Training
Module
Customize Windows Server IaaS Virtual Machine images - Training
You'll be able to create new VMs from generalized images and use Azure Image Builder templates to create and manage images in Azure.
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Windows System Image Manager (Windows SIM) uses Windows image (.wim) files and catalog (.clg) files to display the available components and packages that can be added to an answer file (Unattend.xml). Windows images and catalog files contain configurable settings that you can modify after the component or package is added to an answer file.
Tip
Install.wim is located in the Sources
folder of your Windows Installation Media download. See OEM deployment of Windows 10 for desktop editions for steps to make and deploy Windows images.
You can open Windows SIM by searching your computer for "Windows System Image Manager".
Windows SIM can create catalog files for Windows images of the following architecture types
Your version of Windows | Windows images you can create catalog files from |
---|---|
x86 version of Windows |
x86-based systems, x64-based systems, and Arm-based systems |
x64 version of Windows |
x64-based systems only |
Don't have an x86 PC handy?
A Windows image file contains one or more compressed Windows images. Each Windows image in a Windows image file contains a list of all of the components, settings, and packages that are available with that Windows image.
The following list describes some of the limitations of using Windows image files:
Because of these limitations, Windows SIM uses catalog files to create an answer file.
A catalog file is a binary file that only includes the settings and packages in a Windows image. Catalog files (.clg) are only used by Windows SIM and is not used by other deployment tools, nor is it required to install Windows. When Windows SIM creates a catalog file, it queries the Windows image for a list of all the settings and state of each setting in that image. Because the contents of a Windows image can change over time, you must re-create the catalog file whenever you update a Windows image.
Because only administrators can open Windows images, you must have administrator permissions on the system to create a catalog file.
When Windows SIM opens a Windows image file or catalog file, all of the configurable components and packages inside that image are displayed in the Windows Image pane. You can then add components and settings to an answer file.
A catalog file contains the following information:
Catalog files have several advantages over Windows image files:
"The catalog file for Windows Image (image name) cannot be opened for the following reason:
Cannot find the catalog file associated with the Windows image (image name)
You must have a valid catalog file to continue. Do you want to create a catalog file?"
Fix: Click Yes to create a catalog file. After you've created the catalog file, this message will no longer appear.
What's going on: This message usually shows up the first time you open a .wim file.
"Access denied"
Fix: Copy the .wim file to a simple writable file location, like C:\Images, then try again.
What's going on: This message appears when you're creating a catalog file from a .wim file that's in a location that the system can't write to, like a DVD or secured network share.
"Catalog creation failed to complete. This 64-bit version of Windows SIM can only create catalogs for 64-bit Windows images. For a list of supported architecture types, see link below."
Fix: Use an x86 version installation of Windows to create catalog files for x86 or Arm-based .wim files.
What's going on: Windows SIM can't create x86 or Arm catalog files from a 64-bit Windows installation.
Training
Module
Customize Windows Server IaaS Virtual Machine images - Training
You'll be able to create new VMs from generalized images and use Azure Image Builder templates to create and manage images in Azure.