Windows Deployment Imaging – MSDN Documentation

Overview

The Windows Deployment Imaging (WDI) framework provides a set of tools and technologies to capture, customize, and deploy Windows images efficiently across enterprise environments.

Getting Started

Prepare a reference computer with the desired configuration.
Install the Windows ADK (Assessment and Deployment Kit).
Use DISM or ImageX to capture the reference image.

Tools & Utilities

Tool	Description
`DISM`	Deployment Image Servicing and Management
`ImageX`	Legacy image capture and apply tool
`Windows System Image Manager (WSIM)`	Create and edit answer files for unattended installations
`USMT`	User State Migration Tool

Capture an Image

Example using DISM to capture a WIM file:

dism /Capture-Image /ImageFile:"C:\Images\Win10_Enterprise.wim" ^
/CaptureDir:C:\ /Name:"Win10 Enterprise"

Apply an Image

Deploy the captured image to a target volume:

dism /Apply-Image /ImageFile:"C:\Images\Win10_Enterprise.wim" ^
/Index:1 /ApplyDir:D:\

Best Practices

Use a clean reference image without unnecessary applications.
Sysprep the reference computer before capture.
Maintain versioned image files for rollback scenarios.
Validate images with Dism /CheckHealth after capture.

FAQ

Can I capture a Windows image while the OS is running?: Yes, using DISM in online mode, but sysprep is recommended for deployment.
What is the maximum size of a WIM file?: WIM supports up to 4 GB per file; larger images can be split using the /Split option.