DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) error 87 (“The parameter is incorrect”) appears when a DISM command is entered with incorrect syntax, unsupported parameters, or when required system components are unavailable. Below is a concise, methodical guide to diagnosing and fixing Error 87 plus practical tips to avoid it.
WinRE (Recovery Environment): If you are running DISM from a recovery screen, the /Online flag might not work because you aren't "inside" the active OS. Use /Image:C:\ (replacing C: with your actual Windows drive letter) instead. 5. Summary Table: Common Fixes Typing Error dism error 87 fixed
"Error: 87 – The option is unknown."
Pro tip: Use TAB completion in Command Prompt. Type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image / then press TAB to cycle through valid options. DISM Error 87 — Cause, step-by-step fixes, and
If the Windows Modules Installer service is stopped, DISM cannot perform its cleanup tasks. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter. Scroll down and double-click Windows Modules Installer. Set the Startup type to Automatic. Click Start, then click OK. Step 3: Run Windows Update Reboot if SFC fixed issues, then run DISM again
Let’s walk through a real scenario. A user types:
Corrected command:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:WIM:e:\sources\install.wim:1