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Capture & Test

This guide outlines how to test and deploy a Windows image to a blank VHDX using the netboot.xyz PXE service to boot into Windows PE, and apply the image using DISM. This process assumes the image is hosted on a file share accessible from the ELDERBRAIN hypervisor in Ridgebrook.

1. 🌐 Boot the VM Using netboot.xyz (Cloud Mode)

Requirements:

  • The VM is connected to the internet via bridged networking or routed virtual network.
  • A blank, initialized VHDX is attached as the primary disk.

Steps:

  1. In ELDERBRAIN (Hyper-V or relevant stack), create a new VM:

    • Attach a blank VHDX (initialized but not formatted)
    • Set network to allow PXE access to boot.netboot.xyz

  2. Boot the VM and enter PXE boot.

  3. From the netboot.xyz menu:

    • Navigate to Utilities → Windows → Windows PE
    • Select the appropriate architecture (e.g., amd64)

✅ This will launch a cloud-hosted Windows PE environment for imaging.

2. 📂 Mount the Image Share From Hypervisor

The image will be pulled from a file share local to ELDERBRAIN:

Example Share Path:

\\elderbrain\images\ridgebrook-industrial\wim\windows.wim

In Windows PE, mount the share:

net use Z: \\elderbrain\images\ridgebrook-industrial\wim /user:DOMAIN\username password

✅ You should now be able to access Z:\windows.wim

3. 📸 Capture a Windows Image to WIM Using DISM (Required Step)

Before deploying the image, it must first be captured using DISM /Capture-Image into a .wim file. This step is required if you intend to deploy using DISM /Apply-Image.

This can be done from any Windows system that has access to the volume to be captured and a writable network path — it does not require Windows PE.

Example Capture Command:

dism /Capture-Image /ImageFile:\\elderbrain\images\ridgebrook-industrial\wim\windows.wim /CaptureDir:C:\ /Name:"WindowsBaseImage" /Compress:max /CheckIntegrity
  • CaptureDir: is the root of the Windows OS you want to image (usually C:\)
  • ImageFile: is the path to save the captured WIM
  • /Compress:max ensures maximum space savings
  • /CheckIntegrity verifies the image structure

✅ This .wim file will be used later with DISM /Apply-Image.
Note: When deploying to a physical workstation, you must boot into Windows PE to apply the image locally.

4. 📦 Apply the WIM Image Using DISM

Format the Blank VHDX:

diskpart
list disk
select disk 0
clean
convert gpt
create partition primary
format fs=ntfs quick
assign letter=C
exit

Apply the Captured WIM Image:

dism /Apply-Image /ImageFile:Z:\windows.wim /Index:1 /ApplyDir:C:\

⚠️ This applies the image from the .wim captured in Step 3.

5. 🥾 Add Boot Files to the New Windows Partition

bcdboot C:\Windows /s C: /f UEFI
  • If the disk layout includes a separate EFI partition, adjust the /s path accordingly.

✅ Final Notes

  • Ensure that the image contains all required drivers for post-deploy boot.
  • You can now shut down the VM and take a checkpoint or proceed to generalization (sysprep) if this image is reusable.
  • For deployment automation, consider scripting DISM + net use commands.

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