How to generate install.esd, or have setup use install.wim

Chetar Ruby 21 Reputation points
2021-06-07T23:41:16.053+00:00

I recently acquired the 21H1 iso image to regenerate my deployment images and ran into a snag when attempting to add a recovery partition to the image that allows the user to reinstall windows from installation media included in the image.

Basically, previous to 21H1, the iso images contained a 'install.wim' archive within the 'sources' subfolder of the installation media. I am using DISM to capture my installed and re-sealed via sysprep copy of Windows 10 with customizations. This generates a new install.wim image I can put onto the installation media.

21H1's installation media has changed from using install.wim, to using install.esd. I cannot find any information on generating an esd file, as they appear to be encrypted or something? I'm a bit confused about the matter. But the end result is, when I delete the install.esd file from the sources folder and replace it with a install.wim, the installation media simply doesn't work anymore.

To be clear, this is what I'm doing:

  1. Install Windows 10 from original ISO
  2. Boot the install, enter AUDIT mode.
  3. Check for updates, install a few applications, make a few profile changes to the administrator account.
  4. Use Sysprep to return the installation to 'uninstalled' OOBE mode so next boot will re-initiate hardware detect and OOBE.
  5. Use DISM to capture the modified Windows to a new install.wim.
  6. Copy new install.wim to the original ISO, removing install.esd

When I copy the new install.wim (removing install.esd from the install media as well) back to the installation media, the resulting new ISO doesn't work, setup complains a device driver must be missing cuz it can't find anything to work with.

All of these steps are being done in a virtual machine (VirtualBox)

Any tips or suggestions, or references to documentation on how to do this properly would be greatly appeciated. Thanks for reading!

Windows 10 Setup
Windows 10 Setup
Windows 10: A Microsoft operating system that runs on personal computers and tablets.Setup: The procedures involved in preparing a software program or application to operate within a computer or mobile device.
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  1. Jenny Feng 14,081 Reputation points
    2021-06-08T06:15:30.01+00:00

    @Chetar Ruby
    Hi,
    From your description, it seems you tried to boot your 21H1 image including (install.wim) which has been modified and captured by DISM. However it didn't work, as you suppose that 21HI.ISO might only support install.esd from Sources folder. Hereby I suggest you try the following operations to convert file format.

    You could Convert ESD file to WIM using DISM in Windows 10
    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/95308-convert-esd-file-wim-using-dism-windows-10-a.html?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=22403c31866ef49eacc8c8df353427d237348407-1594014497-0-AfAVFmu664zt70i9FHsGs-h5vmLfENuIPSkILPeunDoEDxojsW7vEW0WU6wcSc4c0K5IpLN3Z8xhLZ-6-eciyClTALZK0IawFvrRrMDXdVGyq0EVoKroXL1XdIf32hWGN7a-XBjArT7b-gUfcEzVvsEEoDOCnFkeyNPDWrdDMgpWTQdknbjDHGjzqs1gkhIBXo1Vfs8MQBliaCLi4M53TgYivI1NKp04fRWM6qJcCniaRl75I7-7zZVbN761BkWN2uDoTbuUW-MQcS-xwloaHXLaRgU2jCopW8WNAiLoiI3y-0w2hH4IVEnfRLU5CC-6-0arbPrzLHlJnVD9yQ08ygkM7TsFvzDSw4jQS9TgdBnT

    Please note: Information posted in the given link is hosted by a third party. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy and effectiveness of information.
    Hope above information can help you.

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