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April 5th, 2022 05:00
The file does not contain a valid install image.
I encounter the same problem as @Bruteforcer - trying to add a freshly created Image Assist image to WDS, it shows the above message. For both Boot Images and Install Images.
When I run dism /Get-WimInfo, it lists:
Details for image :
Index : 1
Name : BLANK1
Description : System
Size : 27.585.856 bytes
Index : 2
Name : BLANK2
Description : Windows_IW
Size : 22.809.623.840 bytes
Index : 3
Name : BLANK3
Description : Recovery
Size : 0 bytes
Index : 4
Name : Data
Description : Data
Size : 0 bytes
Index : 5
Name : BLANK5
Description : Summary_IA
Size : 16.683 bytes
Index : 6
Name : BLANK6
Description : Logs
Size : 430.857 bytes
And when I mount index 1 and 2, containing the boot and Windows partition, and run Dism /Get-MountedImageInfo:
Mounted images:
Mount Dir : F:\DISM2
Image File :
Image Index : 2
Mounted Read/Write : Yes
Status : Ok
Mount Dir : F:\DISM
Image File :
Image Index : 1
Mounted Read/Write : Yes
Status : Ok
Didn't check all other indexes, but I guess they will turn out fine as well.
Then I exported a working WIM file out of WDS and did the same thing. And it looks quite different? dism /Get-WimInfo lists a single index only:
Index : 1
Name : Dell 3630 Windows 10 1909
Description : Installation SysPrep.
Size : 116.571.566.215 bytes
And after mounting it:
Mount Dir : F:\DISM2
Image File :
Image Index : 1
Mounted Read/Write : Yes
Status : Ok
Next, I exported index 2, the Windows partition, from the Image Assist image to a new wim file (dism /export-image /sourceimagefile: /sourceindex:2 /DestinationImageFile: /Compress:fast /CheckIntegrity ) and tried to load it into WDS. Worked!
Then created a new VM, set it to PXE boot, started it, booted from network to WDS, selected the new uploaded image and off it went. Installed fine.
Two questions. I wonder if this extra step, extracting the Windows index / partition from the Image Assist WIM file, is 'by design'? Or am I doing something wrong?
What to do with the drivers? I can add the whole driver pack to WDS or I can add them to the installation image using DISM. The first method is the easiest, but I wonder if it's the best?
DELL-Tyler M
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April 8th, 2022 07:00
@Simon Weel
Thank you for sharing. Though integration with WDS for DIA is being looked into for future development, it’s not currently supported.
It appears WDS only needs the Windows partition and creates the other UEFI partitions.
DIA captures the System and Recovery partitions, as well as a Data partition as shown in your example, and will restore those partitions. This retains any settings a customer may have in those partitions.
As for the Driver Packs, either option could work – but again is not a supported configuration.
For awareness, the EULA for Image Assist states that purchasing systems that include factory imaging services is required in order to use the tool for in-house purposes. More here > Is Image Assist Free?
Thanks,
TM
Simon Weel
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April 11th, 2022 01:00
Right, so according to the EULA, it's illegal what I try to do, since we don't have the intention to create images to factory-install - we're just too small a company for that.
What I particularly like about DIA is the pre-flight-check it performs before executing Sysprep. Something that should have been incorporated into Sysprep a looooong time ago.
Simon