It’s simple and straight way to merge Vista x86 and Vista x64 editions (DVDs) in a single DVD.
- WAIK (Windows Automation Installation Kit)
- Windows Vista x86 and Windows Vista x64 DVDs.
- Dual Layer DVD and compatible DVD Burner and software (like Nero, ImgBurn)
Lets come to the point and start now.
We will merge Vista x64 editions into Vista x86 DVD, because Vista x64 DVD has 64-bit contents that can’t run under Win32 mode but Vista x86 content can run under 64-bit environment easily…and one more thing Vista x64 DVD has only four editions, so we have to execute less commands.
How to:
1. Install WAIK in your Windows (doesn’t matter you are running Vista or Windows XP)
2. Make two folders, say Vistax64 and Vista-All and copy both Vista DVDs x64 and x86 versions correspondingly.
3. Run WAIK command prompt (Run As Administrator if UAC enabled):
Start >> All Programs >> Windows AIK >> Windows AIK and PE Command Prompt
4. Each and every Vista edition has an index no. in the install.wim (WIM file), you can check using the following command:
Imagex.exe /info E:\Vista-All\Sources\install.wim
It display the results something like that.
Its means INDEX=1 denotes Vista Business and so on.
5. Execute the following command with appropriate INDEX no. to exports a copy of the specified image to another WIM file. (Vista x64 to Vista x86)
For Vista Business x64:
Imagex.exe /export E:\Vistax64\Sources\install.wim 1 E:\Vista-All\Sources\install.wim "Windows Vista Business x64"
For Vista Home Basic x64:
Imagex.exe /export E:\Vistax64\Sources\install.wim 2 E:\Vista-All\Sources\install.wim "Windows Vista Home Basic x64"
For Vista Home Premium x64:
Imagex.exe /export E:\Vistax64\Sources\install.wim 3 E:\Vista-All\Sources\install.wim "Windows Vista Home Premium x64"
For Vista Ultimate x64:
Imagex.exe /export E:\Vistax64\Sources\install.wim 4 E:\Vista-All\Sources\install.wim "Windows Vista Ultimate x64"
6. After execution of above commands Vista-All's WIM file will be the universal WIM file that contains all version of Vista. You can export your desired only too. I have made a Vista DVD, which includes Vista Ultimate x86 and x64 version only. It fits in single layer DVD too.
7. Now the time to make bootable DVD image, Microsoft ships oscdimg.exe, a command line to make CD/DVD images with WAIK. here is the a single command that make Vista Bootable DVD ISO image:
Oscdimg.exe –u2 –bE:\Vista-All\Boot\etfsboot.com –lVista-All_DVD –g –t07/27/2008,05:30:00 –h E:\Vista-All E:\Vista-All.ISO
Where:
- –u2 >> make UDF file system for iso image
- –b >> refers boot image file, which is used to create boot sector in DVD or image
- –l >>Label DVD or image
- –g >> makes all times encoded in GMT time for the image
- –t >>Date and Time
- –h >> include all hidden files and directories under the source path for this image
8. Now burn the ISO image in a DVD corresponding to image file size.
This tutorial has been compiled by "Ramesh Kumar" (Fellow MVP). So all credit goes to him.
Complete list of AskVG articlesThis article was posted in Windows Vista.
Related Articles
Popular Articles
- Frequently Asked Problems with Solutions
- Is Your System Infected with a Virus / Spyware / Adware / Trojan?
- Transform Windows Vista into 7 without using Customization pack
- Transform Windows XP into 7 without using Customization pack
- Transform Windows XP into Vista without using Customization pack
- All About Resource Hacker in a brief Tutorial
- Master Tutorial to Make Your Windows 7 Super Fast
- Master Tutorial to Make Your Windows Vista Super Fast
- Master Tutorial to Make Your Windows XP Super Fast
- All Kinds of Restrictions for Windows XP, Vista and 7
Ingnition
Thank you very much VG
Now I know how to do it. I was looking on some other site about it, but they did not explained the process good enough to understand. Well Cheers mate
VG
^^ Welcome.
MANOJIT
THANKS FOR THE ARTICLE !
I PREVIOUSLY FIND SOMETHING ON DIGIT MAGAZINE FOR XP . BUT THAT WAS NOT SO CLEAR . NOW THIS ARTICLE IS CLEAR ..
WILL YOU PLEASE SUGGEST SOMETHING LIKE VISTA WITH XP
canibal
HI ! Dont work for me, I can create ISO image!
Error : Scanning source tree
ERROR: File larger than 4GB: "\sources\install.wim"
My DVD with Win Vista SP1 Ultimate x86 and x64
Please Help!
Glaucio
Hi canibal,
If file E:\Vista-All\Sources\Install.WIM become larger than 4Gb you'll probably have problems to record the DVD-Image. So, I recomend you split the "Install.WIM" file in .SWM files.
Imagex.exe /split E:\Vista-All\Sources\Install.wim E:\Vista-All\Sources\Install.SWM 4096 /check
After "Successfully split..." mensage, you can now DELETE the original E:\Vista-All\Sources\Install.WIM without fear! The "SPLIT" process shall create two or more files (like: E:\Vista-All\Sources\Install.swm and E:\Vista-All\Sources\Install2.swm)
These files (Install.swm and Install2.swm) instead of (Install.WIM) are smaller than 4GB (4096 Kb) and as so, you'll be able to record in any recorder DVD software.
Sorry for my English, but I hope it helps.
Pedro
Very nice tutorial a million thx m8!!!!
but i'm having a little problem with this command for rename the image
imagex /info img_file [img_number | img_name] [new_name] [new_desc]
example:
imagex /info d:\imaging\install.wim 'Windows Vista ULTIMATE' 'Windows Vista ULTIMATE SP1' 'Windows Vista Ultimate'
is it correct?? if yes doesn't work for me,if no can you please write the correct syntax
BR
Pedro
Mike
If you would want to do this for the x86 version would you have to make an x86 folder as well ? Cause the guide only talks about x64 .
edx
"Make two folders, say Vistax64 and Vista-All and copy both Vista DVDs x64 and x86 versions correspondingly."
What do you suggest for PC users who did not receive a Vista DVD [ or set of CDs ] from the OEM?
I know that if an XP user has an i386 folder with *.dl_ files, the user can create a Win XP installation CD.
Last week, I tried to help a friend with an OEM Laptop with a BSOD of 0x000000f4. All selections from Vista's startup menu [ safe mode, last known good config, etc failed]. Vista's repair failed. We were forced to run the OEM's system recovery program.
Leo
If I have an Ultimate version and I am to use Imagex.exe /export E:\Vistax64\Sources\install.wim 3 E:\Vista-All\Sources\install.wim "Windows Vista Home Premium x64" , I will get a Home Premium version ?
Dan
This does not work -
Error opening file [E:\Vistax64\Sources\install.wim].
The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable.