Windows Imaging Format: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:14, 24 April 2021

Revision as of 17:41, 7 October 2021

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ImageX is the command-line tool used to create, edit and deploy [[Windows]] disk images in the Windows Imaging Format. Along with the underlying Windows Imaging Interface library (WIMGAPI), It is distributed as part of the free [[Windows Automated Installation Kit]] (WAIK/OPK). Starting with [[Windows Vista]], Windows Setup uses the WAIK API to install Windows.

The first distributed prototype of ImageX was buildbuilt 6.0.4007.0 (main.030212-2037). It allowed Microsoft [[OEM]] partners to experiment with the imaging technology and was developed in parallel with [[List of Microsoft codenames#Longhorn|Longhorn]] alpha prototypes. It was first introduced in Milestone 4 into the Longhorn project, and used in later builds of Longhorn. Build 6.0.5384.4 added significant advantages over previous versions, like read-only and read/write folder mounting capabilities, splitting to multiple image files (SWM), a WIM filter driver and the latest compression algorithms. It has been used since pre-RC (release candidates) of Windows Vista.

=== DISM ===

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=== {{anchor|wimlib}} Support in other operating systems ===

Since April 30, 2012, an open-source library for handling the WIM format is available. This library can be used on [[Unix-like]] systems, as well as on Windows. Thanks to this project, [[Linux]] distributions now have their own imagex clone called ''wimlib-imagex'', which allows mounting WIM images and managing them (read/write) like any other block-storage provider.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wimlib.net/ |title=the open -source Windows Imaging (WIM) library |access-date=2015-12-21}}</ref>

As WIM images use somewhat common compression algorithms, they can be accessed by using [[file archiver]]s like [[7-Zip]].