Extracting a Windows edition from an install.wim file is a straightforward process that can help you customize installation media or manage multiple editions more efficiently. This guide explains the steps clearly so you can follow along with ease.
Step 1: Prepare the Installation Source
- If you have an ISO file, right-click it and select Mount to create a virtual drive.
- If you are using a Windows USB drive, connect it to your PC.
- Navigate to the sources folder within the mounted ISO or USB drive and locate the install.wim file.
Optionally, copy the install.wim file to a local folder such as C:\wim. If you prefer, you can use it directly from the source, but remember to adjust the path in the commands accordingly.
Step 2: Open an Elevated Command Line
Right-click the Start menu and choose Command Prompt (Admin), Windows PowerShell (Admin), or Windows Terminal (Admin).
Step 3: List Available Windows Editions
Run the following command to display the editions contained in the install.wim file:
dism /Get-WimInfo /WimFile:F:\sources\install.wim
Replace F:\sources\install.wim with the correct path to your file. The output will list all available editions along with their index numbers.
Step 4: Extract the Desired Edition
Use the index number of the edition you want to extract. For example:
dism /Export-Image /SourceImageFile:F:\sources\install.wim /SourceIndex:6 /DestinationImageFile:C:\pro11install.wim /Compress:max /CheckIntegrity
Or, more generally:
dism /Export-Image /SourceImageFile:F:\sources\install.wim /SourceIndex:IndexNumber /DestinationImageFile:C:\install.wim /Compress:max /CheckIntegrity
Explanation of Parameters
- /SourceImageFile: Path to the install.wim file.
- /SourceIndex: Index number of the edition you want to extract.
- /DestinationImageFile: Path where the extracted file will be saved.
- /Compress:max: Applies maximum compression to reduce file size.
- /CheckIntegrity: Ensures the integrity of the image.
Once complete, the extracted file will appear in the destination folder (e.g., C:\).
Step 5: Replace the Installation Media File (Optional)
If you want to use the new file directly, copy it into the sources folder of your installation media. Delete the original install.esd or install.wim, then rename the new file to install.wim.
Notes on Compression Options
The /Compress argument controls the compression level when exporting images:
- max: Highest compression, smallest file size, slower processing.
- fast: Balanced speed and size (default if not specified).
- none: No compression, larger file, faster processing.
- recovery: Highly compressed recovery images, commonly used with .esd files.
By following these steps, you can extract the exact Windows edition you need from an install.wim file. This method is especially useful for building custom installation media or managing multiple editions with precision.