed that the website chuyu.me no longer existed (13.8.2019). Dism++ is in Chinese hands and when you call the URL chuyu.me you get a website with Chinese characters…But the Chuyu team continues the project on GitHub and on June 7, 2019 the version Version 10.1.1000.100 was released…

(chuyu.me does exist)

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For those who prefer downloading this from the author’s site rather than MajorGeeks, use this link.

Hope this helps…

 

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Hey Y’all,

I tried this download and Malwarebytes Browser Guard flagged the file and wouldn’t let me download. HTH

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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RetiredGeek wrote:

Hey Y’all,

I tried this download and Malwarebytes Browser Guard flagged the file and wouldn’t let me download. HTH

RG, Did you mean the link to the author’s site that I posted? I submitted the zip file to VirusTotal before I posted.

0 out of 60 security vendors flagged it as malicious… including Malwarebytes.

You can see the VirusTotal results here.

(It’s one of the several reasons I stopped using Malwarebytes, even though I have a lifetime license. Just too many false positives – like flagging downloads from Sysinternals and NirSoft – and too slow to respond when I reported them. I just gave up.)

In future I’ll try to remember to include the VirusTotal results for any download links I post.

Hope this helps…

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Since the link to the programmers site is down, i found it the latest version on his github repository Release Dism++ 10.1.1002.1 · Chuyu-Team/Dism-Multi-language (github.com)

 

theres also a cab file listed in the release as an optional download however I am not sure what that’s about.

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Alex5723

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DISM++ 10.1.1002.1B Released
Primarily fixes version 10.1.1002.1

History (according to majorgeeks translation)
1. Solve problem of killing wegane accounts by cleaning rules (thanks Tsubasa）
2. Add new DISM++ cleanup rule “NuGet Package Cache”

download on majorgeeks:
https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/dism.html

Remember, majorgeeks checks and tests the software before hosting on their servers for public use

Github link:
https://github.com/Chuyu-Team

If debian is good enough for NASA...

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Alex5723, geekdom

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Why does DISM++ x64 install come up with an error in Chinese? Is this something new, is there an English version?

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W11 Reluctant User wrote:

Why does DISM++ x64 install come up with an error in Chinese?

DISM++ is a portable utility, no installation required.

W11 Reluctant User wrote:

Is this something new, is there an English version?

Chinese developers and the utility itself has the english language pack by default.

Never had an issue with DISM++ in six years of use on different windows operating systems.

If debian is good enough for NASA...

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