SEMblog

I wanted to update my Windows 7 installation DVD so that it not only installed any version of Windows 7, but also both the 64 bit and the 32 bit. It would be used on both a memory stick and DVD. 

While searching around the internet, I found various techniques using various third party tools. However as I didn't have any of the third party tools and wasn't about to buy them for this single task, I found my own way of creating the DVD using tools that Microsoft have already provided. 

Requirements

• Windows 7 ISOs/DVDs of 64 bit and 32 bit. Doesn't matter which version, as long as it isn't Starter Edition. I probably wouldn't use a vendor supplied disk either as you never know what changes they have made to it. MDSN, Technet or Retail will be fine. 
• Windows 7 Automated Installation Kit. This is a free download from Microsoft here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=696dd665-9f76-4177-a811-39c26d3b3b34&displaylang=en  - this file downloads as an ISO - hence the need for an ISO mount tool. 
• An ISO mount tool.
• Optional: A virtual machine platform to test on. 

Method

1. Create two temporary directories. One called WIM and one called DVD. 
2. Mount each ISO in turn and copy the file "Install.WIM" to the directory "WIM". Rename the file that comes from the 32 bit DVD/ISO x86.WIM and the one from the 63 bit DVD/ISO x64.WIM
3. Copy the entire contents of the 32 bit Windows ISO in to the directory called DVD. 
4. Delete the file "ei.cfg" from the copy of the DVD that you have created. This is the file that locks the installation media to a specific version of Windows 7. If it isn't present, setup prompts you for the version you wish to install. 
5. Install Windows 7 AIK - this is the option "Windows AIK Setup" when you run StartCD from the downloaded ISO.
6. With the Windows 7 AIK installed on your computer run the Deployment Tools Command Prompt.
7. Type the following commands in the Command Prompt window. Change the  paths and drive letters to match where you have stored the files.
   Alternatively, copy all of these commands in to a notepad document, rename the document run.bat (or whatever you like) and run that instead.
   IMAGEX /Export E:\WIM\x86.WIM 5 E:\WIM\INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Ultimate x86"
   IMAGEX /Export E:\WIM\x64.WIM 4 E:\WIM\INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Ultimate x64"
   IMAGEX /Export E:\WIM\x86.WIM 4 E:\WIM\INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Professional x86"
   IMAGEX /Export E:\WIM\x64.WIM 3 E:\WIM\INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Professional x64"
   IMAGEX /Export E:\WIM\x86.WIM 3 E:\WIM\INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Home Premium x86"
   IMAGEX /Export E:\WIM\x64.WIM 2 E:\WIM\INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Home Premium x64"
   IMAGEX /Export E:\WIM\x86.WIM 2 E:\WIM\INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Home Basic x86"
   IMAGEX /Export E:\WIM\x64.WIM 1 E:\WIM\INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Home Basic x64"
   IMAGEX /Export E:\WIM\x86.WIM 1 E:\WIM\INSTALL.WIM "Windows 7 Starter x86"
8. Copy the new install.wim created above in to the \Sources directory of the DVD directory created in step 3, replacing the existing. 
9. Back in the Deployment Tools Command Prompt, run the following command:
   oscdimg.exe -lWindows7 -m -u2 -b"E:\DVD\Boot\etfsboot.com" E:\DVD E:\Windows7.ISO
   Where 
   
   • Windows7 is the name of the DVD (note the lack of space between the l and the name),
   • E:\DVD is the source directory
   • E:\Windows7.ISO is the destination ISO name. 
10. Test the ISO using VMWARE Player or other VM technology, before burning to DVD. 
11. For memory stick use, simply take an existing USB memory stick used for installing Windows 7 and copy the Install.WIM file created above and replace the existing. It will then support both.