Solved | DISM Error 87 the Parameter is Incorrect (5 Fixes)

2. Type in CMD and hold down Shift+Ctrl+Enter keys to open elevated Command Prompt.

How to Fix DISM Error 87 on Windows 10

DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) is a command-line tool used to service and manage Windows images for Windows PE, Windows Recovery Environment, and Windows setup. However, when trying to use DISM via Command Prompt, you may get the DISM Error: 87.

What Causes Error 87 and How to Fix It?

We have narrowed down the most common causes for DISM error 87. The most common reason for this error is that the command line may not be entered correctly. In many cases, people forget to include spaces between the “/” characters, resulting in the error. Hence, to avoid getting this error, all you need to do is enter the command correctly.

Before the release of the Fall Creators Update in October 2017, Windows 10 had a bug that caused error 87. Therefore, you can fix this error by downloading and installing the latest updates for Windows 10.

Another common reason for error 87 is not running the DISM command in the elevated Command Prompt. In this case, the solution is to run DISM in the elevated Command Prompt.

Lastly, you may get this error by managing or servicing a Windows image that is newer than the version of DISM.

Video Guide on How to Fix DISM Error 87 on Windows 10

Table of Contents:

• Introduction
• Method 1.Use Elevated Command Prompt
• Method 2.Use the Correct Spacing When Entering Commands
• Method 3.Download and Install the Latest Windows 10 Updates
• Method 4.Reset Windows 10 Using Recovery
• Video Guide on How to Fix DISM Error 87 on Windows 10

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Method 1. Use Elevated Command Prompt

DISM error 87 can occur if you try to run DISM via a regular Command Prompt. As with SFC commands, DISM commands have to be executed using an elevated Command Prompt.

1. Hold down Windows+R keys to open the Run dialog box.

2. Type in CMD and hold down Shift+Ctrl+Enter to open elevated Command Prompt.

3. When UAC (User Account Control) prompts you, click Yes.

Take a look at the top of the Command Prompt window. If it says Administrator, then this means that the command prompt is running in elevated mode.

4. Once the elevated Command Prompt is opened, type in the DISM command you want.

5. Then, type in the relevant command to you. For example, type in DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth and hit Enter.

Method 2. Use the Correct Spacing When Entering Commands

The most common reason for getting error 87 is entering DISM commands incorrectly. Usually, users don’t include spaces between “/”, resulting in the command failing to execute. For example, the correct way to enter a DISM command is by typing in DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth with spaces before each slash and then hitting Enter to execute it.

1. Hold down Windows+R keys to open the Run dialog box.

2. Type in CMD and hold down Shift+Ctrl+Enter keys to open elevated Command Prompt.

3. When UAC (User Account Control) prompts you, click Yes.

4. Type in the command you want to execute. For visualization purposes, let’s type in DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth and hit Enter.

5. When entering a command, make sure to add a space before each slash.

Method 3. Download and Install the Latest Windows 10 Updates

You may get DISM error 87 if you run an outdated version of Windows 10 with a bug that causes DISM commands not to work. The release of the Fall Creator’s Update in October 2017 fixed that bug. So, try updating your Windows 10 to resolve error 87.

1. Right-click the Start Menu button and click Settings.

2. Click Update & Security.

3. Click Install now if you have pending updates.

4. Or click Check for Updates to find and install updates.

5. Allow all of the pending updates to install and reboot your computer.

6. Once your computer has rebooted, you shouldn’t get DISM error 87.

Method 4. Reset Windows 10 Using Recovery

If none of the methods work, this might mean that some DISM-related files have been corrupted. Unfortunately, you can’t reinstall DISM alone, so you try reinstalling Windows using Windows Recovery. Note that while you can choose to keep your personal files, the reinstallation process will remove all of your installed applications.

1. Right-click the Start Menu button and click Settings.

2. Click Update & Security.

3. Click Recovery located on the left side of the window.

4. Click Get Started.

5. Select Keep my files.

6. Select Local reinstall.

7. Click Next.

8. Click Reset.

9. Wait for the resetting process to complete.

Solved | DISM Error 87 the Parameter is Incorrect (5 Fixes)

Are you now being troubled by DISM error 87: the parameter is incorrect? Scroll down to get the reasons and solutions for this error.

By Ivy / Last update October 17, 2022

What is DISM tool?

DISM (Deployment Imaging Servicing Management), preinstalled on Windows 8.1/10/11, is commonly used to repair and prepare Windows images on Windows Recovery Environment, Windows Setup, Windows PE.

As a system management tool, it can resolve corrupted system files even when SFC SCANNOW not working. But sometimes you may also receive DISM error 87, saying the parameter is incorrect. Why is DISM not working? How to fix it? I will explore these questions in the following article.

• Why do you receive DISM error in Windows 10?
• How to fix DISM error 87 the parameter is incorrect
• How to easily prevent DISM error 87 in Windows 10 from happening again

Why do you receive DISM error in Windows 10?

DISM error 87: the parameter is incorrect could be the result of typing the wrong command when using DISM /CheckHealth or DISM /ScanHealth. Thus, the first thing to check is whether you entered the commands correctly.

If the command you use is confirmed to be correct, then you can consider the following causes:

1. Windows 10 Update error. After DISM finds corrupted images or files, it will use Windows 10 Update to download the necessary files. If Windows Update failed, the process will be interrupted.

2. Attempting to copy a file over 48GB from one partition to another partition using DISM /AddPackage.

3. A required service does not start, e.g. you cannot connect to a network.

How to fix DISM error 87 the parameter is incorrect

In this part, I’ll show you how to fix error 87 in Windows 10 with 5 effective methods. Before that, please be sure you are currently using the Windows 10 version of DISM, which requires the Wofadk.sys filter driver. For more info, see DISM supported platform.

Method 1: Use DISM command-line correctly

Users often forget to add a space before the slash and type the command like below.

DISM/online/cleanup-image/CheckHealth

To type the command correctly, you need to add a space before the slash.

DISM /online /cleanup-image /checkhealth

Note: Remember to run cmd as administrator, and this may be one of the reasons for DISM error 87.

Method 2: Revert Windows Update and clear Component Store

Windows Update can be a cause for DISM error 87. To fix this issue, you can restore Windows Update to a previous good state and clean up the component store. It supports Windows Updates, installations and configurations.

Step 1. Type cmd in the search box and run as administrator.

Step 2. Type the following command to revert Windows Update and hit Enter. Then, restart your computer and save these changes.

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

Step 3. Type the command below and hit Enter. After that, restart your computer and make these changes available.

dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup

Now, the component store and potential corrupted files may be cleaned up. You can try to run DISM again on Windows 10.

Method 3: Run SFC /SCANNOW tool

SFC /SCANNOW can also fix the corrupted files. You can try it first and run DISM again.

Step 1. Run cmd as administrator.

Step 2. Type sfc /scannow in the command prompt window and hit Enter.

Step 3. Run DISM again.

Method 4: Run CHKDSK tool

Some users report the CHKDSK can solve DISM error 87 in Windows 10. Try it if you have no idea.

Step 1. Run cmd as administrator.

Step 2. Type chkdsk C: /r in the command prompt window and press Enter. Type Y if you are asked to run at the next time you start your computer.

Step 3. Run DISM again and check if this issue disappears.

Method 5: Run System Restore

In most cases, System Restore can be the last one you can try. It can solve DISM error 87: the parameter is incorrect but you need to reinstall certain software.

Step 1. Type system restore in the search box and select it.

Step 2. On the first screen, you are told that the recently installed programs will be removed. If you want to continue this operation, click Next.

Step 3. Select the restore point in the list and click Next.

Step 4. Click Finish to start the restore process.

How to easily prevent DISM error 87 in Windows 10 from happening again

You definitely don’t want to see the DISM error 87 when you repair or prepare a Windows image, because you have high hopes for it to make your computer properly. But you have no choice but to fix this error when it occurs. What if you cannot fix it?

The official way is to reinstall Windows 10 using an installation disc provided by Microsoft, which only leaves you a fresh version of system and you need to reinstall programs. If you don’t backup files to external hard drive or other storage devices, you will lose them finally. And this is exactly the situation that users try to avoid. Here a system image does help a lot if you have one.

It will be OK if you don’t have one, but you have to create a system image in Windows 10 immediately with free backup software like AOMEI Backupper.

• It makes an exact copy of your system partition, whether the operating system, installed programs or saved data, so you don’t need to worry about data loss no matter what happens.
• You can save the system image to internal or external drive, USB flash drive, NAS, cloud service, etc.
• It supports daily, weekly, monthly automatic backup as well as full or incremental backup, so you can backup system and any changes made later with the least backup time and space.
• It’s capable of creating bootable disc (CD/DVD or USB) to boot your computer when it fails.

Then, you may want to have a try! Please download this software and follow the steps below.

Secure Download

Step 1. Launch this free backup software. Then, click Backup and System Backup in order.

Step 2. Select a location to store your backup image. If you want to save it to USB, you need to insert the disk into your computer first.

�� Helpful tips:

• Options: you are able to comment on a task, set email notification, or compression level, etc.
• Schedule Backup: it is necessary for you to continuously protect system and data on it. You have 5 options, namely, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Event trigger, USB plug in. The latter two options are available on the professional version.

• Backup Scheme: you can set Full/Incremental/Differential Backup or cleanup methods (By quantity, By time, By daily/weekly/monthly). Differential backup and auto backup cleanup are only available on the advanced versions.

Step 3. Click Start Backup to run the pending operation.

The system image should be created when your computer behaves normally. If your computer is already having problems, the backup image created cannot be used for DISM error 87 or other serious errors making your computer unbootable.

In this case, you can choose to create system image and bootable media on another working PC, and then use them on the problematic PC for dissimilar hardware restore. You need to use the Universal Restore feature (advanced version) to ensure secure boot after restoration.

Conclusion

It’s annoying to receive the DISM error 87: the parameter is incorrect when you repair or prepare Windows image. You may fix this error now and then use DISM as normal. Another wise choice is to create a system image directly with free backup software (a scheduled one is preferable), then you can use it to recover your computer in the event of a disaster.

And it’s still a disk clone software for Windows computers to directly transfer system image to new hard drive and boot your computer from it without the restoration process. Besides, it supports creating portable version (available on the Technician or TechPlus edition) of this software on a removable device and you can use it on any computer without installing. Wanna have a try?