FIX: DISM Error 50, DISM does not support servicing Windows PE with the /Online option (Solved)

This tutorial contains instructions to resolve the following error when running the DISM command “Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /Restorehealth” from the Windows Recovery Environment: “Error 50, DISM does not support servicing Windows PE with the /Online option”. 

The above error is occurred, because in WinRE the operating system is not running, so the /Online switch is useless at this case. In fact the /Online switch in DISM tool, specifies that the action is to be taken on the operating system that is currently running.

How to fix: Error 50 DISM does not support servicing Windows PE with the /Online option. (Windows 10)

1. After booting your computer from the Windows 10 installation media, press SHIFT + F10 keys at the first install screen to launch Command Prompt.
2. Inside the WinRE command prompt window, get a list of all available drives, by giving this command:

• wmic logicaldisk get name

3. Then find out which drive contains the “Windows” folder, by typing this command: *

• dir drive-letter:

* e.g. To see the contents of the C: drive, type: “dir C:” (without quotes). If you cannot see the “Windows” folder on the C: drive, then continue to the next drive (e.g. “dir D:”, “dir E:”, etc.), until see the “Windows” folder.

[As you can see at the screenshot below, the Windows folder (at this case) is located at the D: drive.]

4. Once you find the “Windows” drive (e.g. the “D” in this example), give this command to repair the offline Windows image:

• dism.exe /Image:D: /Cleanup-Image /Restorehealth

* Notes:
1. Where D = the Windows drive. (Change it according your situation)
2. There is space between / (“…/Image:D: /Cleanup-Image…”)
3. If after executing the above command, you receive the “Error 0x800f081f: The source files could not be found”, then perform a repair upgrade. To do that: **

a. Boot from the Windows 10 installation media.
b. At Windows Setup wizard, press ‘Next‘ and then click ‘Install Now‘.
c. Accept the ‘License agreement’.
d. When asked, select Upgrade: Install Windows and keep files, settings, and applications.

** If you able to start your Windows 10 in Safe Mode with networking , then run the following command (in Admin Command Prompt):

• DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

5. When the DISM operation is completed, give the following SFC command to complete the repairs. *

• SFC /SCANNOW /OFFBOOTDIR=D: /OFFWINDIR=D:Windows

* Notes:
1. Where D = the Windows drive. (Change it according your situation).
2. There is space between / (“…/OFFBOOTDIR=D: /OFFWINDIR…”)

6. When the operation is completed, reboot your computer.

Did it work for you?

Please leave a comment in the comment section below or even better: like and share this blog post in the social networks to help spread the word about this solution.

If this article was useful for you, please consider supporting us by making a donation. Even $1 can a make a huge difference for us.