Mount and Modify a Windows Image Using DISM

Article
04/15/2014

Applies To: Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2

You can use the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool to mount a Windows image from a WIM or VHD file. Mounting an image maps the contents of the image to a directory so that you can service the image using DISM without booting into the image. You can also perform common file operations, such as copying, pasting, and editing on a mounted image.

Note

DISM cannot mount a Windows image from a VHD on Windows Vista® with Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Windows Server 2008. You must attach the VHD using the DiskPart tool before you can use DISM to service the image. When you service VHD images that have been attached using the DiskPart tool, the changes are automatically committed with each operation and cannot be discarded.

You can mount and modify multiple images on a single computer. For more information, see Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) Best Practices.

Mounting an Image

You can mount an image using the /optimize option to reduce initial mount time. However, When using the /optimize option, processes that are ordinarily performed during a mount will instead be completed the first time that you access a directory. As a result, there may be an increase in the time that is required to access a directory for the first time after mounting an image using the /optimize option.

To mount an image

Open a command prompt with administrator privileges. If you are using a version of Windows other than Windows 8, use the Deployment Tools Cmd Prompt installed with the ADK or navigate to the DISM directory on your local computer.

Mount the image.

Dism /Mount-Image /ImageFile:C:\test\images\myimage.wim /index:1 /MountDir:C:\test\offline

Note

To mount a Windows image from a VHD file, you must specify /index:1.

You can also add options to mount the image with read-only permissions or to reduce the initial mount time with the **/Optimize** option. For example,

    Dism /Mount-Image /ImageFile:C:\test\images\myimage.wim /index:1 /MountDir:C:\test\offline /ReadOnly /Optimize

For more information about the options available for the **/Mount-Image** option in DISM, see [DISM Image Management Command-Line Options](hh825258\(v=win.10\).md).

Modifying an Image

After you mount an image, you can browse the directory of the image. You can review the file and folder structure, and add, edit, or delete files and folders.

You can also use the DISM tool to add and remove drivers and packages, including language packs, enumerate drivers and packages, modify configuration settings, and more. For more information, see Service a Windows Image Using DISM.

To view and modify an image

On your technician computer open the mounted directory. For example,
```
cd C:\mounted_images
```
Delete, edit, or add additional files and folders to the location where they must appear after they have been applied to the destination computer. For example, C:\program_files\application_name.

Important

If you must add an application or a device, verify that you included all of the required files. Although you can add application files and folders, you cannot install applications.

Committing Changes to an Image

You can commit changes to an image without unmounting the image.

To commit changes to an image

At the command prompt, type:
```
Dism /Commit-Image /MountDir:C:\test\offline
```
Use /CheckIntegrity to detect and track .wim file corruption when you commit changes to the image. When you apply or mount the image, use /CheckIntegrity again to stop the operation if file corruption was detected. /CheckIntegrity cannot be used with virtual hard disk (VHD) files.

Unmounting an Image

After you modify an image, you must unmount it. If you mounted your image with the default read/write permissions, you can commit your changes. This makes your modifications a permanent part of the image.

To unmount an image

Open a command prompt with administrator privileges. If you are using a version of Windows other than Windows 8, use the Deployment Tools Cmd Prompt installed with the ADK or navigate to the DISM directory on your local computer.

For Windows 8.1:
```
cd C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\8.1\Assessment and Deployment Kit\ <architecture>\DISM
```
For Windows 8:
```
cd C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\8.0\Assessment and Deployment Kit\ <architecture>\DISM
```
where <architecture> can be x86 or amd64.
Unmount the image.
```
Dism /Unmount-Image /MountDir:C:\test\offline /commit
```
where C:\test\offline is the location of the mount directory. If you do not specify the parameters to unmount, this option lists all of the mounted images but does not perform the unmount action.

Important

You must use either the /commit or /discard argument when you use the /unmount option.

After modifying an image, you can apply the image from a network share or from local media, such as a CD/DVD or a USB flash drive (UFD).

Troubleshooting

If the DISM commands in this topic fail, try the following:

Make sure that you are using the Windows 8.1 version of DISM that is installed with the Windows ADK.
If you are using a Windows 8 or Windows 7 PC, use the Deployment and Imaging Tools Environment to access the tools that are installed with the Windows 8.1 version of the Windows ADK.
Don’t mount images to protected folders, such as your User\Documents folder.
If DISM processes are interrupted, consider temporarily disconnecting from the network and disabling virus protection.
If DISM processes are interrupted, consider running the commands from the Windows PE environment instead.

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