When attempting to install the Media Foundation feature on Windows Server 2012 R2 for RDS Session Host configuration, administrators frequently encounter error 0x800f081f indicating missing source files. This typically occurs when the Components Store (WinSxS) has been cleaned or when the system cannot locate required installation packages.

The CBS logs reveal multiple critical points:

2014-07-23 16:28:22, Info CBS Failed to internally open package [HRESULT = 0x800f0805]
2014-07-23 16:27:03, Info CBS DWLD: Failed to copy to path on bundle [HRESULT = 0x80246013]
2014-07-23 16:28:24, Error CBS Failed to perform operation [HRESULT = 0x800f081f]

Method 1: Specifying Alternative Sources

Try these DISM commands with different source paths:

dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:MediaFoundation /all /limitaccess /source:wim:D:\sources\install.wim:4
dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:MediaFoundation /all /limitaccess /source:http://server/share/win2012r2

Method 2: Repairing Component Store

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:wim:D:\sources\install.wim:4
sfc /scannow

For systems where Features on Demand were removed:

1. Mount the Windows ISO
2. Copy the entire sources\sxs folder to a network share
3. Run this PowerShell script:

$features = Get-WindowsFeature | Where-Object {$_.Installed -eq $False}
foreach ($feature in $features) {
    Install-WindowsFeature -Name $feature.Name -Source \\server\share\sxs
}

Update these Group Policy settings if using WSUS:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Specify settings for optional component installation:
- "Download repair content and optional features directly from Windows Update" = Enabled
- "Do not connect to any Windows Update Internet locations" = Disabled

Create a batch file with these commands:

@echo off
net use z: \\wsus\updates /persistent:yes
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth /source:z:\win2012r2\sources
dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:MediaFoundation /all /source:z:\win2012r2\sources\sxs
pause

When attempting to install Windows features like Media Foundation on Server 2012 R2, you might encounter error code 0x800f081f indicating missing source files. This typically occurs when:

• The component store (WinSxS) has been cleaned
• Original installation media isn't properly referenced
• WSUS/Windows Update connectivity issues exist

Method 1: Specify the correct source path

Use DISM with precise WIM index (verify with DISM /Get-WimInfo /WimFile:F:\sources\install.wim first):

DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:MediaFoundation /All /LimitAccess /Source:wim:F:\sources\install.wim:4

Method 2: Force Windows Update download

Configure these registry settings to bypass WSUS:

reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v "WUServer" /t REG_SZ /d "" /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v "WUStatusServer" /t REG_SZ /d "" /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU" /v "UseWUServer" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

When dealing with corrupted manifests:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:wim:F:\sources\install.wim:4 /LimitAccess
sfc /scannow

For scripted deployments, use this PowerShell approach:

$feature = "MediaFoundation"
$wimPath = "wim:F:\sources\install.wim:4"

try {
    $result = Install-WindowsFeature $feature -Source $wimPath -ErrorAction Stop
    if ($result.RestartNeeded) { 
        Write-Warning "Restart required to complete installation"
    }
}
catch {
    Write-Error "Failed to install feature: $_"
    # Fallback to Windows Update
    Install-WindowsFeature $feature -Source "WindowsUpdate"
}

Key log entries to investigate:

• CBS_E_INVALID_PACKAGE - Corrupted package store
• CBS_E_SOURCE_MISSING_FROM_WUSUS - Download failures
• 0x80246013 - CAB extraction issues

Use this PowerShell snippet to parse CBS logs:

Get-Content C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log -Tail 1000 | 
    Select-String -Pattern "0x800f081f|CBS_E_SOURCE_MISSING|DWLD:" | 
    Out-GridView -Title "CBS Error Analysis"