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.