Creating a Build: the essentials

When you set up the build environments for Windows PE, you create base images for Windows PE. The traditional way to customize Windows PE builds is to use the PeImg utility. However, the Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool (DISM) replaces PeImg and provides a more robust solution for working with builds. To create custom builds using DISM, you need to do the following:

1. Mount the image.
2. Customize the image.
3. Unmount the image.
4. Capture the image to a Windows Imaging (.wim) file.
5. Create a bootable ISO (.iso) image.

In the sections that follow, we discuss these processes. Whenever you work with the tools in the kit, you should use the Deployment Tools command prompt. This prompt has the environment settings for working with the kit you installed and can be started by completing the following steps:

1. Click Start, point to All Programs, and then click either Microsoft Windows OPK, Microsoft Windows AIK, or Microsoft Windows PE Kit as appropriate.
2. Right-click Deployment Tools Command Prompt, and then click Run As Administrator.