Step-by-step instructions

1. Download and install the Windows 7 WAIK to obtain the ImageX utility

For instructions on how to do this, please refer to the first part of my tutorial here.

Follow the instruction up to the point where a WinPE folder has been created (Step 1)

You can create either an x86 version or an amd64 (64-bit) version (x86 recommended as 64-bit WinPE will not boot on 32-bit only CPUs such as Atom N270/netbook CPUs).

2. Create a new folder called C:\MYUSB on you hard drive.

    Copy and extract the contents of the latest version of MultiWin9.ZIP file in the Beta Downloads - Miscellaneous Tutorials section of this website to the C:\MYUSBfolder.

Note: If you delete menu.lst and rename menu2.lst to menu.lst you can omit step 3.1 below (recommended).

3. Copy bootmgr from the c:\pe86\ISO folder made in step 1 above to your new C:\MYUSB folder.

(before you follow the next 3 instructions in section 3.1 below, read the footnote at the bottom of this page to save you some work - you are recommended to use menu2.lst and skip section 3.1 but you MUST use the Win7 RTM version of bootmgr with a CRC32 value of EE471B58!)

  3.1  Now run the program zbootmgr.exe and select the \MYUSB\bootmgr file.

        Click the Save button and save the modified bootmgr as bootmgr1.

        Repeat this 5 more times to save 6 versions (bootmgr1, bootmgr2, bootmgr3... bootmgr6) of the file.

4. Copy the \boot\BCD file from each different source Windows install DVD to C:\MYUSB\boot\bcx as follows:

    From the Windows 7 64-bit DVD, copy the file  \boot\bcd to C:\MYUSB\boot\bc1

    From the Windows 7 32-bit DVD, copy the file  \boot\bcd to C:\MYUSB\boot\bc2

    From the Windows Vista 64-bit DVD, copy the file  \boot\bcd to C:\MYUSB\boot\bc3

    From the Windows Vista 32-bit DVD, copy the file  \boot\bcd to C:\MYUSB\boot\bc4

    From the Windows Server 2008 64-bit DVD, copy the file  \boot\bcd to C:\MYUSB\boot\bc5

    From the Windows Server 2008 32-bit DVD, copy the file  \boot\bcd to C:\MYUSB\boot\bc6

Now run the WAIK Deployment Tools Command prompt from

       

Start Menu - All Programs - Microsoft Windows AIK - Deployment Tools Command Prompt 

 

(right-click and choose Run as Administrator) - it should show a command prompt like:

        C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\PETools>

Now type the characters in bold print below (press the Enter key to execute each command):

C:                             (type the drive letter where you have stored the MYUSB folder - in this case C:)

CD    C:\MYUSB    (change to the folder where you placed the source folder)

                  --> should now say C:\MYUSB> as prompt

ChangeBCD

this changes the current location to the same folder as your source folder and runs ChangeBCD.cmd from the C:\MYUSB folder. You will be asked for a BCD number.

Enter 1 (if you have a bc1) - it should modify the existing bc1 file so that it looks for boot1.wim instead of boot.wim.

Repeat this for all bcx files that you have added.

(Tip: leave the command prompt window open - you will use it again in Step 6).

4.1 Copy the boot.sdi file from C:\PE86\ISO\boot folder to C:\MYUSB\boot\boot.sdi - if not present you will get a BSOD error before it starts to load the boot.wim file.

5. Copy the \sources\boot.wim file from each DVD to the MYUSB\Sources folder as follows:

   copy (Win7 64 dvd)\sources\boot.wim to  

C:\MYUSB\sources\boot1.wim

   copy (Win7 32 dvd)\sources\boot.wim to  

C:\MYUSB\sources\boot2.wim

   copy (Vista 64 dvd)\sources\boot.wim to  

C:\MYUSB\sources\boot3.wim

   copy (Vista 32 dvd)\sources\boot.wim to  

C:\MYUSB\sources\boot4.wim

   copy (server2008 64 dvd)\sources\boot.wim to C:\MYUSB\sources\boot5.wim

   copy (server2008 32 dvd)\sources\boot.wim to  

C:\MYUSB\sources\boot6.wim

Note: It is important to keep the same numbering, even if you are only installing one or two of these OS's.

6. We now need to add two files from the multiwin.ZIP file you downloaded to each OS bootx.wim file (a wim file is like a zip file)  

 as follows,

  

 

so that Windows setup will find the correct install.wim file:

This now involves typing some tricky commands (but I have automated this for you - read the Tip section below):

Right-Click on Start Menu - All Programs - Microsoft Windows AIK - Deployment Tools Command Prompt    (opens command prompt window)  

(right-click and Run as Administrator)

        type MD C:\MOUNT                                                                            to create an empty MOUNT folder

        type IMAGEX /mountrw C:\MYUSB\sources\boot1.wim 2 c:\mount       to mount the 2nd image in the wim file onto your C:\mount folder*

        type copy C:\myusb\w764\*.* C:\mount\windows\system32\*.*      to copy over the winpeshl.ini and mysetup.cmd files

        type IMAGEX /unmount /commit C:\MOUNT                                        to save the changes

(*if image #2 does not exist then use image #1)

            You would need to change the highlighted portions for each one as appropriate - but I have automated this for you so you can use the ModBootWim.cmd script as follows:

Tip: I have included the file ModBootWim.cmd in the ZIP download which will automate this for you. Run the WAIK Deployment Tools Command prompt from

       

Start Menu - All Programs - Microsoft Windows AIK - Deployment Tools Command Prompt 

 

(right-click and choose Run as Administrator)

      and change to the C:\MYUSB folder (or whatever folder you have used instead - see step 4 for example commands). 

      Now type ModBootWim and it will run the above commands for you.  

       Do this for each bootX.wim file that you have present.

Note: Before you run ModBootWim, I strongly suggest that you close all Explorer windows and other shell windows and apps, disable any file synchronising apps (e.g. Dropbox) and temporarily disable virus scanning and Windows file indexing, etc. This will help to speed up the ImageX /mount and /unmount commands.

    Troubleshooting: If ImageX returns an error, please check the following:

• The C:\MOUNT folder exists and is empty

• Close all open Shell command console windows, open apps, systray apps and all Explorer windows

• Try the single command line IMAGEX /unmount C:\mount and press Enter and then ImageX /cleanup

• If all else fails, Reboot and try the /unmount and /cleanup commands above again! Also try deleting the C:\mount folder and then running ImageX /cleanup.