103. Accessing Files On Your Vista Install
CD
Contributor: Bruce Ogden
Please Note
The steps outlined below are somewhat complex and
are more suited to the advanced user than that of
the beginner.
The Windows Vista files are included on a single
install.wim file located on your Windows Vista DVD.
In order to access the WIM file you need to first
download a copy of the
Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK for
short).
The AIK contains a utility called Imagex, which
enables you to mount a WIM file so that its contents
can easily be accessed via a command prompt or
Windows Explorer.
As the AIK is downloaded as a large .img file
(approx 993MB) you will require an application to
either burn or open the file ready for installing.
Any CD/DVD recording software capable of burning
a .img file such as
Nero or a freeware application such as
BurnOn CD/DVD can be used to burn the contents
of the file to DVD.
Once you have opened the file, install it to your
computer
Once the Windows AIK is installed, navigate to
your C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\x86 folder,
and right-click on wimfltr.inf . From the menu
select Install. (at this point Windows User Account
Control will ask permission to execute the command.)
This will activate wimfltr.sys and install the WIM
File System Filter which is necessary for WIM file
management, enabling browsing and editing of WIM
file contents.
Once the WIM file system filter has been
installed, you will be able to mount the WIM file.
To do this proceed as follows:
1/ Create a folder on your hard
drive to store the WIM file. This
can be something like:
D:\Mountvista,
depending upon the drive or partition you wish to
store the file on.
2/ Next click Start>All
Programs>Accessories. From the
Accessories menu, Right Click
on the Command Prompt option and
select Run As Administrator.
3/ The User Account Control window
will open. If you are the administrator
then simply click the Continue
button. If you are not the administrator
then you will need the administrator
user name and password
before you can continue.
4/ In the Command Prompt window
type: cd C:\Program Files\Windows
AIK\Tools\x86 (assuming you're running on
an x86 architecture box) to navigate to the folder
containing Imagex.
5/ Now insert your Windows Vista DVD
into your DVD-ROM
6/ Mount the Imagex file using
the following syntax from the
command prompt window:
imagex < /mount or mountrw > (for read and
write abilities)for example:
C:\Program
Files\Windows AIK\Tools\x86>imagex /mount
E:\Sources\install.wim
1 d:mountvista (where E: is the drive
letter of your DVD drive)
7/ Modification of the WIM file
can be made via the command prompt window
or Windows Explorer.
8/ Once you have completed editing the file, use
the /Unmount switch. If you wish to
save your alterations you also need to add the
/Commit switch, i.e., C:\Program
Files\Windows AIK\Tools\x86>imagex /unmount /commit
D:Mountvista