razorsedge
April 23rd, 2011, 11:23 PM
One of the biggest problems with Windows, every version in fact is that there is a different installation DVD for each version. Whether that’s Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional or Ultimate that’s nine different discs you need as each of these comes with a separate disc for the 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) versions of the operating system.
The other day I wrote about a tool called ei.cfg Removal Utility. This is an excellent tool for removing from a Windows ISO the file that locks it to a specific edition. By running this tool you can easily create a disc that will allow the installation of any edition. The downside with this is you still need separate installation DVDs for the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the OS.
So what do you do if you want just an installation DVD the contains every edition of Windows 7 in both x86 and x64 versions, is this even possible? The good news here is yes it is, though it’s more complicated than just running a program
42047
What You’ll need
Installation ISOs for Windows 7 x86 and x64 (any edition)
ISO creation / editing software such as UltraISO
Windows 7 Automated Installation Kit: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=696dd665-9f76-4177-a811-39c26d3b3b34&displaylang=en
How to Create the Intergated ISO
Using UltraISO, extract the \ SOURCES \ INSTALL.WIM files from both the x86 and x64 ISO files. If you do not have ISO files you can create them from your DVDs
Rename these INSTALL.WIM files as x86.WIM and x64.WIM
With the Windows 7 AIK installed on your computer run the Deployment Tools Command Prompt
Type the following commands in the Command Prompt window adding any folder destinations as necessary…
IMAGEX /EXPORT x86.WIM 5 INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Ultimate x86"
IMAGEX /EXPORT x64.WIM 4 INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Ultimate x64"
IMAGEX /EXPORT x86.WIM 4 INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Professional x86"
IMAGEX /EXPORT x64.WIM 3 INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Professional x64"
IMAGEX /EXPORT x86.WIM 3 INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Home Premium x86"
IMAGEX /EXPORT x64.WIM 2 INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Home Premium x64"
IMAGEX /EXPORT x86.WIM 2 INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Home Basic x86"
IMAGEX /EXPORT x64.WIM 1 INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Home Basic x64"
IMAGEX /EXPORT x86.WIM 1 INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Starter x86"
This will integrate all the contents from the various version WIM files into a single INSTALL.WIM file
Using UltraISO, copy this new INSTALL.WIM into the SOURCES folder in your Windows 7 x86 ISO file
From the SOURCES folder delete the file EI.CFG from the same ISO file
Save the ISO file
It can take a bit of time but using this method you can create a single installer for every edition and version of Windows 7. This is especially for people who want to be able to run the installer from a USB Pen Drive
Using this method you’ll now have a single disc on which will be every edition and version of Windows 7
The other day I wrote about a tool called ei.cfg Removal Utility. This is an excellent tool for removing from a Windows ISO the file that locks it to a specific edition. By running this tool you can easily create a disc that will allow the installation of any edition. The downside with this is you still need separate installation DVDs for the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the OS.
So what do you do if you want just an installation DVD the contains every edition of Windows 7 in both x86 and x64 versions, is this even possible? The good news here is yes it is, though it’s more complicated than just running a program
42047
What You’ll need
Installation ISOs for Windows 7 x86 and x64 (any edition)
ISO creation / editing software such as UltraISO
Windows 7 Automated Installation Kit: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=696dd665-9f76-4177-a811-39c26d3b3b34&displaylang=en
How to Create the Intergated ISO
Using UltraISO, extract the \ SOURCES \ INSTALL.WIM files from both the x86 and x64 ISO files. If you do not have ISO files you can create them from your DVDs
Rename these INSTALL.WIM files as x86.WIM and x64.WIM
With the Windows 7 AIK installed on your computer run the Deployment Tools Command Prompt
Type the following commands in the Command Prompt window adding any folder destinations as necessary…
IMAGEX /EXPORT x86.WIM 5 INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Ultimate x86"
IMAGEX /EXPORT x64.WIM 4 INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Ultimate x64"
IMAGEX /EXPORT x86.WIM 4 INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Professional x86"
IMAGEX /EXPORT x64.WIM 3 INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Professional x64"
IMAGEX /EXPORT x86.WIM 3 INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Home Premium x86"
IMAGEX /EXPORT x64.WIM 2 INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Home Premium x64"
IMAGEX /EXPORT x86.WIM 2 INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Home Basic x86"
IMAGEX /EXPORT x64.WIM 1 INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Home Basic x64"
IMAGEX /EXPORT x86.WIM 1 INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Starter x86"
This will integrate all the contents from the various version WIM files into a single INSTALL.WIM file
Using UltraISO, copy this new INSTALL.WIM into the SOURCES folder in your Windows 7 x86 ISO file
From the SOURCES folder delete the file EI.CFG from the same ISO file
Save the ISO file
It can take a bit of time but using this method you can create a single installer for every edition and version of Windows 7. This is especially for people who want to be able to run the installer from a USB Pen Drive
Using this method you’ll now have a single disc on which will be every edition and version of Windows 7