When Windows starts acting up – maybe it’s been acting slow, apps have been crashing, system updating hasn’t been going exactly as planned – people often jump to repair tools built into Windows. One of these tools is the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management). But instead of resolving the problem, you may end up with something like “DISM Error 87.” If such a thing happened to you, do not worry. You’re not alone, and thankfully, the misstep is a generally easy one to fix.
Let’s know what DISM Error 87 is, how it happens, and how you can fix it – in a clear and calm way and without any complicated technical talk.
What Is DISM Error 87?
DISM is an in-built tool offered by Windows and is used to assist in repairing system files. When DISM Error 87 pops up, it just means the command on the system to repair the system was incorrectly processed by Windows. Well, think of it as Windows saying, “I didn’t understand what you said you wanted me to do.”
It is not a hardware issue or a very heavy system failure. Normally, it boils down to one of these simple causes:
- The wrong technique of pressing the command
- Running the tool without administration
- DISM execution in the wrong environment system
- Interference of Corrupt System Files DISM
- Invalidated Windows components
When Does DISM Error 87 Occur?
This error is typically present in situations like the following:
- Fixing the problems that are related to the update
- Running system health scans
- Fixing corrupted files in case of a virus attack
- Getting rid of Windows image files
If DISM does not start up properly or does not understand what is being asked to do, this error is triggered.
What Causes DISM Error 87?
Understanding the reason helps you to solve it faster. The most common causes, in simple terms, are:
1. Wrong Input Format or Wrong Command Usage
DISM has a very precise wording as its basis. Even if the space or the symbol is missing, it may make it fail.
2. Running Without the Privilege of Administrator
A lot of repair tools within Windows are administrative. If DISM is run without the admin rights (normal run), it may give the error 87.
3. Running DISM in an unsupported Mode
In some cases, users try to run DISM in recovery mode or safe mode, in which some services are not available.
4. Corrupted System Files
In case your system has deep corruption of files in place, even DISM may not be able to run successfully.
5. Components of the System are Outdated
Old versions of Windows may not support some new DISM features 100%
How To Fix Dism Error 87 (Easy To Understand And Simple)
Here are the most practical fixes that you can apply, with the caveat to not get into the command line complexities.
1. Make Sure That You Will Run As Administrator
Many individuals do not know that DISM requires full access to a system. If you’re trying to heal Windows, make sure that you open the tool with administrator rights.
- On the Start menu, click on the Command Prompt
- Right-click on it and go to Run as administrator
This one simple step is often the solution to the problem.
2. Do not make mistakes in formatting
Even a really small mistake in a MySQL command, such as a space in the command, can result in Error 87. Be careful of spacing, and do not type everything by all means in the same line without any structure.
Keep this in mind:
- Space before all of the slas
- Words like ‘Online’ and ‘Cleanup-Image’ should not be joined together
- If copying commands from the internet does not take extra characters
3. Check if Windows Is Up to Date
Outdated system components may also not support DISM from working properly. Updating Windows gives a lot of time to update important files for the repair procedure to go smoothly.
- Go to Settings
- Click Update & Security
- Select Check for updates
Just make sure that you have updated your system, and give it another try.
Also Read: Logging Off on Windows 8 & Windows 10 – A Complete Guide
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