DISM /Apply-Image command fails with error code 5 (ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED)

This article provides a workaround for an issue where DISM /Apply-Image command fails with error code 5 (ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED).

Applies to:   Windows 10 - all editions
Original KB number:   3179598

Symptoms

Consider the following scenario:

• You have a Windows 10 image.
• You enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) feature.
• You download and install Ubuntu package by using the command that's documented here.
• You capture the Windows 10 image by using the DISM /Capture-Image command.
• You try to apply the captured Windows 10 image by using the DISM /Apply-Image command.

In this scenario, the DISM /Apply-Image command fails with error code 5 (ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED).

Cause

The files that are installed by the Ubuntu package may cause DISM /Apply-Image to fail.

Workaround

Do not download and install the Ubuntu package before you capture the Windows 10 image by using the DISM /Capture-Image command. The Ubuntu package can be downloaded and installed after the Windows 10 image is applied to a device. You can install the Ubuntu package by following the steps in this installation guide.

More Information

For more information about Windows Subsystem for Linux, see Frequently Asked Questions.

For more information about DISM imaging commands, see DISM Image Management command-line options.

Data collection

If you need assistance from Microsoft support, we recommend you collect the information by following the steps mentioned in Gather information by using TSS for deployment-related issues.