How to Create an Integrated x86/x64 Windows 7 Install DVD

One of the biggest problems with Windows, every version in fact is that there is a different installation DVD for each version.  Whether that’s Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional or Ultimate that’s nine different discs you need as each of these comes with a separate disc for the 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) versions of the operating system.

Yesterday I wrote on our sister website Windows7News about a tool called ei.cfg Removal Utility.  This is an excellent tool for removing from a Windows ISO the file that locks it to a specific edition.  By running this tool you can easily create a disc that will allow the installation of any edition.  The downside with this is you still need separate installation DVDs for the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the OS.

So what do you do if you want just an installation DVD the contains every edition of Windows 7 in both x86 and x64 versions, is this even possible?  The good news here is yes it is, though it’s more complicated than just running a program.  I’d like to thank fellow MVP Alexis Zhang for providing the instructions on how to do it.

 What You’ll need

1. Installation ISOs for Windows 7 x86 and x64 (any edition)
2. ISO creation / editing software such as UltraISO
3. Windows 7 Automated Installation Kit

How to Create the Intergated ISO

1. Using UltraISO, extract the \ SOURCES \ INSTALL.WIM files from both the x86 and x64 ISO files.  If you do not have ISO files you can create them from your DVDs
2. Rename these INSTALL.WIM files as x86.WIM and x64.WIM
3. With the Windows 7 AIK installed on your computer run the Deployment Tools Command Prompt
4. Type the following commands in the Command Prompt window adding any folder destinations as necessary…
   1. IMAGEX /EXPORT x86.WIM 5 INSTALL.WIM “Windows 7 Ultimate x86″
   2. IMAGEX /EXPORT x64.WIM 4 INSTALL.WIM “Windows 7 Ultimate x64″
   3. IMAGEX /EXPORT x86.WIM 4 INSTALL.WIM “Windows 7 Professional x86″
   4. IMAGEX /EXPORT x64.WIM 3 INSTALL.WIM “Windows 7 Professional x64″
   5. IMAGEX /EXPORT x86.WIM 3 INSTALL.WIM “Windows 7 Home Premium x86″
   6. IMAGEX /EXPORT x64.WIM 2 INSTALL.WIM “Windows 7 Home Premium x64″
   7. IMAGEX /EXPORT x86.WIM 2 INSTALL.WIM “Windows 7 Home Basic x86″
   8. IMAGEX /EXPORT x64.WIM 1 INSTALL.WIM “Windows 7 Home Basic x64″
   9. IMAGEX /EXPORT x86.WIM 1 INSTALL.WIM “Windows 7 Starter x86″
5. This will integrate all the contents from the various version WIM files into a single INSTALL.WIM file
6. Using UltraISO, copy this new INSTALL.WIM into the SOURCES folder in your Windows 7 x86 ISO file
7. From the SOURCES folder delete the file EI.CFG from the same ISO file
8. Save the ISO file

It can take a bit of time but using this method you can create a single installer for every edition and version of Windows 7.  This is especially for people who want to be able to run the installer from a USB Pen Drive (which I also wrote about about in my article yesterday).

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Author: Mike Halsey MVP, Sunday March 6, 2011 -
Tags:dvd, install, installation, iso, windows 7, x64, x86

Responses so far:

1. desslok says:

   March 6, 2011 at 5:38 pm

   Is there a way to integrate SP1 for Win7?

   Reply
   • Mike Halsey (MVP) says:

     March 6, 2011 at 5:42 pm

     You can use software such as RT7Lite to integrate SP1 into your installation DVD :) http://www.rt7lite.com

     Alternatively I have full instructions on the official (for this read complicated) way to integrate a service pack into a Windows 7 DVD in a free chapter of my book Troubleshooting Windows 7 Inside Out at http://www.thelongclimb.com/Troubleshooting-Windows-7-Inside-Out-Chapter-16.pdf

     Reply
2. desslok says:

   March 6, 2011 at 5:46 pm

   Any plan to write an easy tutorial for that?

   Reply
3. Robert Palmar says:

   March 6, 2011 at 6:43 pm

   There is an integrated Windows 7 SP1 ISO
   that is provided to MSDN subscribers.

   My view is Microsoft should make this
   available to everyone who owns a
   legitimate copy of Windows 7.

   Reply
4. ANUPAM says:

   March 6, 2011 at 8:38 pm

   Sir, is there a way to integrate software like winrar, adobe reader into windows 7 dvd ?

   plz reply

   Reply
   • Mike Halsey (MVP) says:

     March 6, 2011 at 9:45 pm

     @Aunpam Indeed there is, my slipstreaming guide here http://www.thelongclimb.com/Troubleshooting-Windows-7-Inside-Out-Chapter-16.pdf will allow you to pre-install any software you like onto a Windows 7 install DVD.

     Be careful not to end up with an image that’s too large to fit on a DVD though.

     Reply
     • Anupam says:

       March 8, 2011 at 3:00 am

       Thanks for the reply but i couldn’t follow it using ur guide.plz explain with an example software.
5. errrrrmmm says:

   March 7, 2011 at 12:40 pm

   Do me a favour, take your 32bit vista basic oem disc, start an installation and enter a vista business oem key. Tell me what the error message is, i dare you ;-) i’ve done it numerous times at work without issue!

   Reply
6. vhick says:

   March 11, 2011 at 4:49 pm

   I have a question.

   In step no. 6, the new install.wim will integrate with x86 ISO file. My question is why in x86 ISO file? I thought there are x64 binaries needed to install. Or I will merge the x64 ISO files info a x86 ISO files and then integrate the install.wim and create the final ISO?

   Please enlighten me. Thank you..

   Reply
   • not says:

     March 11, 2011 at 9:29 pm

     I second that question.

     Reply
   • Anonymous says:

     March 12, 2011 at 5:34 pm

     Since the author is not responding, I’ll venture a guess: the necessary 64-bit files that will be installed _are_ included in the new INSTALL.WIM file. We are using the Windows Setup files from the 32-bit ISO since they will also run on 64-bit systems, whereas the opposite would not be true. If that is the case, the advice is sound, though I wish the author would confirm my speculations…

     Reply
7. Voodoo says:

   March 12, 2011 at 2:07 pm

   I third that????

   Reply
8. Informatoque says:

   April 26, 2011 at 7:23 pm

   Hello everybody,

   I don’t get the command line part. It is always giving me an error message. Could you please help me?

   Informatoque

   Reply
   • Jake says:

     July 23, 2011 at 5:01 am

     You can’t copy and paste the command above, as the quotes have been replaced with more aesthetic ones.

     “ and ” are different :)

     Reply
     • Stig Berntsen says:

       August 24, 2011 at 9:00 am

       So what quote should we use?
9. Snuffy says:

   July 24, 2011 at 8:30 pm

   The reply is exactly correct. M$ site tells you to use the x86 files. which will allow you to install x86 & x64 install.wim. If you use the x64 files you could not install on a x86 system.
   [quote] To Create a Windows Image for Multiple Architecture Types
   You can create a single .wim file that includes both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows images. You must have both a 32-bit Windows distribution and a 64-bit Install.wim file. (A Windows distribution is the collection of files on the Windows installation media that includes not only the Install.wim file, but the additional files and directories that are required for Setup.) Cross-platform deployment is supported only from 32-bit Windows Setup.

   Copy the entire 32-bit Windows distribution to a temporary directory on the local computer.
   [/quote] yes i snipped most of it – but they answer was 100% correct and the reason why is as I posted.

   Reply
10. Aftar says:

    October 22, 2011 at 9:35 pm

    Thanks to author. I successfully done this job and get both architecture in one media.

    Reply
11. Cathy says:

    February 10, 2012 at 5:37 am

    How do I convert windows 7 premium 64 bit to x 86?? Working from home and the company is going too require the 7 x 86. Thanks!

    Reply