Windows 7 / Getting Started

Mounting a Windows pe Image

After you set up the build environment, you need to mount one of the base images. This allows you to customize your Windows PE images.

  1. To prepare 32-bit Windows PE for customization, mount the base image in the build folder by entering imagex /apply c:\winpe_x86\iso\sources\ boot.wim n c:\winpe_x86\mount\, where n is the index position of the image number within the Boot.wim fi le to be applied, and the directory path provided is the location in which to copy the image contents.
  2. To prepare 64-bit Windows PE for customization, mount the base image in the build folder by entering imagex /apply c:\winpe_x64\iso\sources\ boot.wim n c:\winpe_x64\mount\, where n is the index position of the image number within the Boot.wim fi le to be applied, and the directory path provided is the location in which to copy the image contents.
  3. To prepare Itanium-based Windows PE for customization, mount the base image in the build folder by entering imagex /apply c:\winpe_ia64\iso\ sources\boot.wim n c:\winpe_ia64\mount\, where n is the index position of the image number within the Boot.wim fi le to be applied, and the directory path provided is the location in which to copy the image contents.

Note there are several other ways to mount images for customization. For example, you can use ImageX /MountrW to mount images. the syntax is the same as with ImageX /apply. DISM has /Mount-wim and /Unmount-wim options as well. For more information, see the section "Customizing Windows Images" later in this tutorial. When you mount an image fi le, you'll see output similar to the following:

ImageX Tool for Windows
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corp. All rights reserved.

Mounting: [c:\winpe_x86\iso\sources\boot.wim, 1] ->
[c:\winpe_x86\mount\]...

[ 100% ] Mounting progress

Successfully mounted image.

Total elapsed time: 10 sec

If ImageX is unable to mount the image, you should check to be sure that you started the Deployment Tools command prompt and are working as an administrator. If you are, check the image fi le properties and ensure that the security settings are confi gured correctly.

Once an image is mounted, you can browse its contents. Simply use Windows Explorer to access the folder to which you've mounted the image. When working with Windows PE, keep in mind that Windows PE images include a limited subset of Windows components-specifi cally, only those components required to start the computer and prepare for installation. Windows Recovery Environment differs from a standard Windows PE confi guration only because it includes additional components that can be used for recovery and for troubleshooting startup.

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In this tutorial:

  1. Deploying Windows 7
  2. Working with Windows PE
  3. Understanding Windows pe
  4. Configuring Windows PE
  5. Preparing a Build environment
  6. Creating a Build: the essentials
  7. Mounting a Windows pe Image
  8. Customizing a Windows PE Image
  9. Capturing and Optimizing a Build
  10. Creating a Bootable ISO Image and Bootable Media
  11. Creating a Bootable USB Flash Drive
  12. Booting to an Image from a hard Disk
  13. Adding Windows pe Images to Windows Deployment Services
  14. Working with Windows RE
  15. Creating a Customized Windows RE Image
  16. Creating Windows re recovery Media
  17. Adding Windows RE Images to Windows Deployment Services
  18. Deploying Windows with a Customized Windows RE
  19. Creating Windows Images for Deployment
  20. Understanding Windows Imaging
  21. Creating a Windows Install Image
  22. Configuring and Using Windows Deployment Services
  23. Setting Up Windows Deployment Services
  24. Importing Images
  25. Installing Windows from an Image
  26. Capturing Images
  27. Managing access and prestaging Computers
  28. Modifying Image File Security
  29. Customizing Windows Images