How to Create All-in-One Setup DVD to Install All Windows Vista x86 and x64 Editions?

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This tutorial will help you in creating a single setup DVD for Windows Vista x86 (32-bit) and x64 (64-bit) editions.

Requirements:

WAIK (Windows Automation Installation Kit)
Windows Vista x86 and Windows Vista x64 DVDs.
Dual Layer DVD and compatible DVD Burner and software (like Nero or ImgBurn)

Lets come to the point and start the tutorial:

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. One more thing Vista x64 DVD has only four editions, so we'll have to execute less commands.

How to:

1. Install WAIK in your Windows (doesn’t matter whether you are running Windows Vista or XP).

2. Make two folders, say Vistax64 and Vista-All and copy both Vista setup DVDs of 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 as shown in above screenshot. Here INDEX=1 denotes Vista Business and so on.

5. Execute the following command with appropriate INDEX no. to export 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 also export your desired version only. 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 tool to make CD/DVD images with WAIK. Here is a single command that makes 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

Here:

–u2 >> makes UDF file system for iso image
–b >> refers boot image file which is used to create boot sector in DVD or image
–l >>labels DVD or image
–g >> makes all times encoded in GMT for the image
–t >>date and time
–h >> includes 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.

Other similar articles that may interest you:

This article was posted by VG in following section: Windows Vista.

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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
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.
SixShotDoc

Pedro,

This works
imagex /info img_file img_number "new_img_name"

example: imagex /info d:\imaging\install.wim 1 "Windows Vista ULTIMATE SP1"

SixShotDoc