Windows Imaging Format Archive
| Windows Imaging Format (WIM) | |
|---|---|
| File extension : |
.wim, .swm, .esd
|
| MIME type : | application / x-ms-wim |
| Magic number : | MSWIM / WLPWM for wimlib pipe variant |
| Developed by: | Microsoft |
| Type: | Disk image , archive |
| Container for: | any files |
| Website : | technet.microsoft.com |
The Windows Imaging Format (WIM) is a file-based disk image - or archive format developed by Microsoft for Windows Vista , Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 (for their installation is also used there).
In contrast to common disc image formats for CD / DVD (such as .ISOor .CUE/ .BIN), a WIM file does not map any physical sectors , but rather, like an archive , contains a number of files + metadata that constitute a file system (file-based disk image).
advantages
- Independent of physical sectors: hardware independent, compact
- Supports data compression ( LZX algorithm )
- A WIM file can contain several images (e.g. different versions), whereby identical files are only stored once for all of them ( single instance storage )
- WIM images can be mounted live and thus easily edited and changed
- A WIM image can be split into several partial archives ( file extension
.SWM)
ImageX
ImageX is a command line program for creating, mounting and editing WIM images. It is part of the Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) from Microsoft .
ImageX command line options (selection):
| option | description |
|---|---|
| / capture | Captures a volume image into a new WIM file |
| / append | Appends another volume image to an existing WIM file |
| / delete | Deletes an image from a WIM file with multiple images |
| /to you | Displays a list of files and folders within a volume image |
| / mount | Mounts an image to the specified directory (read-only access) |
| / mountrw | Mounts an image to the specified directory (read-write access) |
| / commit | Commits the changes made to a mounted WIM |
| / unmount | Unmounts image |
| / apply | Restore volume image to the specified drive |
| / compress | Set compression type to none, fast, or maximum |
| / verify | Verifies duplicate and extracted files |
| / split | Split WIM file into multiple .SWM parts (read-only) |
| /? | Returns valid command-line parameters for ImageX |
Web links
- Windows Imaging Format Whitepaper: Internal Structure of WIM Files
- ImageX and WIM Image Format at Microsoft TechNet
- File Extension Details for .WIM at filext.com
Individual evidence
- ↑ application / x-ms-wim ( en ) Retrieved March 10, 2019.
- ↑ WIMCAPTURE ( en ) November 24, 2018. Accessed March 10, 2019.