How to fix DISM error 87 on Windows 10

What is DISM error 87

DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) is a tool created by Microsoft to solve system-related issues. Its application is constantly present in different guidelines helping to solve Windows errors. Unfortunately, some users experience trouble using DISM on their systems. When trying to launch it, DISM error 87 appears and prevents people from booting the scan. Although DISM exists on older versions of Windows as well, the phenomenon is usually seen on Windows 10. As long as users tend to make mistakes in the spelling of commands, rectifying the issue is usually simple. Of course, there are other reasons prompting the issue such as lack of updates, corrupted files, malware presence, and so forth. Thus, make sure you try each method in the instructions below until it resolves the error.

1. Check the spelling and spacing of command

As mentioned, incorrectness of commands might be the most popular reason for error appearance. Note that typing DISM.exe/Online/Cleanup-image/Scanhealth or similar is wrong. You should put spaces between each of the slashes ‘/’, so the correct command should look like this:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth

or

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

If this is not your case and the error persists even after checking the command, navigate to the next steps below.

2. Run Command Prompt as administrator

There is a chance that Command Prompt is not opened as administrator. If so, the console does not have the necessary permissions to run commands. This is also known as an elevated command prompt allowing users to access the full capabilities of utility. If not sure whether you launch it correctly, please complete the following steps:

1. Type cmd into the searching tab next to the Start Menu.
2. Right-click on it and choose Run as administrator.
3. There will be an intermediary window asking for permission – just click Yes.
4. Once the console is opened, try to enter the DISM command.

If this method failed to resolve the error again, proceed to other solutions presented below.

3. Make sure Windows is up-to-date

Sometimes, the DISM error 87 can be related to bugged updates. The most recent instance was in 2017 when Microsoft released a faulty pack of updates. The issue was therefore solved in the Fall Creator’s Update. Typically, users possessing the licensed version of Windows has nothing to worry about, because their system is always updated. This is why the problem usually targets pirated Windows based on older versions. If you have a restriction on auto-updating, you should install the latest update available on the pending list. Here are the steps to do this:

1. Press Windows key and I together to open Windows settings.
2. Select Update & Security.
3. Choose Windows Update on the left side and click Check for Updates (sometimes you will see the Download button meaning that an update is already found).
4. Wait until Windows finishes the scan for new updates.
5. Once found, install new updates and restart your PC.

Now, you can give it another shot. Bootup the Command Prompt duly and run the DISM command.

4. Run a System File Checker (SFC) scan

One more scenario in which the DISM error 87 could potentially occur is corrupted or missing files. This means that some files responsible for the work of DISM are falling off its native location. To verify it, you can run the SFC scan using the Command Prompt. Here is how:

1. Open Command Prompt by typing cmd into the searching box next to the Start Menu button.
2. Right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
3. Once the console is opened, type the sfc /scannow command and click Enter.
4. When the fixing process is done, restart your computer.

5. Scan your PC for malware

Malware is known to leave many issues after infecting the system. It can damage important settings, delete some entries, and lead to multiple errors. Bear in mind that even pirated software can be a threat to PC configuration. If you suspect a recently-downloaded program is causing the error, try to delete it manually. In other cases, we recommend you to scan your device for malicious programs. You can do it by using anti-malware software. One of the great products is Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. You can use it to detect and effectively tackle malicious activity. The download button is located below.

6. Run a repair install

When any attempt to deal with the issue is desperate, the only and best option remaining is performing a repair install. Such a measure is emergent, but it will ensure your system is reborn with clean settings and Windows-related components. This procedure will not touch personal data, which is the best part of this method. All files contained on disks will remain safe and still. For this method, you will need to download official ISO media from the Microsoft website. You can follow complete instructions on the Microsoft forum.

Summary

We know how annoying it feels to be unable to do some things. Hopefully, our guide has shed enough light on this issue to reach a logical conclusion. Make sure you rightfully-followed each of the steps not missing any of the details. Of course, we could tell you to reinstall your system completely, but there is no real sense in doing so because the latest step has precisely the same outcome.