How to Fix w/ DISM Windows to Go Using the Windows 11 USB Installer?

Question

Hello Microsoft friends. When I boot to the Windows 11 USB Installer and use the Command Prompt to fix the Windows to Go on an external drive, when I type on the Command Prompt: dism /Image:G:/Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

it displays the error 2 which I think means 'Access Denied'.

Drive G: is the mount point of the Windows to Go external drive.

What could be the commands I should use to make DISM fix my Windows to Go installation (the hardisk is plugged it onto an external USB hub)?

Thank you in advance. God bless you. Revelation 21:4

***moved from Windows / Windows 11 / Files, folders, and storage***

Answer 1

Hi Alvin777,

it may be due to a permissions issue. You can try running the command prompt as an administrator to see if that resolves the issue.

To do this, right-click on the Command Prompt icon and select "Run as administrator". Then, try running the DISM command again.

If you are still experiencing issues, you can try running the command with the /Source parameter to specify the location of the Windows installation files. For example, you can try running the following command:

dism /Image:G:\/Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:WIM:X:\Sources\Install.wim:1

Replace "X:" with the drive letter of the Windows installation media, and "1" with the index number of the Windows image you want to use.

Hope it helps.

Best regards,

Lei

Answer 2

Hi, it was running as administrator already, I'm the admin, also I believe coz' I'm using the Windows 11 USB installer.

The Windows 11 USB installer is running Windows PE, I may not have the ability to right-click at any icon to do the DISM command to fix the Windows to Go so it's corrupted files are replaced.

Also I'm not sure I can do the /Source:Wim:X\Sources\Install.wim:1 using the command prompt of the Windows 11 USB Installer since it's running on Windows PE not the full Windows? I won't be able to mount an .iso on the Command Prompt of Windows PE, unless there's a command for that.

Is there a way to have full access to Windows to Go no error 2 using the Command Prompt of Windows PE operating system (not Windows OS) so I can use DISM to fix my Windows to Go?

Thanks again.

Answer 3

Hi,

you can try these following steps:

1. Boot your computer using a Windows PE bootable media.
2. Open the Command Prompt by pressing Shift + F10.
3. Type "diskpart" and press Enter to open the DiskPart utility.
4. Type "list disk" and press Enter to view the list of disks connected to your computer.
5. Identify the disk number of your Windows to Go drive and type "select disk X" (replace X with the disk number) and press Enter.
6. Type "list partition" and press Enter to view the list of partitions on the selected disk.
7. Identify the partition number of your Windows to Go drive and type "select partition X" (replace X with the partition number) and press Enter.
8. Type "assign letter=Z" and press Enter to assign a drive letter to the selected partition.
9. Type "exit" and press Enter to exit DiskPart.
10. Type "dism /image:Z:\ /cleanup-image /restorehealth" and press Enter to run the DISM tool on your Windows to Go drive.

This should fix any issues with your Windows to Go drive.

Answer 4

Hi, thank you, I did all that the diskpart and assigned the main partition (the bigger one to Z:), still produces the Error 2. I think it may be hardware related, nothing can access this internal drive that's from an external drive.

Thanks anyway Microsoft friends (I've been at this for a year- On and Off that is). Unless there's another command you know that will access it so it can be DISM fix, it's ok if you share that one.

Thanks again.

Answer 5

Sfc /Scannow /Offbootdir=L:\ /Offwindir=J:\Windows /Offlogfile=J:\offbootscanlog.txt

where L is Windows 11 USB pen drive, J is Windows installed partition