When it comes to Windows, dd
and other 3rd party tools are not an efficient way to image a partition.
Commands
WinPE only has 32MB of scratch [temp] space by default, so /ScratchDir
is required
Windows >=8: DISM
is utilized to capture an image:
DISM /Capture-Image /ImageFile:"Z:\Base.wim" /CaptureDir:"C:" /Name:"Windows Backup" /Description:"Base Image 2019.08.24 @ 08:30" /Compress:Max /CheckIntegrity /Verify /NoRpFix /ScratchDir:"Z:\"
Windows <=7: ImageX
is utilized in lieu of DISM:
ImageX /Capture "C:" "Z:\Base.esd" "Windows Backup" "Base Image 2019.08.24 @ 08:30" /Compress:Recovery /Check /Verify /NoRpFix /ScratchDir:"Z:\"
NOTE:
- It's impossible for an ESD/WIM image to become corrupted
- Provided imaging commands are always issued with:
- DISM:
/CheckIntegrity
& /Verify
- ImageX:
/Check
& /Verify
- ESDs can only be taken of a system partition
/Compress:Recovery
is the only compression algorithm available.
- ESD compression ratio is ~33% more efficient than the WIM compression ratio.
- In Windows 10, Microsoft only allows ESDs for Push-Button Reset exported images
- ESDs/WIMs are smart compression image formats
- Only changed files are added to an image when a new image is appended to it
- Newly appended images utilize the same copy of unchanged files already contained within the image from the previous image(s).
- This allows for an image to remain small in relation to the data contained within.
DISM & ImageX Prerequisites
- Easy
- Download & create a bootable USB:
- Once booted from it, press: SHIFT + F10 to open a terminal
- DISM / ImageX commands
- Custom: Create a WinPE/RE image
- Install:
- Windows ADK (8 & 10) || AIK (7) is specific to the version of Windows installed.
- ADK:
- AIK:
- Create:
- Boot it
Example: /Get-WIMinfo
|| /Info
PS $ ls -file
Directory: Z:\WIM
Mode LastWriteTime Length Name
---- ------------- ------ ----
-a---- 2018.12.24 03:34:13 95,019,530,773B Base.wim
-a---- 2016.06.14 22:32:36 568B DISM.cmd
-a---- 2016.05.17 05:36:10 97B wimscript.ini
PS $ dism /get-wiminfo /wimfile:Base.wim
Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.18362.1
Details for image : Base.wim
Index : 1
Name : Alienware 18: Windows 10
Description : v1803: Base (Drivers Only)
Size : 22,710,283,446 bytes
Index : 2
Name : Alienware 18: Windows 10
Description : v1803: Software Installed (No Customizations)
Size : 45,591,850,754 bytes
Index : 3
Name : Alienware 18: Windows 10
Description : v1803: Software Installed (Customized)
Size : 94,958,267,312 bytes
Index : 4
Name : Alienware 18: Windows 10
Description : v1803: Software Group 1 Installed (Customized)
Size : 101,588,267,910 bytes
Index : 5
Name : Alienware 18: Windows 10
Description : v1803: Software Group 2 Installed (Customized)
Size : 101,905,314,237 bytes
Index : 6
Name : Alienware 18: Windows 10
Description : v1809: Updated Applications
Size : 114,959,954,040 bytes
The operation completed successfully.
PS $ dism /get-wiminfo /wimfile:Base.wim /index:1
Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.18362.1
Details for image : Base.wim
Index : 1
Name : Alienware 18: Windows 10
Description : v1803: Base (Drivers Only)
Size : 22,710,283,446 bytes
WIM Bootable : No
Architecture : x64
Hal : acpiapic
Version : 10.0.17134
ServicePack Build : 1
ServicePack Level : 1
Edition : Professional
Installation : Client
ProductType : WinNT
ProductSuite : Terminal Server
System Root : WINDOWS
Directories : 24288
Files : 112665
Created : 2018.05.05 - 13:56:47
Modified : 2018.05.05 - 13:56:47
Languages :
en-US (Default)
The operation completed successfully.
PS $ dism /get-wiminfo /wimfile:Base.wim /index:2
Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.18362.1
Details for image : Base.wim
Index : 2
Name : Alienware 18: Windows 10
Description : v1803: Software Installed (No Customizations)
Size : 45,591,850,754 bytes
WIM Bootable : No
Architecture : x64
Hal : acpiapic
Version : 10.0.17134
ServicePack Build : 1
ServicePack Level : 1
Edition : Professional
Installation : Client
ProductType : WinNT
ProductSuite : Terminal Server
System Root : WINDOWS
Directories : 45803
Files : 203058
Created : 2018.05.06 - 01:55:47
Modified : 2018.05.06 - 01:55:48
Languages :
en-US (Default)
The operation completed successfully.
PS $ dism /get-wiminfo /wimfile:Base.wim /index:3
Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.18362.1
Details for image : Base.wim
Index : 3
Name : Alienware 18: Windows 10
Description : v1803: Software Installed (Customized)
Size : 94,958,267,312 bytes
WIM Bootable : No
Architecture : x64
Hal : acpiapic
Version : 10.0.17134
ServicePack Build : 1
ServicePack Level : 81
Edition : Professional
Installation : Client
ProductType : WinNT
ProductSuite : Terminal Server
System Root : WINDOWS
Directories : 62409
Files : 350446
Created : 2018.06.01 - 19:09:51
Modified : 2018.06.19 - 21:26:18
Languages :
en-US (Default)
The operation completed successfully.
PS $ dism /get-wiminfo /wimfile:Base.wim /index:4
Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.18362.1
Details for image : Base.wim
Index : 4
Name : Alienware 18: Windows 10
Description : v1803: Software Group 1 Installed (Customized)
Size : 101,588,267,910 bytes
WIM Bootable : No
Architecture : x64
Hal : acpiapic
Version : 10.0.17134
ServicePack Build : 1
ServicePack Level : 81
Edition : Professional
Installation : Client
ProductType : WinNT
ProductSuite : Terminal Server
System Root : WINDOWS
Directories : 61908
Files : 346074
Created : 2018.06.08 - 21:54:02
Modified : 2018.06.19 - 21:26:18
Languages :
en-US (Default)
The operation completed successfully.
PS $ dism /get-wiminfo /wimfile:Base.wim /index:5
Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.18362.1
Details for image : Base.wim
Index : 5
Name : Alienware 18: Windows 10
Description : v1803: Software Group 2 Installed (Customized)
Size : 101,905,314,237 bytes
WIM Bootable : No
Architecture : x64
Hal : acpiapic
Version : 10.0.17134
ServicePack Build : 1
ServicePack Level : 81
Edition : Professional
Installation : Client
ProductType : WinNT
ProductSuite : Terminal Server
System Root : WINDOWS
Directories : 76113
Files : 423408
Created : 2018.06.09 - 20:38:36
Modified : 2018.06.19 - 21:26:18
Languages :
en-US (Default)
The operation completed successfully.
PS $ dism /get-wiminfo /wimfile:Base.wim /index:6
Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.18362.1
Details for image : Base.wim
Index : 6
Name : Alienware 18: Windows 10
Description : v1809: Updated Applications
Size : 114,959,954,040 bytes
WIM Bootable : No
Architecture : x64
Hal : acpiapic
Version : 10.0.17763
ServicePack Build : 195
ServicePack Level : 0
Edition : Professional
Installation : Client
ProductType : WinNT
ProductSuite : Terminal Server
System Root : WINDOWS
Directories : 87659
Files : 452028
Created : 2018.12.24 - 04:27:13
Modified : 2018.12.24 - 04:27:15
Languages :
en-US (Default)
The operation completed successfully.