Why would I want to mount an image using Ximage?

One feature of Ximage that I don't think I'm communicating the value of effectively enough is the ability to mount images. Perhaps some specific examples will help. The question came across one of our internal aliases recently, can I edit the registry entries in an image? The answer is yes, and the process is easy. Here are the steps...

1. Use the /mount option in ximage to map the contents of an image to a folder (ximage.exe /mount c:\mount %filename%.wim 1)
2. Browse the mount directory and locate your hive file.
3. Load the hive and look at the registry entries you are interested in.
4. Unload the hive, close all apps and unload the image using the /unmount option (ximage.exe /unmount c:\mount)

Note that you have to install the filter driver first if you haven't already. Here are the steps for that.

1. Copy wimfltr.inf and wimfltr.sys to a folder.
2. Right click on the inf file and select install.

Comments

• Anonymous
  July 27, 2005
  Offline servicing of images is one of the key benefits of WIM / XImage. I can't believe that internal folks weren't as hyped on that feature as people like me (a customer). Adding / updating / removing files, editing the registry - all offline without booting the image and having to then refreeze (sysprep or whatever) is very powerful and much desired in the Enterprise space. Don't let those internal folks fool you - this is GOOD stuff.
• Anonymous
  July 28, 2005
  What is the "Windows Vista WAIK" that is mentioned on this page under deployment:
  
  http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/evaluate/sgtour.mspx
  
  And... will it be available to MSDN subscribers?
  
  The deployment tools for Vista are to me some of the most interesting pieces - for now...
• Anonymous
  July 28, 2005
  The comment has been removed
• Anonymous
  July 29, 2005
  The comment has been removed
• Anonymous
  June 18, 2009
  PingBack from http://thestoragebench.info/story.php?id=5261