Where do I get tools to create Vista image

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I've found several documents on Microsoft's website about deploying Vista
using something called ImageX. I've built a Vista machine in my lab
environment and I'd like to get an image of it to make future deployment
quicker. My problem is that I can't seem to figure out how to get the tools
I need. I've downloaded something called Windows Automated Installation Kiit
which is supposed to run on my Xp machine but the download is a large ".img"
file that I can't open. I'm sure I'm missing something obvious but I can't
figure out what it is. Any suggestions?

Thanks!
 
Hello Jep,

You need to burn the .img to a DVD using the Burn Image function of your
CD/DVD writing program such as Nero. Alternatively you could mount the .img
with a utility such as Daemon Tools, then install from the mounted image.
 
Hello,
Jane's suggestion works great, but normally you have the imagex.exe here:
C:\Program files\Windows AIK\Tools\x86\imagex.exe

it is a command line tool
 
And that leads me to my initial question..."Where do I get tools...". I had
already downloaded the img file and burned it to a DVD but my PC has no idea
what to do with an img file. Is this a chicken or the egg deal where the
tools I need are in the img file but I can't open the img file without the
tools? This is where I'm stumped.

Thanks!
 
Do not burn the img file as a filt, burn it as an image.

You can also download deamon tools fot free and mount the img file and take
the files that way.

imageX isn't that easy tool, so to extract imagex fom WAIK is easier.
 
jep said:
And that leads me to my initial question..."Where do I get tools...". I
had
already downloaded the img file and burned it to a DVD but my PC has no
idea
what to do with an img file. Is this a chicken or the egg deal where the
tools I need are in the img file but I can't open the img file without the
tools? This is where I'm stumped.
Click to expand...

http://www.bestvistadownloads.com/
 
I would like to be able to access system files (to replace corrupted system
files on my OS disk) in img files on my Vista Install DVD. In order to
access these files I was instructed to download the Windows AIK from which
one could extract the imagex program to access the img files on the DVD. My
computer does not have a C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\x86\imagex.exe.
The WAIK download is an img file that Vista can't open or extract. What's
the point of burning the WAIK img file to a disk? It will be just one more
img file on a disk that I can't access. Is the solution to get a program
that mounts img files like Daemon Tools?
 
When you burn it to a DVD it will create the file structure. You can then
install it on your computer. It is similar it an .ISO file so yes you could
mount it with an appropriate program and access it that way. The point is
you have to install the WAIK before you will see those files on your
computer. To install it you need to create a DVD (or mount it) from the .IMG
file. Note that by burn the .IMG file I don't mean copy the file to a DVD
but use a program that will use the .IMG file to create a DVD.
 
My computer was unable to do error checking (chkdsk) and errors began to
accumulate. System restore did not go back far enough to restore this
function. System File Check identified a corrupt system file "autochk.exe"
that sfc was unable to repair. Instead of doing a clean install, I was able
to do an Upgrade Install that preserved my programs, devices, settings, etc.
(see John Barnett Windows MVP).

I wanted to replace my corrupt system file with a good one from the Vista
Install DVD without having to do a complete install, but was unable to do
this until now. From multiple sources including contributors on Vista
Communities, Windows IT Pro, How-To Geek, and Vistax64 Forum, I have put
together a tutorial on how to access files from your Vista Install DVD that
you can use to replace corrupt files in your OS. See the link below:

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/86959-access-vista-install-dvd-files.html

System File Check will identify corrupt system files that it can't repair
(see CBS.log). You can replace your corrupt files with good copies from the
Vista Install DVD. The Windows AIK program gives detailed instructions for
using Vista images in product development. Many thanks to those who
contributed to this solution.
 
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