{"id":1305,"date":"2017-02-02T18:58:26","date_gmt":"2017-02-02T22:58:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mikemartinezonline.com\/blog\/?p=1305"},"modified":"2017-10-19T12:17:00","modified_gmt":"2017-10-19T16:17:00","slug":"creating-customized-windows-108-1-media-iso-wim-flash-drive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mikemartinezonline.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/02\/creating-customized-windows-108-1-media-iso-wim-flash-drive\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating Customized Windows 10\/8.1 Media (ISO, WIM, Flash Drive)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Creating Customized Windows 10\/8.1 Media (ISO, WIM, Flash Drive)<\/b><\/p>\n

In the Enterprise environment Windows Operation Systems are usually created, captured and deployed via MS SCCM, WDS or other imaging deployment technology. This allows for an Operating System to be deployed that is updated to the latest version(s) and standards of the organization along with any other software (Office suites, AV etc.) or configurations required by that organization. These system images can be \u2018pushed\u2019 out to machines, \u2018pulled\u2019 across the network via network (PXE) boot, or be placed on portable media to be installed by technicians (usually USB drives).<\/p>\n

I also personally install a lot of Operating systems for my SMB clients, friends and family. This requires me to have install media that is as up to date (patch wise) as possible so that I do not have to spend hours, or often days, downloading security updates and patches just to install a system and get it safe.<\/p>\n

I used to have a full server farm (including SCCM) on my home server\/workstation so creating custom images (.wim) was not too much work. However,<\/i><\/b> that machine physically gave up the ghost a while ago. So for personal images I decided to create a custom image on my laptop using Microsoft Hyper-V (available on Windows 8.1 and Windows 10).<\/p>\n

Below is how I created my latest Windows 10 fully patched image. After following these steps you will have a UEFI capable ISO and the ability to produce a UEFI bootable flash drive. <\/p>\n

So here we go\u2026<\/p>\n

You will need a Microsoft Windows 10 (or 8.1) installation ISO. If you don\u2019t have your Windows 10\/8.1 installation media available or someone else\u2019s (just iso not license key needed) it is possible to find the .iso files via a good search. <\/i><\/p>\n

[Note: you will need a valid installation key once you install your image to a machine to activate<\/u> it. Or use a KMS server\/volume license.]<\/i><\/p>\n

Download and install the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Download and install Windows 10 (1607) or Windows 8.1 ADK with these options; you can get them here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Next let\u2019s enable and configure the Microsoft Hyper-V Platform on your workstation.<\/p>\n

You can go to the Control Panel and click on Program and Features or hold the Windows key + X and select Programs and Features at the top.<\/p>\n

Select Turn Windows features on<\/b> or off<\/b>.<\/p>\n

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Select Hyper-V<\/b> and click OK<\/b>. When prompted, click Restart now<\/b>.<\/p>\n

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Once rebooted, open the Start Screen and type "Hyper" > Open Hyper-V Manager.<\/p>\n

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Select your host (computer name) on the left and then click Virtual Switch Manager. (on the right)<\/p>\n

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Select New virtual network switch on the left and External under the type to create. Click Create Virtual Switch.<\/p>\n

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Name the switch something appropriate (I’m using "Main").<\/p>\n

Select External Network > Select your main NIC (wireless or wired).<\/p>\n

Check Allow management operating system to share this network adapter and click OK.<\/p>\n

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Click Yes on the notice prompt.<\/p>\n

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Create the Staging VM<\/p>\n

Now that you’re prepped, within Hyper-V Manager select New > Virtual Machine and then click Next.<\/p>\n

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Type a name for your staging VM (I’m picking stage01) then click Next.<\/p>\n

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Select Generation 1 and then click Next.<\/p>\n

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Enter an appropriate amount of memory (I’m entering 4096 MB), UNselect Dynamic Memory and then click Next.<\/p>\n

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Choose the Network Connection you previously created and then click Next.<\/p>\n

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Designate an adequate amount of storage for your VM (not less than the total GB of all applications you will be installing) and then click Next.<\/p>\n

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Select Install an operating system from a bootable CD\/DVD-ROM > Select Image File (.iso) > Find and select the Windows ISO you downloaded earlier > Click Next > Click Finish.<\/p>\n

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Back at the Hyper-V Manager, right click stage01 and select Connect… (This will open the console of the VM.)<\/p>\n

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Navigate to Action and click Start.<\/p>\n

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Install Windows 10 by accepting the EULA and choosing Custom > selecting the entire virtual disk and clicking Next. <\/p>\n

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Then let the setup continue until it reboots and you get to the first \u2018customization\u2019 screen. <\/p>\n

Enter Audit Mode and Install Applications<\/p>\n

Start Windows installation normally. After reboot or two Windows is installed and process stops waiting your input. At this point we need to click on the Use express settings button. On next dialog you should not type a username, so don\u2019t enter it. – STOP.<\/p>\n

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Instead, press and hold down the CTRL+SHIFT+F3<\/b> keys combination. Windows will now reboot to a special customization mode, the Audit Mode<\/b>.<\/p>\n

When presented with the System Preparation Tool window, click Cancel<\/b><\/p>\n

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You\u2019re now in Audit mode. Audit mode is used to add customizations to Windows images. When you use audit mode, the system does not have to apply settings in Windows Welcome \u2013 things like creating user accounts, read and accept the Microsoft\u00ae Software License Terms, and select their language and time zones etc. It is designed specifically for preparing Windows images for deployment.<\/p>\n

Okay so now let\u2019s prepare and update the system. In Windows 10 (and 8.1) you can forcefully check for updates here:<\/p>\n

<\/strong> <\/p>\n

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OR you can use PowerShell to update \u2013 as in my previous article<\/a>. I\u2019d make sure ALL the updates are done \u2013 reboot several times (clicking \u2018Cancel\u2019 each time) until you\u2019re sure that there are no more updates.<\/p>\n

You may also want to uninstall any Windows \u2018Store\u2019 apps per this article<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here is where you will download\/install any software you wish to be on your image. <\/p>\n

I install things like Office Suites, Acrobat, 7-zip, Java, different Browsers (Chrome Firefox etc.), plugins (Flash, Shockwave etc.) and such.<\/p>\n

Once done with all your installs you should clean up all temp files (I use CCleaner portable<\/a>) and run Disk Cleanup too.<\/p>\n

So now let\u2019s finalize and Sysprep the disk.<\/p>\n

Shutdown your Staging VM.<\/p>\n

Create a Checkpoint<\/p>\n

Click Action > Checkpoint.. > Enter "Ready for sysprep" > Click Yes<\/p>\n

Power your Staging VM back on.<\/p>\n

When logged in, do not close the System Preparation Tool window this time<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Select Enable System Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE)<\/p>\n

Checkbox Generalize<\/p>\n

Select Shutdown<\/b><\/p>\n

Click OK<\/p>\n

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Now we\u2019re going to create the WIM file that we\u2019ll use for creating our install media. The WIM file is a compressed image which is deployed during Windows installation. The install.wim file is the actual source used when installing Windows 10. Thus, we need to create our own WIM file, and replace the stock one with it. To do this, we need to "capture" the last Checkpoint \u2013 the one named \u2018Complete\u2019.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll use the DISM tool to capture a mounted hard drive. <\/p>\n

So we first need to mount the VHD (virtual hard drive) of our very last\/updated VM \u2013 the checkpoint we named complete.<\/p>\n

Once your VM is shut down, create another Checkpoint named "Complete". 
Do NOT power your VM back on.<\/b><\/p>\n

As mentioned above, the install.wim file is the actual source used when installing Windows 10. Thus, we need to create our own WIM file, and replace the stock one with it. To do this, we need to "capture" the last Checkpoint.<\/p>\n

On your host (physical machine), open up Disk Management. 
WIN+X > Disk Management<\/p>\n

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Navigate to Action > Attach VHD<\/p>\n

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Click Browse<\/p>\n

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Navigate to the directory where the virtual disks are stored for stage01. By default this directory is: C:\\Users\\Public\\Documents\\Hyper-V\\Virtual hard disks\/<\/p>\n

In the bottom right, change Virtual Disk files (* .vhd, * .vhdx) to All files (* . *)<\/u><\/b><\/p>\n

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Select the file with the most recent Date Modified – this is your Complete Checkpoint!<\/p>\n

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Click Open<\/p>\n

Check box Read-only and then click OK. <\/p>\n

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At this point you will see one new disk with two partitions. Make note of the second partition drive letter (in my case, the F: Drive). <\/p>\n

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Now the capture!<\/p>\n

Open the Command Prompt with Administrator Rights.<\/p>\n

WIN+X > Command Prompt (Admin)<\/p>\n

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Type:<\/p>\n

dism \/capture-image \/imagefile:c:\\customInstall.wim \/capturedir:F:\\ \/name:"Windows 10 Enterprise – Customized by: Darth Sidious" \/Description:"Windows 10 Enterprise – Customized by: Darth Sidious" \/compress:maximum \/checkintegrity \/verify \/bootable<\/p>\n

replacing F: with the second partition drive letter you made note of earlier – and replacing "Customized by: Darth Sidious" with whatever you want.<\/p>\n

Depending on your processing power, this may take a little while. When complete, you will see "This operation completed successfully." You should now see a file named "customInstall.wim" at the root of your C:\\ Drive.<\/p>\n

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Build the Customized Media<\/strong><\/p>\n

Open\/Double click the stock ISO you used to install Windows in stage01 to mount it within File Explorer.<\/p>\n

Open This PC and double click the newly mounted drive.
(In my case, Drive E: SW_DVD5_WIN_ENT_10_1607_64BIT_English_MLF_X21-07102.ISO)<\/p>\n

CTRL+A (to select all) and CTRL+C (to copy)<\/p>\n

Create a new folder named WinExtract off your C:\\ drive<\/p>\n

(Another location is fine too, but these instructions will be assuming C:\\)<\/p>\n

Navigate to C:\\WinExtract\\ and CTRL+V (to paste).<\/p>\n

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After the copy completes, navigate to C:\\WinExtract\\sources\\ and delete the install.wim file<\/b>.<\/p>\n

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Move C:\\customInstall.wim (your custom WIM) to C:\\WinExtract\\sources\\.<\/p>\n

Rename C:\\WinExtract\\sources\\customInstall.wim to install.wim.<\/p>\n

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At this point, you are ready to create your ISO.<\/p>\n

Create UEFI Bootable ISO:<\/b><\/p>\n

Open Admin Command Prompt<\/p>\n

Change directory (cd) to:<\/p>\n

C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Windows Kits\\10\\Assessment and Deployment Kit\\Deployment Tools\\amd64\\Oscdimg<\/p>\n

Then enter and run:<\/p>\n

oscdimg -m -u2 -bC:\\WinExtract\\boot\\etfsboot.com C:\\WinExtract\\ C:\\Windows10Updated.iso<\/p>\n

Once complete, you now have a UEFI bootable ISO named Windows10Updated.iso<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

[If you are making a Windows 8.1 image you will need to use the right directory for the \u2018Windows Kits\/adk selection]<\/p>\n

You should now test your .iso by using it to create a new VM. Verify that it installs and works. Then you can create a bootable USB drive.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I use Rufus<\/a> Portable to create my bootable USBs. Portable download here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

One of the first cool things about Rufus Portable is that no installation is necessary to run it. When you run it, setting it up is simple. Select the USB drive you want to use. To make sure your drive will boot on most devices including newer UEFI ones select the \u2018MBR partition scheme for BIOS or UEFI Computers\u2019 and also \u2018Use Rufus MBR\u2019 option.<\/p>\n

Then select the disc icon next to the ISO drop-down and navigate to the location of your newly created Windows 10 ISO.<\/p>\n

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After that click Start and you should be good to go, within minutes.<\/p>\n

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Hope this helps some. I put this up here, like most of my stuff, mainly so I have a place to remember what I did. \ud83d\ude1b<\/p>\n

Happy image building.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Creating Customized Windows 10\/8.1 Media (ISO, WIM, Flash Drive) In the Enterprise environment Windows Operation Systems are usually created, captured and deployed via MS SCCM, WDS or other imaging deployment technology. This allows for an Operating System to be deployed that is updated to the latest version(s) and standards of the organization along with any … Continue reading “Creating Customized Windows 10\/8.1 Media (ISO, WIM, Flash Drive)”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":587,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[264,265,263,13,262,11,256,218],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mikemartinezonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1305"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mikemartinezonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mikemartinezonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mikemartinezonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/587"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mikemartinezonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1305"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/mikemartinezonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1305\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1469,"href":"https:\/\/mikemartinezonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1305\/revisions\/1469"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mikemartinezonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1305"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mikemartinezonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1305"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mikemartinezonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1305"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}