<PAGE>   1

 
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 31, 1996
                                                           Registration No. 333-
================================================================================

                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, DC  20549
                  
                            ---------------------

                                  FORM S-8
                           REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                    Under
                         THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                           ----------------------

                         DECISIONONE HOLDINGS CORP.
             (Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                    <C>
           Delaware                                                              13-3435409
(State or other jurisdiction of                                        (I.R.S. Employer Identification
incorporation or organization)                                                      No.)
</TABLE>

                            50 East Swedesford Road
                           Frazer, Pennsylvania 19355
                                 (610) 296-6000
          (Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)

      AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCK OPTION AND RESTRICTED STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                               THOMAS M. MOLCHAN
                    General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
                           DecisionOne Holdings Corp.
                            50 East Swedesford Road
                           Frazer, Pennsylvania 19355
                    (Name and address of agent for service)
                                 (610) 296-6000
         (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
   
                           -----------------------

                                   Copies to:

                                 DAVID R. KING
                          Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
                             2000 One Logan Square
                             Philadelphia, PA 19103
                                 (215) 963-5000

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
=================================================================================================================================
                                                               Proposed maximum   Proposed maximum
             Title of securities          Amount to be          offering price   aggregate offering        Amount of
              to be registered             registered            per share(1)         price(1)          registration fee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             <S>                          <C>                      <C>               <C>                   <C>
                Common Stock,
             par value $.01 per           2,000,000 (2)            $16.125           $32,250,000           $9,772.73
                    share
===============================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)      Estimated pursuant to paragraph (h) of Rule 457 solely for the purpose
         of calculating the registration fee based on the average of the
         reported high and low sales prices for a share of Common Stock on
         December 27, 1996 as reported on the Nasdaq National Market.

(2)      Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, this
         Registration Statement also covers such additional shares as may
         hereafter be offered or issued to prevent dilution resulting from
         stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations or certain other
         capital adjustments.
================================================================================
<PAGE>   2
                                    PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         DecisionOne Holdings Corp. (the "Company") incorporates herein by
reference the following documents as filed with the Commission:

                 (a)      The Company's latest annual report ("Annual Report"),
         filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
         Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act");

                 (c)      All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or
         15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by
         the Annual Report; and

                 (b)      The description of the Company's common stock, par
         value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock") contained in the
         Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed by the Company with the
         Securities and Exchange Commission on April 25, 1996 to register such
         securities under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

         All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13(a),
13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Registration
Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this
Registration Statement which indicates that all securities offered hereby have
been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be
a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.  Any statement
contained in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be
modified or superseded for purposes hereof to the extent that a statement
contained herein (or in any other subsequently filed document which also is
incorporated by reference herein) modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed to constitute a part
hereof except as so modified or superseded.

         The financial statements for the Company's last completed fiscal year
included in the Annual Report have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP,
independent auditors, as set forth in their report contained therein.  Such
financial statements, to the extent they relate to audited periods, are
incorporated herein in reliance upon the reports of Deloitte & Touche LLP
pertaining to such financial statements given upon the authority of such firm
as experts in accounting and auditing.  To the extent that Deloitte & Touche
LLP audits and reports on financial statements of the Company issued at future
dates, and consents to the use of their reports thereon, such financial
statements also will be incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon such
reports and such authority.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
(the "DGCL") grants to a corporation the power to indemnify any person who was
or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he is or was a
director, 




                                      II-1
<PAGE>   3

officer, employee or agent of the Company.

         As permitted by the DGCL, the Company's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation provides that directors of the Company shall not be personally
liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of
fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the
director's duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or
omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a
knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL, relating to
prohibited dividends or distributions or the repurchase or redemption of stock,
or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derives an improper
personal benefit.

         While these provisions provide directors with protection from awards
for monetary damages for breaches of their duty of care, they do not eliminate
such duty.  Accordingly, these provisions will have no effect on the
availability of equitable remedies such as an injunction or rescission based on
a director's breach of his or her duty of care.  The provisions described above
apply to an officer of a corporation only if he or she is a director of such
corporation and is acting in his or her capacity as director, and do not apply
to officers of the corporation who are not directors.

         The Company's By-laws contained provisions for indemnification of
directors, officers and employees which are substantially the same as Section
145 of the DGCL and also permit the Company to purchase insurance on behalf of
any such person against any liability asserted against such person and incurred
by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person's status as
such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person
against such liability under the foregoing provision of the Company's By-laws.
The Company has purchased directors and officers insurance.

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

         The following is a list of exhibits filed as part of this Registration
Statement.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
Number                                                Exhibit
------                                                -------

 <S>             <C>          <C>
  4              -            Amended and Restated Stock Option and Restricted Stock Purchase Plan.(1)

  5.1            -            Opinion of Thomas M. Molchan, Esq.

 23.1            -            Consent of Thomas M. Molchan, Esq. (included as part of Exhibit 5.1 hereto).

 23.2            -            Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

 24.1            -            Powers of Attorney (included as part of the signature page of this Registration
                              Statement).
</TABLE>

----------------
(1)      Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's
         Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30,
         1996.





                                      II-2
<PAGE>   4
ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

   (a)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

                 (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                          (i)  To include any prospectus required by Section 10
   (a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

                          (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or
   events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or
   the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in
   the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
   in the registration statement; and

                          (iii)  To include any material information with
   respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the
   registration statement or any material change to such information in the
   registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do
not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the
Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

                 (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.

                 (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

   (b)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

   (h)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.





                                      II-3
<PAGE>   5
                                   SIGNATURES

   Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Frazer, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the 31st day
of December, 1996.

                                        DECISIONONE HOLDINGS CORP.


                                        By:/s/ Thomas M. Molchan
                                           ------------------------    
                                           Thomas M. Molchan
                                           Corporate Secretary

   Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.  Each person in so signing also makes,
constitutes and appoints Thomas M. Molchan his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, to execute and cause to be
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any and all amendments or
post- effective amendments to this Registration Statement, with exhibits
thereto and other documents in connection therewith, as the Registrant deems
appropriate.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            Signature                                               Title                Date
            ---------                                               -----                ----


            <S>                                                     <C>                  <C>
                                                                    Director             December 31, 1996
            ------------------------------------------                                                    
               Bruce K. Anderson


            /s/ Michael C. Brooks                                   Director             December 31, 1996
            ---------------------------------                                                             
               Michael C. Brooks


            /s/ Kenneth Draeger                                     Director and Chief   December 31, 1996
            ---------------------------------                       Executive Officer                     
               Kenneth Draeger                                      (Principal         
                                                                    Executive Officer) 
                                                                                       
                                                                    
            /s/ Thomas E. McInerney                                 Director             December 31, 1996
            -------------------------------                                                               
               Thomas E. McInerney


            /s/ Arthur F. Weinbach                                  Director             December 31, 1996
            ----------------------------------                                                            
               Arthur F. Weinbach


            /s/ Thomas J. Fitzpatrick                               Chief Financial      December 31, 1996
            ------------------------------------                    Officer (Principal                    
               Thomas J. Fitzpatrick                                Financial and       
                                                                    Accounting Officer) 
                                                                                        
</TABLE>                                                            

<PAGE>   6

                           DecisionOne Holdings Corp.
                            Registration on Form S-8
                               Index to Exhibits

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
Number                                     Exhibit                                            Page
------                                     -------                                            ----

 <S>                          <C>
  5.1                         -      Opinion of Thomas M. Molchan, Esq.

 23.1                         -      Consent of Thomas M. Molchan, Esq.
                                     (included as part of Exhibit 5.1
                                     hereto).

 23.2                         -      Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

 24.1                         -      Powers of Attorney (included as part of
                                     the signature page of this Registration Statement).
</TABLE>





                                      II-5
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8 DECISIONONE HOLDINGS CORP.", "secsgml_size_bytes": 18920}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "DECISIONONE HOLDINGS CORP", "cik": "0001007588", "assigned-sic": "7373", "irs-number": "133435409", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0630"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-19095", "film-number": "96689071"}, "business-address": {"street1": "50 E SWEDESFORD RD", "city": "FRAZER", "state": "PA", "zip": "19355", "phone": "6102966000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "50 E SWEDESFORD RD", "city": "FRAZER", "state": "PA", "zip": "19355"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "DECISIONONE CORP", "date-changed": "19960212"}}
1

 
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 31, 1996
                                                           Registration No. 333-
================================================================================

                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, DC  20549
                  
                            ---------------------

                                  FORM S-8
                           REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                    Under
                         THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                           ----------------------

                         DECISIONONE HOLDINGS CORP.
             (Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)
Delaware                                                              13-3435409
(State or other jurisdiction of                                        (I.R.S. Employer Identification
incorporation or organization)                                                      No.)
50 East Swedesford Road
                           Frazer, Pennsylvania 19355
                                 (610) 296-6000
          (Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)

      AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCK OPTION AND RESTRICTED STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                               THOMAS M. MOLCHAN
                    General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
                           DecisionOne Holdings Corp.
                            50 East Swedesford Road
                           Frazer, Pennsylvania 19355
                    (Name and address of agent for service)
                                 (610) 296-6000
         (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
   
                           -----------------------

                                   Copies to:

                                 DAVID R. KING
                          Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
                             2000 One Logan Square
                             Philadelphia, PA 19103
                                 (215) 963-5000

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=================================================================================================================================
                                                               Proposed maximum   Proposed maximum
             Title of securities          Amount to be          offering price   aggregate offering        Amount of
              to be registered             registered            per share(1)         price(1)          registration fee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock,
             par value $.01 per           2,000,000 (2)            $16.125           $32,250,000           $9,772.73
                    share
===============================================================================================================================
(1)      Estimated pursuant to paragraph (h) of Rule 457 solely for the purpose
         of calculating the registration fee based on the average of the
         reported high and low sales prices for a share of Common Stock on
         December 27, 1996 as reported on the Nasdaq National Market.

(2)      Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, this
         Registration Statement also covers such additional shares as may
         hereafter be offered or issued to prevent dilution resulting from
         stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations or certain other
         capital adjustments.
================================================================================
2
                                    PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         DecisionOne Holdings Corp. (the "Company") incorporates herein by
reference the following documents as filed with the Commission:

                 (a)      The Company's latest annual report ("Annual Report"),
         filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
         Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act");

                 (c)      All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or
         15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by
         the Annual Report; and

                 (b)      The description of the Company's common stock, par
         value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock") contained in the
         Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed by the Company with the
         Securities and Exchange Commission on April 25, 1996 to register such
         securities under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

         All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13(a),
13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Registration
Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this
Registration Statement which indicates that all securities offered hereby have
been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be
a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.  Any statement
contained in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be
modified or superseded for purposes hereof to the extent that a statement
contained herein (or in any other subsequently filed document which also is
incorporated by reference herein) modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed to constitute a part
hereof except as so modified or superseded.

         The financial statements for the Company's last completed fiscal year
included in the Annual Report have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP,
independent auditors, as set forth in their report contained therein.  Such
financial statements, to the extent they relate to audited periods, are
incorporated herein in reliance upon the reports of Deloitte & Touche LLP
pertaining to such financial statements given upon the authority of such firm
as experts in accounting and auditing.  To the extent that Deloitte & Touche
LLP audits and reports on financial statements of the Company issued at future
dates, and consents to the use of their reports thereon, such financial
statements also will be incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon such
reports and such authority.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
(the "DGCL") grants to a corporation the power to indemnify any person who was
or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he is or was a
director, 

                                      II-1
3

officer, employee or agent of the Company.

         As permitted by the DGCL, the Company's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation provides that directors of the Company shall not be personally
liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of
fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the
director's duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or
omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a
knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL, relating to
prohibited dividends or distributions or the repurchase or redemption of stock,
or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derives an improper
personal benefit.

         While these provisions provide directors with protection from awards
for monetary damages for breaches of their duty of care, they do not eliminate
such duty.  Accordingly, these provisions will have no effect on the
availability of equitable remedies such as an injunction or rescission based on
a director's breach of his or her duty of care.  The provisions described above
apply to an officer of a corporation only if he or she is a director of such
corporation and is acting in his or her capacity as director, and do not apply
to officers of the corporation who are not directors.

         The Company's By-laws contained provisions for indemnification of
directors, officers and employees which are substantially the same as Section
145 of the DGCL and also permit the Company to purchase insurance on behalf of
any such person against any liability asserted against such person and incurred
by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person's status as
such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person
against such liability under the foregoing provision of the Company's By-laws.
The Company has purchased directors and officers insurance.

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

         The following is a list of exhibits filed as part of this Registration
Statement.
Exhibit
Number                                                Exhibit
------                                                -------
4              -            Amended and Restated Stock Option and Restricted Stock Purchase Plan.(1)

  5.1            -            Opinion of Thomas M. Molchan, Esq.

 23.1            -            Consent of Thomas M. Molchan, Esq. (included as part of Exhibit 5.1 hereto).

 23.2            -            Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

 24.1            -            Powers of Attorney (included as part of the signature page of this Registration
                              Statement).
----------------
(1)      Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's
         Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30,
         1996.

                                      II-2
4
ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

   (a)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

                 (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                          (i)  To include any prospectus required by Section 10
   (a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

                          (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or
   events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or
   the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in
   the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
   in the registration statement; and

                          (iii)  To include any material information with
   respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the
   registration statement or any material change to such information in the
   registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do
not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the
Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

                 (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.

                 (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

   (b)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

   (h)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-3
5
                                   SIGNATURES

   Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Frazer, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the 31st day
of December, 1996.

                                        DECISIONONE HOLDINGS CORP.

                                        By:/s/ Thomas M. Molchan
                                           ------------------------    
                                           Thomas M. Molchan
                                           Corporate Secretary

   Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.  Each person in so signing also makes,
constitutes and appoints Thomas M. Molchan his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, to execute and cause to be
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any and all amendments or
post- effective amendments to this Registration Statement, with exhibits
thereto and other documents in connection therewith, as the Registrant deems
appropriate.
Signature                                               Title                Date
            ---------                                               -----                ----
Director             December 31, 1996
            ------------------------------------------                                                    
               Bruce K. Anderson

            /s/ Michael C. Brooks                                   Director             December 31, 1996
            ---------------------------------                                                             
               Michael C. Brooks

            /s/ Kenneth Draeger                                     Director and Chief   December 31, 1996
            ---------------------------------                       Executive Officer                     
               Kenneth Draeger                                      (Principal         
                                                                    Executive Officer) 
                                                                                       
                                                                    
            /s/ Thomas E. McInerney                                 Director             December 31, 1996
            -------------------------------                                                               
               Thomas E. McInerney

            /s/ Arthur F. Weinbach                                  Director             December 31, 1996
            ----------------------------------                                                            
               Arthur F. Weinbach

            /s/ Thomas J. Fitzpatrick                               Chief Financial      December 31, 1996
            ------------------------------------                    Officer (Principal                    
               Thomas J. Fitzpatrick                                Financial and       
                                                                    Accounting Officer)
6

                           DecisionOne Holdings Corp.
                            Registration on Form S-8
                               Index to Exhibits
Exhibit
Number                                     Exhibit                                            Page
------                                     -------                                            ----
5.1                         -      Opinion of Thomas M. Molchan, Esq.

 23.1                         -      Consent of Thomas M. Molchan, Esq.
                                     (included as part of Exhibit 5.1
                                     hereto).

 23.2                         -      Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

 24.1                         -      Powers of Attorney (included as part of
                                     the signature page of this Registration Statement).
II-5