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Chris Hall

Principal Technical Consultant

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Chris Hall Nutanix Certified Master - Multicloud Infrastructure 6 Chris Hall VMware vExpert 2024 Nutanix Certified Professional - Cloud Integration Chris Hall Nutanix Certified Professional - Multicloud Infrastructure 6 Chris Hall Nutanix Certified Professional - Unified Storage 6 Chris Hall VMware vExpert 2023 Chris Hall VMware vExpert 2022

Windows 7: All in One (32 & 64 bit) DVD - How To

Confused by the plethora of Windows 7 versions available?

Not sure what the difference is between Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 Professional?

You want to encrypt the file system using Windows BitLocker but don't know which version to buy?

Let me assure you, you're not the only one.  All in all there are six 32bit and five 64bit versions available. 

Of all the Windows 7 version feature comparion charts I've seen, Wikipedia's chart is the best.

Still confused which DVD to get?  Don't be.  Have ALL ELEVEN versions on one DVD!

This method was originally posted here.

All In One - How To
1.  Requirements
Base Images / DVDs
As cited by Microsoft here: A closer look at the Windows 7 SKUs
2. Customers wanted upgrading to a different SKU to be easier.  So…for Windows 7, we are using a single image for all SKUs. This means the bits for all the editions are already on your computer if you are running Windows 7.  With Windows Anytime Upgrade, users can unlock and upgrade to a different SKU much easier than before.

So we are only going to need to get hold of two DVD's to make the all in one DVD (four if we are going to also add Windows 7 Enterprise):
  • Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit
  • Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
  • Windows 7 Enterprise 32bit (Optional)
  • Windows 7 Enterprise 64bit (Optional)
I'm not going to tell you where to get these from.  Just remember Google is your friend.

ImageX
This is the main tool we will be using to create the DVD.
You will need the version to match the architecture of your current windows install.  ImageX can be downloaded from:

ISO File Manipulation Tool
I suggest something like MagicISO

2. Method
Once you have copies your original media, a copy of ImageX and MagicISO installed we are ready to start.

A) Create the following Folder structure from the root of C:\ :


B) Extract the Base Images / DVDs as follows:
  • Ultimate 64bit - to C:\Win7\64bit
  • Ultimate 32bit - to C:\Win7\Allbit
  • (Optional) Enterprise 64bit - to C:\Win7\E64
  • (Optional) Enterprise 32bit - to C:\Win7\E86
  • ImageX download extracted to C:\Win7\Imagex
C) Open a command prompt (Run as administrator if using Vista / Win 7) and copy and paste the in following one line at a time:

C:\Win7\ImageX\Imagex.exe /export C:\Win7\Allbit\Sources\install.wim 3 C:\Win7\Allbit\Sources\install.wim "Windows 7 HOMEPREMIUM"

C:\Win7\ImageX\Imagex.exe /export C:\Win7\Allbit\Sources\install.wim 4 C:\Win7\Allbit\Sources\install.wim "Windows 7 PROFESSIONAL"

C:\Win7\ImageX\Imagex.exe /export C:\Win7\64bit\Sources\install.wim 1 C:\Win7\Allbit\Sources\install.wim "Windows 7 HOMEBASIC x64"

C:\Win7\ImageX\Imagex.exe /export C:\Win7\64bit\Sources\install.wim 2 C:\Win7\Allbit\Sources\install.wim "Windows 7 HOMEPREMIUM x64"

C:\Win7\ImageX\Imagex.exe /export C:\Win7\64bit\Sources\install.wim 3 C:\Win7\Allbit\Sources\install.wim "Windows 7 PROFESSIONAL x64"

C:\Win7\ImageX\Imagex.exe /export C:\Win7\64bit\Sources\install.wim 4 C:\Win7\Allbit\Sources\install.wim "Windows 7 ULTIMATE x64"

C:\Win7\ImageX\Imagex.exe /export C:\Win7\E86\Sources\install.wim 1 C:\Win7\Allbit\Sources\install.wim "Windows 7 ENTERPRISE"

C:\Win7\ImageX\Imagex.exe /export C:\Win7\E64\Sources\install.wim 1 C:\Win7\Allbit\Sources\install.wim "Windows 7 ENTERPRISE x64"
Just leave out any the lines for any versions you don't want to include on your All In One DVD.

D) Open C:\Win7\Allbit\sources and delete the following files:
  • ei.cfg
  • install_Windows 7 STARTER.clg
  • install_Windows 7 HOMEBASIC.clg
  • install_Windows 7 HOMEPREMIUM.clg
  • install_Windows 7 PROFESSIONAL.clg
  • install_Windows 7 ULTIMATE.clg
E) If you used DVD media in step B), create an ISO image of Ultimate 32bit and save it to C:\Win7 folder.  Call the ISO "Win 7 All-In-One.iso"
If you used an ISO image, then create another copy of Ultimate 32bit and save it to C:\Win7 folder.  Call the ISO "Win 7 All-In-One.iso" 

F) Open "Win 7 All-In-One.iso" created in E) above in MagicISO:


Delete all files and folders from the image:


Add all files and folders from the C:\Win7\Allbit folder:


Observant readers will also notice I've added a Versions.txt and a Comparison.jpg to my ISO image.  These list the versions included in the image / DVD and detail the differences between versions respectively.

My complete DVD (including both Enterprise versions) weighed in at 3.9 GB.  Not bad.

Test
Save ISO and test in VMware / Virtual PC etc.  Burn using your favourite DVD burning program.

Ahh - now that's freed up some space in my DVD case!

- Chris