Combine multiple install.wim images

Question

_{Monday, January 29, 2018 4:04 PM | 1 vote}

The scenario is the following:

Created a virtual machine. Installed Windows 10 Education latest build (1709).

Set up the machine as needed, ran sysprep, captured the image to install.wim with dism.

Replaced the install.wim from the Windows install media with my custom image. Installed on the target computer. All working perfectly.

Now the problem:

On the same virtual machine I added some software to my install. Captured again to install.wim.

I then tried to combine the first install.wim with the second one using dism /export-image command.

Then I ran the Dism /Get-ImageInfo command and both images show up in the install wim. All seems ok.

Now, I use the combined install.wim and replace the default install.wim in the Windows install media.

I start the install process. At the stage where the list of images from the wim file should appear, I get a blank list. So I cannot select the image. What could be the problem?

Andrei V.

All replies (2)

_{Tuesday, January 30, 2018 9:46 AM}

Hi,

To make sure i understand you have multiple wim and you want to have 1 single wim with multiple index.

Check the link below.

Combining multiple images into a single wim

https://matthewlong.wordpress.com/2010/12/23/combining-multiple-images-into-a-single-wim/

Please Note: Since the website is not hosted by Microsoft, the link may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this information.

Hope it will be helpful to you

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_{Tuesday, January 30, 2018 10:10 AM}

Yes, I know that link. It is from 2010 and it uses imagex to do the merge. dism is now preferred over imagex.

I tried to do it using only DISM but, even if it should work, for some reason it doesn't.

I used dism /Capture-Image to capture each install.wim. Let's say I have 3 images, called img1.wim, img2.wim and img3.wim.

Next, I used dism /Export-Image to export each image into the final install.wim.

As a last step, I checked the final install.wim with dism /Get-ImageInfo.

All images were there, each with its own index, everything seemed OK.

But when I use the install.wim to replace the default install.wim from the windows install media and try to install, at the install stage where you have to select an image, this one:

I get only an empty list. So I am unable to move forward with the install.

Andrei V.