Create a WIM for multiple architecture types using DISM

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When you plan your deployment scenarios, consider how you'll deploy and maintain images for different architecture types. Because you can deploy both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows images from a 32-bit preinstallation environment, you can maintain 32-bit and 64-bit Windows images within the same Windows image (.wim) file or you can maintain them in separate .wim files.

  • 32-bit images only

    You can create a .wim file that contains Windows images for a single architecture type. In this scenario, you build a .wim file that contains one or more Windows images for 32-bit systems only. You create separate .wim files for different architecture types.

  • 64-bit images only

    You can create a .wim file that contains one or more of the 64-bit Windows images that you deploy.

  • 32-bit and 64-bit images

    You can create a.wim file that contains multiple Windows editions for multiple architecture types. For example, you can create a Windows image that contains two versions of Windows, one for 32-bit architectures, and one for 64-bit architectures.

Create a Windows Image for multiple architecture types

You can create a single .wim file that includes both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows images. You must have both a 32-bit Windows installation files and a 64-bit Install.wim file. Cross-platform deployment is onl ysupported from 32-bit Windows Setup.

  1. Copy the entire 32-bit Windows installation media to a temporary directory on the local computer.

  2. Copy a 64-bit Install.wim file to a separate temporary directory on the local computer.

  3. At a command prompt, use DISM's /export-image command to export the 64-bit Windows images into the Install.wim file in the installation files.

  4. Repeat the Dism /Export-Image command for each 64-bit Windows image that you want to add to the Windows distribution.

    For example, if you copy the distribution to C:\WindowsDistribution and the 64-bit Install.wim file to C:\Windows64-bit, you would use the following:

    Dism /Export-Image /SourceImageFile:c:\windows64-bit\install.wim /SourceIndex:1 /DestinationImageFile:c:\windowsdistribution\sources\install.wim /DestinationName:"Fabrikam 64-bit Image"

    Note

    It's important include the architecture type to the name of each Windows image. This allows someone to easily identify the architecture type of each image.

Deploying an image that contains multiple architectures

The 64-bit Windows image and all accompanying metadata are copied to the Install.wim file to a new index during the export process. When you have added all Windows images to the Install.wim file, you're ready to deploy your Windows images:

  • During attended installations, users will be prompted to select which architecture-specific Windows image to install (x86 or x64 images).
  • In unattended installations, if you store multiple Windows editions for multiple architecture types in a single .wim file, you must explicitly specify which image to install during Windows Setup with the MetaData setting.

DISM Image Management Command-Line Options

Windows Setup Supported Platforms and Cross-Platform Deployments