InstallCAB.bat · sothis.dev

Windows utility

Batch installation without typing DISM commands

InstallCAB.bat is a focused front end for DISM /Online /Add-Package. It opens a Windows file picker, lets you select several CAB files at once, installs them one after another, and then presents the complete result in a readable Windows dialog.

Why this tool exists

Have you ever downloaded a Windows CAB update and wondered why double-clicking it does not simply install it?

Some Windows updates and packages are distributed as CAB files that must be installed through DISM rather than opened like an ordinary archive. The native command works well, but typing full paths, quoting filenames correctly and repeating the command for several packages adds unnecessary friction to a routine maintenance task.

Do you have several CAB packages to install and just want Windows to process them in one run?

InstallCAB.bat keeps DISM as the installation engine but removes the repetitive command-line work. Select the compatible CAB files in a normal Windows file dialog, let the script install them sequentially, and review one clear result summary at the end.

No path typingChoose CAB files with a normal file picker instead of manually composing long DISM commands.

Install several at onceProcess multiple compatible packages sequentially without restarting Windows between them.

Know what happenedSee success, failure and reboot-required results together in one final summary.

Scope: this utility does not simply extract arbitrary CAB archives. It sends each selected file to the Windows DISM package installer, so the CAB must be a package that DISM can install with /Add-Package.

What the script actually does

Checks for Administrator rights before doing anything
Automatically relaunches itself with UAC elevation when required
Uses a standard Windows Open File dialog instead of requiring typed paths
Allows multiple .cab files to be selected in one operation
Processes selected packages sequentially
Uses DISM /Online /Add-Package /NoRestart for each CAB
Keeps automatic restart disabled while packages are being installed
Recognizes DISM exit code 3010 as success with reboot required
Tracks successful CAB filenames separately
Tracks failed or missing CAB filenames separately
Shows total attempts, successes and failed/skipped counts
Displays the complete result in a scrollable WinForms summary dialog

Multi-file workflow

Run the BAT

If the process is not already elevated, Windows asks for Administrator approval and the script relaunches itself.

Select CAB files

A native file picker opens with multi-select enabled. Choose one or several CAB update packages.

Review the result

Each package is passed to DISM. When all are finished, a dialog lists successful and failed/skipped CABs and indicates whether a reboot is required.

Result handling

The script distinguishes three important outcomes:

0 — the package was installed successfully
3010 — the package was installed successfully but Windows requires a reboot
Other DISM return codes — treated as an installation failure
Missing files — skipped and included in the failed/skipped list

No forced reboot: the script intentionally uses /NoRestart. Even when DISM reports that a restart is required, InstallCAB.bat only reports that condition; it does not restart the computer automatically.

Script exit codes

0 when processing completes without a failed package
1 when no CAB file is selected
2 when one or more packages fail or are skipped

Built only from Windows components

The utility uses CMD, Windows PowerShell, WinForms and DISM. There is no separate installer or third-party runtime in the source you supplied.

installcab.bat

Download .bat

@echo off
setlocal EnableExtensions EnableDelayedExpansion

:: Elevate to admin if needed
net session >nul 2>&1
if not "%errorlevel%"=="0" (
  powershell -NoProfile -Command "Start-Process -FilePath '%~f0' -Verb RunAs"
  exit /b
)

:: Pick multiple CABs (returns one line delimited by |)
set "CABS="
for /f "usebackq delims=" %%I in (`
  powershell -NoProfile -Command ^
    "Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms; " ^
    "$d=New-Object System.Windows.Forms.OpenFileDialog; " ^
    "$d.Title='Select Windows Update CAB file(s)'; " ^
    "$d.Filter='CAB files (*.cab)|*.cab|All files (*.*)|*.*'; " ^
    "$d.Multiselect=$true; " ^
    "if($d.ShowDialog() -ne 'OK'){ exit 1 }; " ^
    "[string]::Join('|',$d.FileNames)"
`) do set "CABS=%%I"

if not defined CABS (
  powershell -NoProfile -Command ^
    "Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms; [System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox]::Show('No files selected.','Install CAB Updates',[System.Windows.Forms.MessageBoxButtons]::OK,[System.Windows.Forms.MessageBoxIcon]::Information) | Out-Null"
  exit /b 1
)

:: Install each CAB (split on |)
set "FAIL=0"
set "REBOOT=0"
set /a "COUNT=0"
set /a "OK=0"
set /a "BAD=0"

set "SUCCESS="
set "FAILED="
set "REST=%CABS%"

:nextcab
if not defined REST goto done

for /f "delims=| tokens=1*" %%A in ("%REST%") do (
  set "CAB=%%A"
  set "REST=%%B"
)

for %%X in ("%CAB%") do set "NAME=%%~nxX"

if not exist "%CAB%" (
  echo [SKIP] Not found: "%CAB%"
  set "FAIL=1"
  set /a "BAD+=1"
  if defined FAILED (set "FAILED=!FAILED!|!NAME!") else set "FAILED=!NAME!"
  goto nextcab
)

set /a "COUNT+=1"

echo.
echo --------------------------------------------------
echo Installing (%COUNT%): "%CAB%"
echo --------------------------------------------------

dism /Online /Add-Package /PackagePath:"%CAB%" /NoRestart
set "RC=%errorlevel%"

echo Result: %RC%

if "%RC%"=="0" (
  set /a "OK+=1"
  if defined SUCCESS (set "SUCCESS=!SUCCESS!|!NAME!") else set "SUCCESS=!NAME!"
) else if "%RC%"=="3010" (
  set "REBOOT=1"
  set /a "OK+=1"
  if defined SUCCESS (set "SUCCESS=!SUCCESS!|!NAME!") else set "SUCCESS=!NAME!"
) else (
  set "FAIL=1"
  set /a "BAD+=1"
  if defined FAILED (set "FAILED=!FAILED!|!NAME!") else set "FAILED=!NAME!"
)

goto nextcab

:done
:: Decide dialog severity
set "TITLE=Install CAB Updates"
set "ICON=Information"
set "STATUS=Completed."

if "%REBOOT%"=="1" (
  set "ICON=Warning"
  set "STATUS=Completed. Reboot required."
)

if "%FAIL%"=="1" (
  set "ICON=Error"
  set "STATUS=Completed with errors."
)

:: Final dialog built entirely in PowerShell (no Replace placeholders)
powershell -NoProfile -Command ^
  "Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms; Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Drawing; " ^
  "$nl=[Environment]::NewLine; " ^
  "$status=$env:STATUS; $title=$env:TITLE; " ^
  "$count=[int]$env:COUNT; $ok=[int]$env:OK; $bad=[int]$env:BAD; " ^
  "$succ=@(); if($env:SUCCESS){ $succ=$env:SUCCESS -split '\|' | Where-Object { $_ -and $_.Trim() } }; " ^
  "$fail=@(); if($env:FAILED){ $fail=$env:FAILED -split '\|' | Where-Object { $_ -and $_.Trim() } }; " ^
  "$succText = if($succ.Count){ ($succ | ForEach-Object { ' - ' + $_ }) -join $nl } else { ' (none)' }; " ^
  "$failText = if($fail.Count){ ($fail | ForEach-Object { ' - ' + $_ }) -join $nl } else { ' (none)' }; " ^
  "$msg = $status + $nl + $nl + ('Attempts: ' + $count) + $nl + ('Successful: ' + $ok) + $nl + ('Failed/Skipped: ' + $bad) + $nl + $nl + " ^
  "       'Successful CABs:' + $nl + $succText + $nl + $nl + 'Failed/Skipped CABs:' + $nl + $failText; " ^
  "$f=New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Form; " ^
  "$f.Text=$title; $f.StartPosition='CenterScreen'; $f.FormBorderStyle='FixedDialog'; $f.MaximizeBox=$false; $f.MinimizeBox=$false; " ^
  "$f.ClientSize=New-Object System.Drawing.Size(950,560); " ^
  "$tb=New-Object System.Windows.Forms.TextBox; " ^
  "$tb.Multiline=$true; $tb.ReadOnly=$true; $tb.ScrollBars='Both'; $tb.WordWrap=$false; " ^
  "$tb.Font=New-Object System.Drawing.Font('Consolas',10); " ^
  "$tb.Dock='Fill'; $tb.Text=$msg; " ^
  "$buttons=New-Object System.Windows.Forms.FlowLayoutPanel; " ^
  "$buttons.Dock='Bottom'; $buttons.Height=52; $buttons.FlowDirection='RightToLeft'; $buttons.Padding='10,10,10,10'; " ^
  "$okBtn=New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Button; $okBtn.Text='OK'; $okBtn.Width=90; $okBtn.Height=30; " ^
  "$okBtn.Add_Click({$f.Close()}); " ^
  "$buttons.Controls.Add($okBtn); " ^
  "$f.Controls.Add($tb); $f.Controls.Add($buttons); " ^
  "$null=$f.ShowDialog();"

if "%FAIL%"=="1" exit /b 2
exit /b 0