DISM Source No Found (and what brought me to try this)

v22H2 (build 19045-2846)

Note that the laptop has been running with no issues since July 2018. Only hardware changes was to swap out two of the three on-board drives (1-SSD/1-HHD) for 2 larger capacity SSDs about 2 years ago. Disk cloning was successful. No issues.

Here are the events which led me to try DISM:

• A few weeks ago, I would get the "Activate Windows" watermark on the lower left screen. I would activate using my product key (I went from retail Home to purchased Pro in 2019). Key would be accepted, although activation status would show "Windows activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account). Note that for a few years, I would log in to Microsoft switching between my personal and work accounts.
• Since that first "Activate Windows" occurrence, it has continued to appear repeatedly every 24-48 hours. I would go through and either activate using the Pro key or Troubleshooter to see if either made a difference. It did not.
• This led me to check slmgr.vbs /dlv the next time I had to activate. Windows Script Host replied with the correct partial product key, channel as retail and with status of licensed.
• I eventually got ahold of someone at Windows Activation support. They went into my laptop, said my account and license were not "linked" and said they did that. They then downloaded MediaCreationTool22H2 and a Windows.iso file. They set the system to re-install windows with the option of keeping all my files and programs. As that part would take a significant amount of time, they ended the call, saying that it would defiantly work, I asked what to do if it didn't and was told to contact again. My screen went to the Windows install blue screen. At 37% my desktop appeared with a notice that Windows could not install.
• I tried DISM starting with CheckHealth. Reply was that component store is repairable. Moved to StartComponentCleanup, then back to CheckHealth with same reply. Moved to Restore Health. Reply was that the source files could not be found. Moved to RestoreHealth with /Source:E:\Sources\install.esd which was the monted version of the Windows.iso. Same issue: The source file could not be found (see images).

I have yet to try DISM in safe mode or Windows Install in safe mode, but did not want to proceed further. Obviously, I would prefer not to have to re-install the 252 programs installed and set them up again (just moving from my old laptop to my current took three complete days, and I had less programs then).
So, I'm here, looking for help before moving forward. I have not contacted Microsoft Windows Activation or other support because insuring me that all will be well and then having their fix fail does not instill confidence.
Appreciate any suggestions and thanks in advance.

In this video, i will guide you on how to resolve "The source files could not be found" dism error message.

Dalchina,

Still a no go. I followed your instructions, as well as the post 5 solution for that person (see images). My DISM source is listed correctly according to everything I have read (see my original post images). I'll do a search as suggested. I'll also look at FreeBooter's video.

I do have image backups, but looking for a solution that brings me from easier to harder (having to deal with anything installed post image).

Freebooter. I was hoping that specifying the Windows version would help, but it has not.

I will try Safe Mode to see if that works with SFC and DISM

Seems to be more reliable if pointed at a mounted or applied image as the source.

Are you using the latest version of install.esd image file, if not make sure to download the newest version of Windows 10 ISO image from Microsoft website.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10

Converted install.esd to install.wim.

ISO version created two days ago.

In this video, i will show you how to do a repair install of Windows 10 by performing an in-place upgrade without losing anything.