How can i extract an existing windows PE iso file add some files and make it a bootable iso again?

Question

How can i extract an existing windows PE iso file add some files and make it a bootable iso again?

Dani_S 5,581

Hi,

How can i extract an existing windows PE iso file , add some files and make it a bootable iso again?

Your quick answer will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Dani_S 5,581 Reputation points

2024-08-19T06:14:27.8966667+00:00

framework 4.6.2
Anonymous

2024-08-19T07:30:35.5266667+00:00

Hi @Dani_S , Welcome to Microsoft Q&A

,What project is this? For example: Maui?What is the expected behavior and how does that differ from the actual behavior?

Which platform is not working when running code?
Dani_S 5,581 Reputation points

2024-08-19T07:35:57.9066667+00:00

C# framework 4.6.2. project in wpf.
Anonymous

2024-08-19T07:40:13.7+00:00

You can add corresponding tags when asking questions, so that relevant people can quickly respond to your questions.
Dani_S 5,581 Reputation points

2024-08-19T08:23:48.9366667+00:00

Your quick answer will be appreciated.

Hui Liu-MSFT 48,711 Microsoft External Staff

Hi,@Dani_S .

To accomplish the task of extracting an existing Windows PE ISO file, adding files to it, and then making it a bootable ISO again using a C# WPF project, you could try to refer to the following.

One approach is SharpZipLib for compressed formats or using command-line tools like 7-Zip for extraction.

Install SharpZipLib:

Add SharpZipLib to your project via NuGet.

Extract Files (if the ISO contains files in a compressed format like .zip):


using ICSharpCode.SharpZipLib.Zip;

using System;

using System.IO;

class Program

{

    static void ExtractZip(string zipPath, string extractPath)

    {

        using (var zipInputStream = new ZipInputStream(File.OpenRead(zipPath)))

        {

            ZipEntry theEntry;

            while ((theEntry = zipInputStream.GetNextEntry()) != null)

            {

                string fullPath = Path.Combine(extractPath, theEntry.Name);

                string directoryPath = Path.GetDirectoryName(fullPath);

                if (!Directory.Exists(directoryPath))

                {

                    Directory.CreateDirectory(directoryPath);

                }

                if (!theEntry.IsDirectory)

                {

                    using (FileStream streamWriter = File.Create(fullPath))

                    {

                        byte[] buffer = new byte[4096];

                        int len;

                        while ((len = zipInputStream.Read(buffer, 0, buffer.Length)) > 0)

                        {

                            streamWriter.Write(buffer, 0, len);

                        }

                    }

                }

            }

        }

    }

}

Creating the Bootable ISO

If you need to create a bootable ISO, you might need to use tools like oscdimg as mentioned earlier. You can invoke them using ProcessStartInfo in C#.

Example with oscdimg (Windows)

Install oscdimg:

Download it from the Microsoft website or install it as part of the Windows ADK.

Create Bootable ISO:

enter image description here

Dani_S 5,581 Reputation points

2024-08-19T10:25:40.1533333+00:00

.................
Dani_S 5,581 Reputation points

2024-08-19T10:59:13.8966667+00:00

@Hui Liu-MSFT

We got this error, it is not a bootable iso again. Can you please help?
Dani_S 5,581 Reputation points

2024-08-19T11:13:45.12+00:00

Your quick answer will be appreciated!
Hui Liu-MSFT 48,711 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2024-08-20T08:03:46.3033333+00:00

Hi,@Dani_S .As Bruce said, according to your latest reply, the above code does not work with UEFI. If you want to create a UEFI bootable iso, you could check out the document he mentioned. You can also refer here.
Dani_S 5,581 Reputation points

2024-08-20T10:10:53.7633333+00:00

OK.

Thanks
Hui Liu-MSFT 48,711 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2024-08-21T09:21:42.0333333+00:00

Thanks for your reply. Good luck with your development.

Answer accepted by question author

1 additional answer

Your answer

Dani_S 5,581 Reputation points

2024-08-19T06:14:27.8966667+00:00

framework 4.6.2
Anonymous

2024-08-19T07:30:35.5266667+00:00

Hi @Dani_S , Welcome to Microsoft Q&A

,What project is this? For example: Maui?What is the expected behavior and how does that differ from the actual behavior?

Which platform is not working when running code?
Dani_S 5,581 Reputation points

2024-08-19T07:35:57.9066667+00:00

C# framework 4.6.2. project in wpf.
Anonymous

2024-08-19T07:40:13.7+00:00

You can add corresponding tags when asking questions, so that relevant people can quickly respond to your questions.
Dani_S 5,581 Reputation points

2024-08-19T08:23:48.9366667+00:00

Your quick answer will be appreciated.
Hui Liu-MSFT 48,711 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2024-08-19T09:48:27.1133333+00:00

Hi,@Dani_S .

To accomplish the task of extracting an existing Windows PE ISO file, adding files to it, and then making it a bootable ISO again using a C# WPF project, you could try to refer to the following.

One approach is SharpZipLib for compressed formats or using command-line tools like 7-Zip for extraction.

Install SharpZipLib:

Add SharpZipLib to your project via NuGet.

Extract Files (if the ISO contains files in a compressed format like .zip):

using ICSharpCode.SharpZipLib.Zip; using System; using System.IO; class Program { static void ExtractZip(string zipPath, string extractPath) { using (var zipInputStream = new ZipInputStream(File.OpenRead(zipPath))) { ZipEntry theEntry; while ((theEntry = zipInputStream.GetNextEntry()) != null) { string fullPath = Path.Combine(extractPath, theEntry.Name); string directoryPath = Path.GetDirectoryName(fullPath); if (!Directory.Exists(directoryPath)) { Directory.CreateDirectory(directoryPath); } if (!theEntry.IsDirectory) { using (FileStream streamWriter = File.Create(fullPath)) { byte[] buffer = new byte[4096]; int len; while ((len = zipInputStream.Read(buffer, 0, buffer.Length)) > 0) { streamWriter.Write(buffer, 0, len); } } } } } } }

Creating the Bootable ISO

If you need to create a bootable ISO, you might need to use tools like oscdimg as mentioned earlier. You can invoke them using ProcessStartInfo in C#.

Example with oscdimg (Windows)

Install oscdimg:

Download it from the Microsoft website or install it as part of the Windows ADK.

Create Bootable ISO:
Dani_S 5,581 Reputation points

2024-08-19T10:25:40.1533333+00:00

.................
Dani_S 5,581 Reputation points

2024-08-19T10:59:13.8966667+00:00

@Hui Liu-MSFT

We got this error, it is not a bootable iso again. Can you please help?
Dani_S 5,581 Reputation points

2024-08-19T11:13:45.12+00:00

Your quick answer will be appreciated!
Hui Liu-MSFT 48,711 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2024-08-20T08:03:46.3033333+00:00

Hi,@Dani_S .As Bruce said, according to your latest reply, the above code does not work with UEFI. If you want to create a UEFI bootable iso, you could check out the document he mentioned. You can also refer here.
Dani_S 5,581 Reputation points

2024-08-20T10:10:53.7633333+00:00

OK.

Thanks
Hui Liu-MSFT 48,711 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2024-08-21T09:21:42.0333333+00:00

Thanks for your reply. Good luck with your development.

Answer 1

Bruce (SqlWork.com) 83,821

I don't believe your ocsdimg command line is correct for a UEFI bootable iso. see docs:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-server/setup-upgrade-and-drivers/create-iso-image-for-uefi-platforms

0 comments

Answer 2

To extract an existing Windows PE ISO file, add files to it, and make it bootable again, you can follow these steps:

Extract the Existing ISO:
- Use a tool like 7-Zip or WinRAR to extract the contents of the original Windows PE ISO file.
  - Create a new folder where you want to store and modify the extracted files.
  1. Add Files:
    - Copy any additional files that you want to include into this newly created folder. These could be drivers, scripts, executables or other necessary components for your customized version of Windows PE.
    1. Modify Configuration (Optional): If needed, Edit configuration settings such as startnet.cmd, winpeshl.ini etc., based on specific requirements
    2. Create Bootable Image:

To create a bootable image from modified content/folder structure
You’ll need external tools capable creating iso images e.g., ImgBurn , PowerISO

5 . Open chosen software/tool & select “create image” option typically found in menu bar

6 . Select appropriate options within UI provided by selected application : * Choose source directory containing all previously added/modified windows pe related folders/files * Specify output path/name/location desired for resulting iso being generated

7 . Configure Boot Information : Ensure proper configurations set up so resultant Iso is marked/booted correctly when used later

8.Click ‘Start’/‘Generate’/similar button depending upon which program utilized

9.Wait until process completes successfully without errors/warnings.

10.Verify Resulting Output File : Check if final result meets expectations i.e.,

Verify whether changes made are reflected properly after mounting/burning/reusing updated iso

Remember always test thoroughly before deploying custom-made versions!To extract an existing Windows PE ISO file, add files to it, and make it bootable again, you can follow these steps:

Extract the Existing ISO:
- Use a tool like 7-Zip or WinRAR to extract the contents of the original Windows PE ISO file.
  - Create a new folder where you want to store and modify the extracted files.
  1. Add Files:
    - Copy any additional files that you want to include into this newly created folder.
      These could be drivers, scripts, executables or other necessary components for your customized version of Windows PE.
    1. Modify Configuration (Optional):
      If needed,
      Edit configuration settings such as startnet.cmd, winpeshl.ini etc., based on specific requirements
    2. Create Bootable Image:

To create a bootable image from modified content/folder structure
You’ll need external tools capable creating iso images e.g., ImgBurn , PowerISO

5 . Open chosen software/tool & select “create image” option typically found in menu bar

6 . Select appropriate options within UI provided by selected application :

Choose source directory containing all previously added/modified windows pe related folders/files
Specify output path/name/location desired for resulting iso being generated

7 . Configure Boot Information : Ensure proper configurations set up so resultant Iso is marked/booted correctly when used later

8.Click ‘Start’/‘Generate’/similar button depending upon which program utilized

9.Wait until process completes successfully without errors/warnings.

10.Verify Resulting Output File : Check if final result meets expectations i.e.,

Verify whether changes made are reflected properly after mounting/burning/reusing updated iso

Remember always test thoroughly before deploying custom-made versions!

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How can i extract an existing windows PE iso file add some files and make it a bootable iso again?

1 additional answer

Your answer