adding a wim file

Discussion in 'Windows 8' started by sid8840, Jan 17, 2013.

  1. sid8840

    sid8840 MDL Novice

    May 2, 2010
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    during customization of windows 8 setup

    1) i have created a self made WIM file by the system backup process..it is .3.5gb in size

    2) i have original win8 pro setup extracted on my desktop

    how do i replace my install.wim file with the win8 setup's install.wim

    is there any tool which wil do it?
    thanks in advanced!!
     
  2. rrohela

    rrohela MDL Expert

    Sep 1, 2009
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    just Replace it....:eek: delete original & put your.... Why looking for tool? Trying to achieve something special?
     
  3. sid8840

    sid8840 MDL Novice

    May 2, 2010
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    i have done that..but at setup it gives an error!!...why should i ask then??
     
  4. rrohela

    rrohela MDL Expert

    Sep 1, 2009
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    What was that error?.. What backup system you use to build WIM?
    To get help problem explanation is always better & you will be asked less questions..
     
  5. sid8840

    sid8840 MDL Novice

    May 2, 2010
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    i used gimagex to capture image from system backup
    and merely inserted to win8 installation

    it boots from bios but after "install windows" screen
    it shows
    "windows cant display the image available for the installation"
     
  6. rrohela

    rrohela MDL Expert

    Sep 1, 2009
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    GimageX works well for windows 7 but never used that for win8... Use DISM to capture image..
     
  7. sid8840

    sid8840 MDL Novice

    May 2, 2010
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    ok enough of my work!!:mad:
    can anybody tell me how to replace custom.wim file with win8 install.wim. that should work...
    or a step by step process may be usefull!!:spoton:
     
  8. rrohela

    rrohela MDL Expert

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    #9 rrohela, Jan 17, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
    You got this error
    Means you WIM is corrupt... i don't know which method you use to backup then to convert Backup VHD to WIM

    If i am correct, then you are trying Windows 7 style System Image Backup & then converted that to WIM. Then follow this but you need some reading on it to get required result..

    In Windows 8, Windows Backup(Win 7 style) is hard to find. Search for backup and you’ll find only File History click it or

    Go to Control Panel\System and Security\File History Then choose option "Windows 7 file Recovery" at lower left corner of window then choose "Create System Image". Use this option to make new system image backups in Windows 8.
    After backup you will have VHD file.

    Next..Convert the system image file VHD into .WIM file
    Under window 8 just right click on vhd & map it. Say its mapped to z: drive
    use following command to capture image to wim.

    Code:
    Dism /Capture-Image /ImageFile:D:\install.wim /CaptureDir:Z:\ /Name:"WINDOWS 8 PRO" /Compress:max /CheckIntegrity /Verify
    
    This will save your wim file in D drive.. Change options in RED according to drives & requirement.

    Next..Integrating WIM file into Windows 8 ISO file..

    1. Create folder windows8(Or anything you like) and Copy the original ISO and Paste in to folder. Doing this is important because the ISO will be edited and keeping original ISO safe is wise option.
    2. Open the ISO with PowerISO or similar software.
    Inside the ISO there will be a sources folderand drag the install.wim file that you made previously into the sources folder and choose to replace. Save it...
    Burn to Disk or USB
    When you use this media then activating Windows might be needed.
     
  9. Shenj

    Shenj MDL Expert

    Aug 12, 2010
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    #12 Shenj, Jan 17, 2013
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2013
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  10. 100

    100 MDL Expert

    May 17, 2011
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    I know, that's why I said it's a bad idea. OP was asking how to create a setup image, not how to restore a backup.
     
  11. rrohela

    rrohela MDL Expert

    Sep 1, 2009
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    #15 rrohela, Jan 17, 2013
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2013
    But he mentioned this

    & trying to add his wim in place of install.wim..

    Edit.. Rest OP will confirm.. Possible that i misunderstand it..
     
  12. sid8840

    sid8840 MDL Novice

    May 2, 2010
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    #16 sid8840, Jan 18, 2013
    Last edited: Jan 18, 2013
    (OP)

    ok after day of work....replacing custom install.wim to the system install.wim works fine!!

    but there is another problem (sorry about that)

    Now that i had made a custom install.wim file which is large ..around 6 gb
    the possible solution is to write the customized win 8 iso to DVD and boot

    but i want something different
    i used SARDU to make my external USB HDD bootable
    since FAT32 option supports 4gb file...install.wim file has to split

    hence i splitted that install.wim with install.swm and so..using imagex..
    i created another win8.iso from the spitted one

    but every time i boot from that iso..it asks for windows product key..which was not asked before when i used install.wim in iso

    HELP!!:worthy:
     
  13. HALIKUS

    HALIKUS MDL Addicted

    Jul 29, 2009
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    You could use the ei.cfg trick, use dism to enter the key to the wim, use an autounattend.xml with the key, or the obvious one, manually enter the key. Deploying your wim with imagex or dism would be an even simpler way.

    As for your fat32 USB, do you realise you can use ntfs with certain editions of syslinux or grub4dos now? I find i only need fat32 when booting efi from a USB.
     
  14. sid8840

    sid8840 MDL Novice

    May 2, 2010
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    problem gets solved by refering rmprepUSB tutorial no.43

    i am able to load two 7gb of win8 and win7 iso from my USB HDD!!
    thanks for everyone!!
     
  15. jmonroe0914

    jmonroe0914 MDL Novice

    May 13, 2013
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    #19 jmonroe0914, Aug 5, 2014
    Last edited: Aug 5, 2014
    While an old thread, correct information should still be offered...

    You cannot simply copy a custom install.wim into the installation media sources folder and have it install correctly because Windows 8 (nor 7 if I recall right) doesn't use the WIM format for it's install image... It uses the binary ESD format, Install.esd

    You can convert the Install ESD to WIM format, but I'm not sure how to convert it back into ESD. You must use Sysprep on a clean install upon first log on, which will create an Install.wim from the Install.esd. There are tutorials how to do this by searching google.
     
  16. s1ave77

    s1ave77 Has left at his own request

    Aug 15, 2012
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    Indeed a good intention :cool2:.

    Not sure where you got this info but it's incorrect. Win 8/8.x Setup is still able to use WIMs (see MSDN ISOs for this) but can handle also compressed ESDs.
     
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