Close Menu
Tech News Today
  • Hardware
    • Motherboards
    • CPUs
    • Graphic Cards
    • RAM
    • SSDs
    • Computer Cases
    • Monitors
    • Peripherals
    • Power Supply Unit
    • PC Builds
    • Computer Tips
  • Software
  • Operating System
    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
  • Gaming
  • Mobile
  • Console
  • More
    • Internet
    • Networking
    • Security
    • Buyer’s Guide
    • Gadgets
    • Laptops
    • Reviews
    • How To
    • News
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Tech News Today
  • Hardware
    • Motherboards
    • CPUs
    • Graphic Cards
    • RAM
    • SSDs
    • Computer Cases
    • Monitors
    • Peripherals
    • Power Supply Unit
    • PC Builds
    • Computer Tips
  • Software
  • Operating System
    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
  • Gaming
  • Mobile
  • Console
  • More
    • Internet
    • Networking
    • Security
    • Buyer’s Guide
    • Gadgets
    • Laptops
    • Reviews
    • How To
    • News
Tech News Today
Home » Windows

Fix: DISM 0x800f081f Error Code in Windows

Deep ShresthaBy Deep ShresthaDecember 18, 2022
dism 0x800f081f

The DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) command checks the integrity of critical Windows files and repairs them if necessary. The DISM uses an existing .wim (Windows Imaging Format) file to fix any corruption on Windows images. If the DISM command fails to locate or access this file, the command line will display the DISM 0x800f081f error.

As for why the OS couldn’t find the WIM file, the problem could have occurred during the Windows installation, resulting in a missing Windows image format file. Besides this, permission issues when reading the file or a corrupted Windows Component Store is also viable reason for the error message. 

To fix the DISM 0x800f081f error, you need to make sure that the OS finds the .wim file so that DISM successfully repairs the issue with your Windows image.

Table of Contents

  • How to Fix DISM 0x800f081f Error Code in Windows?
    • Run DISM Using Windows ISO File
    • Restart Windows Update
    • Start Cleanup component
    • Change Group Policy Settings

How to Fix DISM 0x800f081f Error Code in Windows?

To fix the DISM 0x800f081f error code, you must make sure that the PC locates and reads the correct file to restore the Windows image. First, try simple solutions like restarting the PC and updating Windows. 

Windows update contains not only feature and security upgrades but also error fixes, and running the Windows update should fix the issue. In case it does not you may even need to reset Windows update and its component.

If that does not work, try checking your internet connection. Sometimes, DISM may require Windows Update services to download files to fix any issues with the Windows image. And internet issues may also cause complications when running DISM.

If that does not work, you may need to perform some advanced fixes.

Run DISM Using Windows ISO File

As previously discussed, the error message is because Windows failed to locate the Windows image format file. So, what you can do is you can manually provide the location to the image format file. 

To do this, you need the ISO file of Windows (whichever version of Windows you are currently using). To get the ISO file, visit Microsoft’s official download center. Alternatively, you can also get your Windows ISO file using the Media Creation Tool.

  1. First, download the Media Creation Tool for Windows 10 or Windows 11, depending on your PC specification.
    download installation media windows 11
  2. Run the Media Creation Tool.
  3. Click on Accept.
    terms and condition dism 0x800f081f
  4. Check Use the recommended options for this PC and click Next.
    select edition windows 11 dism 0x800f081f
  5. Select ISO file and press Next.
    select iso filedism 0x800f081f
  6. Choose the location where you want the ISO file and select Save. Once the process completes, you will see a Windows ISO file in the selected location.
    seelct iso file save location
  7. Right-click on the ISO file and select Mount or simply double click on it.
  8. Go to sources and copy install.esd file.
    copy install esd file
  9. Paste the copied file into the root folder of the C drive.

Once you have copied the file location from the root folder, you need to point to the file and run the DISM command.

  1. Press the Windows + R key to open Run.
  2. Type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run Command prompt as admin.
    run command prompt dism 0x800f081f
  3. Type cd\ and press enter to go to the root folder of the C drive.
    root folder of c drive command
  4. Type dism /Get-WimInfo /WimFile:install.esd and press Enter to display all the index for each edition of Windows. 
    version index number dism error
  5. Note the Index for your edition of Windows.
  6. Type Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:esd:C:\install.esd:<index number> /limitaccess
    run dism from install esd file
  7. Replace <index number> with the index number that matches your Windows edition and press Enter to run the command.

The DISM command should run without giving any error code.

Restart Windows Update

When the DISM finds any error with the system image, it repairs the OS using the Windows Image Format (.wim) file. The Operating system uses Windows Update components to get the required file.

Failing to locate required file through Windows update is likely to trigger the error message. Try resetting Windows update files to fix the DISM 0x800f081f error. These files are located in C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution. Replacing these files will reset Windows update

Before we can replace the files, you first need to stop services related to Windows Update.

  1. Press the Windows Key + R to open Run
  2. Type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run the command as administrator.
  3. Type the following command. Press Enter after each command.
  • net stop bits
  • net stop wuauserv
  • net stop cryptSvc
  • net stop msiserver
    stop windows update services dism 0x800f081f
  1. In Command Prompt, run the following command to rename the SoftwareDistribution folder.
  • ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution softwaredistribution.bak
  • ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.bak
    rename software distribution folder
  1. Now, type the following Command to restart services that were previously stopped.
  • net start bits
  • net start wuauserv
  • net start cryptSvc
  • net start msiserver
    start windows update services dism error
  1. Try running the DISM command to see if it fixed the issue.
Note: You may get service is not started or Access Denied error message when running some commands. You can ignore these command and follow the process.

Start Cleanup component

Another reason you get this error message is due to a previously installed Windows Store Component. When updating the OS, Windows uses a store component to get the necessary files. 

Although Windows automatically cleans Windows Store components after a certain time, its previous version could cause issues when you run the restore system image using DISM.

According to Microsoft, StartComponentCleanup cleans Windows Store Components when the system isn’t in use. The command will automatically run after a store component has been installed for 30 days. Once this period completes, it uninstalls Windows store components from the previous version.

However, sometimes you may need to perform it manually.

  1. Press the Windows + R key to open Run.
  2. Type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open Command Prompt as admin.
    run command prompt dism 0x800f081f
  3. Type Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup and press Enter to start the cleanup process.
    dism cleanup component dism error
  4. Restart your PC once the process completes.

Change Group Policy Settings

You can also specify the file network location that Windows uses for component installation or a component repair. To do this, you will need a Windows ISO file. First, follow steps 1 to 9 from the above fix. 

Once you paste the install.esd file in the root folder, run group policy editor.

  1. Press the Windows + R key to open Run.
  2. Type gpedit.msc to open Group policy editor.
    run group policy editor dism error
  3. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System.
  4. Double-click on Specify settings for optional component installation and component repair settings.
    specify settings gpedit dism error
  5. Check Enabled. 
  6. Under Alternate source file path, type WIM:C:\install.esd:<index number>. Replace <index number> with the index number of your edition of Windows.
    set alternate source file
  7. Click Apply, and then OK.
fix
Deep Shrestha
  • X (Twitter)
  • LinkedIn

Deep Shrestha works as a computer hardware writer at TechNewsToday with several hardware and programming certifications. Although he has been writing technical content for more than a year, his interest in hardware components started at a very young age ever since he heard about PC building. Pursuing his passion, he has assembled several desktop computers. Besides building desktop PCs, Deep also has hands-on experience fixing software and hardware issues on laptops and desktop computers. Using all this knowledge and skills about computer hardware, he's on a quest to make content that's easy to read and understand for everyone. You can contact him at deep@technewstoday.com

Related Posts

Scanning and Repairing Drive

How to Fix Scanning and Repairing Drive on Every Boot?

November 24, 2023
how to download and use rufus

How to Download and Use Rufus

September 28, 2023
how to turn off hardware acceleration

How to Turn Off Hardware Acceleration

September 27, 2023
what happens if you turn off your computer during an update

What Happens if You Turn Off Your Computer During an Update?

September 18, 2023
How to Disable Integrated Graphics

How to Disable Integrated Graphics?

September 16, 2023
System Restore Stuck

How To Fix Windows Stuck on System Restore

September 16, 2023
Add A Comment

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Latest Posts
computer died

Computer Died? Here’s What You Should Do Next

December 1, 2023
how-to-share-a-printer

How to Share a Printer on Network (Step-by-Step Guide)

November 28, 2023
Scanning and Repairing Drive

How to Fix Scanning and Repairing Drive on Every Boot?

November 24, 2023
You may also like
printer-not-printing

How to Fix a Printer That’s Not Printing

September 26, 2023
Share Location With Friends and Family

Share Location With Friends and Family (iPhone and Android)

September 18, 2023
how-to-print-without-a-printer

How to Print Without a Printer

September 18, 2023
Recommended
Cookie Clicker Garden Guide

Cookie Clicker Garden Guide to Unlocking Every Seed

September 26, 2021
monitor no signal

Computer Turns On But Monitor Says No Signal (9 Ways To Fix)

November 10, 2022
Facebook X (Twitter) Pinterest
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Our Team
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Affiliate Disclosure
© 2023 TechNewsToday, editor@technewstoday.com | Tech Central Pvt. Ltd.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.