DISM /Mount-Image Error 3 "The system cannot find the path specified" does not even say which path it cannot find

[Zimbot (my employer has nothing to do with this)]

The obvious question here is "how do I get around this problem?" I've used DISM to mount and modify images many times in the past and never run into this blockage, and DISM itself gives no clue as to what is causing it or how to get around it.


First of all, I know there are many instances of problems that sound just like this all over the internet including this forum. Most have no answers. Some are about completely different operations where the answers suggested were alternate ways to do things, which are irrelevant in my case. After much wasted time, I've given up trying to wade through them to find anything useful.


I consider it a defect in DISM that it provides this error message but does not indicate (on console output or in the log file) which path it was trying to find or open when this error occurred. Microsoft really should fix that.


But all the paths provided on the command line are valid.


I've even done a

DISM /Cleanup-Mountpoints​

(which actually did have some work to do), and

rebooted my system,​

to no avail.


Both the

DISM /Mount-Image​

and the

DISM /Mount-Wim​

commands yield the same error. Example of what it looks like:

C:\>echo. > C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log C:\>DISM /Mount-Wim /WimFile:J:\Images\amd64\L14_win10v1909exp_v1.wim /Index:1 /MountDir:C:\mount10 /LogLevel:4 Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool Version: 10.0.18362.900 Error: 3 The system cannot find the path specified. The DISM log file can be found at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log

Proving that the paths "specified" are actually correct by recalling and editing the same command line to transform it into a "dir" command:

C:\>dir J:\Images\amd64\L14_win10v1909exp_v1.wim C:\mount10 Volume in drive J is Images Volume Serial Number is 5C3C-CBC5 Directory of J:\Images\amd64 10/13/2020 11:01 a.m. 21,916,174,371 L14_win10v1909exp_v1.wim 1 File(s) 21,916,174,371 bytes 0 Dir(s) 75,805,683,712 bytes free Volume in drive C is Windows Volume Serial Number is C419-1BCF Directory of C:\mount10 10/13/2020 10:13 a.m. <DIR> . 10/13/2020 10:13 a.m. <DIR> .. 0 File(s) 0 bytes 2 Dir(s) 215,935,897,600 bytes free

I also went back and did this, just to see that even DISM is able to confirm that the image file is, in fact, a valid image that it understands:

C:\>DISM /Get-WimInfo /WimFile:J:\Images\amd64\L14_win10v1909exp_v1.wim Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool Version: 10.0.18362.900 Details for image : J:\Images\amd64\L14_win10v1909exp_v1.wim Index : 1 Name : OS Description : <undefined> Size : 52,741,093,327 bytes The operation completed successfully.

The log for this isn't particularly long, so I'll include it here (omitting the first column with date/time and the third column which is always "DISM", to save space):

Info PID=5948 TID=1744 Temporarily setting the scratch directory. This may be overridden by user later. - CDISMManager::FinalConstruct Info PID=5948 TID=1744 Scratch directory set to 'C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\Temp\'. - CDISMManager:ut_ScratchDir Info PID=5948 TID=1744 DismCore.dll version: 10.0.18362.900 - CDISMManager::FinalConstruct Info PID=5948 TID=1744 Local image session has not been created, creating now. - CDISMManager::CreateLocalImageSession Info Initialized Panther logging at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log Info PID=5948 TID=1744 Attempting to load the Dism stack from "C:\WINDOWS\system32\Dism" - CDISMManager::LoadLocalImageSession Info PID=5948 TID=1744 Successfully loaded the ImageSession at "C:\WINDOWS\system32\Dism" - CDISMManager::LoadLocalImageSession Info Initialized Panther logging at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Found and Initialized the DISM Logger. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_InitializeLogger Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Cannot get the provider PE Provider because it was not found in the provider map - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_GetProvider(hr:0x80070032) Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Failed to get and initialize the PE Provider. Continuing by assuming that it is not a WinPE image. - CDISMProviderStore::Final_OnConnect Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Finished initializing the Provider Map. - CDISMProviderStore::Final_OnConnect Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Getting Provider DISMLogger - CDISMProviderStore::GetProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Provider has previously been initialized. Returning the existing instance. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_GetProvider Info DISM Image Session: PID=5948 TID=1744 Obtained the local logger instance. Configured the local session to use it. - CDISMImageSession::get_ProviderStore Info Initialized Panther logging at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Getting Provider DISMLogger - CDISMProviderStore::GetProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Provider has previously been initialized. Returning the existing instance. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_GetProvider Info DISM Manager: PID=5948 TID=1744 Successfully created the local image session and provider store. - CDISMManager::CreateLocalImageSession Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Getting Provider DISMLogger - CDISMProviderStore::GetProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Provider has previously been initialized. Returning the existing instance. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_GetProvider Info DISM.EXE: Info DISM.EXE: <----- Starting Dism.exe session -----> Info DISM.EXE: Info DISM.EXE: Host machine information: OS Version=10.0.18362, Running architecture=amd64, Number of processors=8 Info DISM.EXE: Dism.exe version: 10.0.18362.900 Info DISM.EXE: Executing command line: DISM /Mount-Wim /WimFile:J:\Images\amd64\L14_win10v1909exp_v1.wim /Index:1 /MountDir:C:\mount10 /LogLevel:4 Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - CDISMProviderStore::GetProviderCollection Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Getting the collection of providers from a local provider store type. - CDISMProviderStore::GetProviderCollection Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - CDISMProviderStore::GetProviderCollection Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Provider has not previously been encountered. Attempting to initialize the provider. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_GetProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Loading Provider from location C:\WINDOWS\system32\Dism\FolderProvider.dll - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_GetProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Connecting to the provider located at C:\WINDOWS\system32\Dism\FolderProvider.dll. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_LoadProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Provider has not previously been encountered. Attempting to initialize the provider. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_GetProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Loading Provider from location C:\WINDOWS\system32\Dism\SiloedPackageProvider.dll - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_GetProvider Warning DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Failed to load the provider: C:\WINDOWS\system32\Dism\SiloedPackageProvider.dll. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_GetProvider(hr:0x8007007e) Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Provider has not previously been encountered. Attempting to initialize the provider. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_GetProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Loading Provider from location C:\WINDOWS\system32\Dism\FfuProvider.dll - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_GetProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Connecting to the provider located at C:\WINDOWS\system32\Dism\FfuProvider.dll. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_LoadProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Provider has not previously been encountered. Attempting to initialize the provider. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_GetProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Loading Provider from location C:\WINDOWS\system32\Dism\WimProvider.dll - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_GetProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Connecting to the provider located at C:\WINDOWS\system32\Dism\WimProvider.dll. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_LoadProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Provider has not previously been encountered. Attempting to initialize the provider. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_GetProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Loading Provider from location C:\WINDOWS\system32\Dism\VHDProvider.dll - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_GetProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Connecting to the provider located at C:\WINDOWS\system32\Dism\VHDProvider.dll. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_LoadProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Provider has not previously been encountered. Attempting to initialize the provider. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_GetProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Loading Provider from location C:\WINDOWS\system32\Dism\ImagingProvider.dll - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_GetProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Connecting to the provider located at C:\WINDOWS\system32\Dism\ImagingProvider.dll. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_LoadProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Provider has not previously been encountered. Attempting to initialize the provider. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_GetProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Loading Provider from location C:\WINDOWS\system32\Dism\MetaDeployProvider.dll - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_GetProvider Warning DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Failed to load the provider: C:\WINDOWS\system32\Dism\MetaDeployProvider.dll. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_GetProvider(hr:0x8007007e) Info DISM.EXE: Got the collection of providers. Now enumerating them to build the command table. Info DISM.EXE: Attempting to add the commands from provider: DISM Log Provider Info DISM.EXE: DISM Log Provider does not support command lines. Info DISM.EXE: Attempting to add the commands from provider: FolderManager Info DISM.EXE: FolderManager does not support command lines. Info DISM.EXE: Attempting to add the commands from provider: FfuManager Info DISM.EXE: Succesfully registered commands for the provider: FfuManager. Info DISM.EXE: Attempting to add the commands from provider: WimManager Info DISM.EXE: Succesfully registered commands for the provider: WimManager. Info DISM.EXE: Attempting to add the commands from provider: VHDManager Info DISM.EXE: VHDManager does not support command lines. Info DISM.EXE: Attempting to add the commands from provider: GenericImagingManager Info DISM.EXE: Succesfully registered commands for the provider: GenericImagingManager. Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Getting Provider WimManager - CDISMProviderStore::GetProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Provider has previously been initialized. Returning the existing instance. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_GetProvider Error DISM WIM Provider: PID=5948 TID=1744 "Failed to mount the image." - CWimImageInfo::Mount(hr:0x80070003) Error DISM WIM Provider: PID=5948 TID=1744 onecore\base\ntsetup\opktools\dism\providers\wimprovider\dll\wimmanager.cpp:2590 - CWimManager::InternalOpMount(hr:0x80070003) Error DISM WIM Provider: PID=5948 TID=1744 onecore\base\ntsetup\opktools\dism\providers\wimprovider\dll\wimmanager.cpp:3914 - CWimManager::InternalCmdMount(hr:0x80070003) Error DISM WIM Provider: PID=5948 TID=1744 "Error executing command" - CWimManager::InternalExecuteCmd(hr:0x80070003) Error DISM WIM Provider: PID=5948 TID=1744 onecore\base\ntsetup\opktools\dism\providers\wimprovider\dll\wimmanager.cpp:2122 - CWimManager::ExecuteCmdLine(hr:0x80070003) Info DISM.EXE: Image session has been closed. Reboot required=no. Info DISM.EXE: Info DISM.EXE: <----- Ending Dism.exe session -----> Info DISM.EXE: Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Found the OSServices. Waiting to finalize it until all other providers are unloaded. - CDISMProviderStore::Final_OnDisconnect Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Encountered a loaded provider FolderManager. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_DisconnectProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Disconnecting Provider: FolderManager - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_DisconnectProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Encountered a loaded provider FfuManager. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_DisconnectProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Disconnecting Provider: FfuManager - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_DisconnectProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Encountered a loaded provider WimManager. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_DisconnectProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Disconnecting Provider: WimManager - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_DisconnectProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Encountered a loaded provider VHDManager. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_DisconnectProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Disconnecting Provider: VHDManager - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_DisconnectProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Encountered a loaded provider GenericImagingManager. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_DisconnectProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Disconnecting Provider: GenericImagingManager - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_DisconnectProvider Info DISM Provider Store: PID=5948 TID=1744 Releasing the local reference to DISMLogger. Stop logging. - CDISMProviderStore::Internal_DisconnectProvider Info Provider store has been disconnected. Releasing COM pointers. - CDISMImageSession::Final_OnDisconnect

So the log file seems completely unhelpful.

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