Error 0x800f081f
The source files could not be found
DISM or a Windows feature installation could not find the files it needed to repair or add a component. Pointing it at a Windows ISO as the source resolves it.
What it actually means
Windows repairs itself from a local component store, topped up from Windows Update. When both are unavailable or damaged, DISM has nowhere to get replacement files and reports this. It appears most often when running the DISM repair that other error guides recommend.
How to fix it, in order
Ordered by how often each one is the answer, not by how clever it sounds.
- 01Confirm the machine is online and Windows Update is working, since DISM pulls from it by default.
- 02Download a Windows ISO matching your exact version and build, then mount it by double-clicking.
- 03Run DISM pointed at that source, replacing D with the mounted drive letter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:esd:D:\sources\install.esd /LimitAccess
- 04If the ISO contains install.wim rather than install.esd, use wim:D:\sources\install.wim:1 instead.
- 05Run "sfc /scannow" afterwards, which can now draw on a healthy component store.
The build has to match
An ISO from a different Windows build will not satisfy DISM, and this is the usual reason the command still fails after downloading one. Check winver against the ISO version before spending time on the download.
Common questions
- How do I fix DISM error 0x800f081f?
- Mount a Windows ISO matching your exact build and run DISM with the /Source parameter pointing at install.esd or install.wim inside it, plus /LimitAccess so it does not fall back to Windows Update.
Before you retry the installer
If the package came from anywhere other than the publisher, confirm it is the file they actually shipped. Check its SHA-256 against our index, which settles in seconds whether you are debugging an installer or a damaged download.