Unable to install Windows Server Backup on Windows 2019 Essentials

[SeanBuckle45]

Trying to install Windows Server Backup feature on a newly installed Windows 2019 Essentials server. When trying to install it comes back with the below error:

Install-WindowsFeature : The request to add or remove features on the specified server failed.
Installation of one or more roles, role services, or features failed.
The source files could not be found.
Use the "Source" option to specify the location of the files that are required to restore the feature. For more
information on specifying a source location, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=243077. Error: 0x800f081f
At line:1 char:1
+ Install-WindowsFeature Windows-Server-Backup
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo : InvalidOperation: (@{Vhd=; Credent...Name=localhost}:PSObject) [Install-WindowsFeature],
Exception
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : DISMAPI_Error__Failed_To_Enable_Updates,Microsoft.Windows.ServerManager.Commands.AddWind
owsFeatureCommand

When looking at the available features the Backup feature is displaying this:

[ ] Windows Server Backup Windows-Server-Backup Removed

Have tried to download an ISO of the OS and installing using DSIM with the source switch, as well as the Install-Windowsfeature within Powershell. All advising that the source files cannot be found.

I have tried everything I can think of to get this installed.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Sean Buckle

[#2]

Sounds like the OS may be broken. You can try repairing servicing

sfc /scannow

dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

[#3]

@Dave Patrick 

I have same problem with Server 2019 so followed your below instructions, however, it did not fix the situation.

sfc /scannow

dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

Any other suggestions?

Thanks for your help.

[#4]

Did you fix this problem as I am having same problem?

Thanks,

[#5]

I am having the same issue on Server 2019 Std. Any one have a fix for this yet?
I have tried the following commands:

dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup

dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

sfc /scannow

They all succed with 100% and no errors. then once I run the installation, it comes back with no source found.. even if I provide source file from the wim or from another server, same issue.. very frustrating..

PS C:\Windows\system32> install-windowsfeature windows-server-backup
install-windowsfeature : The request to add or remove features on the specified server failed.
Installation of one or more roles, role services, or features failed.
The source files could not be found.
Use the "Source" option to specify the location of the files that are required to restore the feature. For more
information on specifying a source location, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=243077. Error: 0x800f081f
At line:1 char:1
+ install-windowsfeature windows-server-backup
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo : InvalidOperation: (@{Vhd=; Credent...Name=localhost}:PSObject) [Install-WindowsFeature],
Exception
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : DISMAPI_Error__Failed_To_Enable_Updates,Microsoft.Windows.ServerManager.Commands.AddWind
owsFeatureCommand

Success Restart Needed Exit Code Feature Result
------- -------------- --------- --------------
False No Failed {}

[#6]

@SeanBuckle45 

You can try this fix

1) Run PowerShell as an Administrator

2) Put the Original Installation ISO for the OS (Windows Server) and mount it

3) Run this command in PowerShell: Dism /get-wiminfo /wimfile:<drive>:\sources\install.wim
"<drive> -> The Drive letter where this OS ISO was mounted to"

4) Take note of the "Index #" of the OS that was install on the PC (Server)
"For Example: -> Index: 4 , Name: Windows Server 2016 SERVERDATACENTER"

5) Run the next command in PowerShell: Install-WindowsFeature <Name of Feature> -Source wim:<Drive Letter>:\sources\install.wim:<Index #>
"For Example: -> Install-WindowsFeature Windows-Server-Backup -Source wim:G:\sources\install.wim:4"

P.S> Do not use the quotation marks "" on PowerShell when running the above commands

[#7]

** Mount .iso Windows Server installation file (ex: local drive E:)
** Create folder "mount" in C:\
mkdir C:\mount

** Get Windows version index:
Dism /Get-WimInfo /WimFile:E:\sources\install.wim

** Index : 4 - Name : Windows Server 2022 Datacenter Evaluation (Desktop Experience)

Dism /mount-wim /wimfile:E:\Sources\install.wim /index:4 /mountdir:C:\mount /readonly

Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:WindowsServerBackup /Source:C:\mount\Windows\WinSxS


** Clean up old backups:

wbadmin delete catalog

[#8]

WOW, this worked for me. i have had a nightmare as when trying to reinstall i was getting this file cannot be found. and tried so many different ways from looking up on the internet.
Cant thank you enough 🙂

[#9]

@SeanBuckle45 

I just went through this and thought I may give another method to resolve the issue.

Install Hyper-V

Install Windows Server (Same Distro)

Install Windows Updates (Patch to current state of problematic server)

Share Windows folder of newly installed server

When installing the feature point the external source to the newly shared windows folder

This should fix your issues. 

[#10]

@SeanBuckle45 

Guys i´ve discovered how to fix it finally after some days !! But you will need another folder from another server that has windows-server-backup feature working. So you will need just copy the folder WinSxS from C:\Windows\WinSxS and paste it to the server that is getting this issue with windows-server-backup feature. Then you open cmd and run this command:

Dism /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:WindowsServerBackup /Source:C:\WinSxS /LimitAccess

Done ! just try to open the Backup from the server that it will works. It Worked for me !

[#11 · Accepted solution]

@SeanBuckle45 

I have gotten this to work simply by doing the following in PowerShell.

Get-WindowsFeature *backup*

Dism /Online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:WindowsServerBackup

Dism /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:WindowsServerBackup

Now it opens fine.