Guide - How to create an alternative to a MultiBoot ISO/Media

[garlin]

Two separate ISO's, one each for x86 and x64 images is far less work.

1. Download all 4 ISO's, and 7-Zip extract to separate folders.
2. Load each of the W10 install images one at a time (if they're ESD format instead of WIM), and convert to WIM.
3. Unload the converted WIM images.

4. Select W7 x86 image, and right-menu -> Export -> WIM -> Save [as W10 x86's install.wim]. When asked, specify Append instead of Overwrite.
5. Select W7 x64 image, and export (append) to W10 x64's install.wim

6. Now work on each of the combined W10 + W7 install.wim's. You can share the same unattended.xml file for both releases.
7. Make the two separate ISO's, one for x86 and another for x64.

Because W7 and W10 are entirely different Windows, you must use a different preset for each version. But you can re-use the same preset for both W7's, and another preset for both W10's. You must use the W10 ISO's as the base, because W10 WinPE can install W10 or any older version.

Before you try modding the images, just run through the 7 steps to make sure you get bootable ISO that let's you install either Windows. It's better to know the process works, before blaming a broken install on these steps.

 

[greenworld]

Two separate ISO's, one each for x86 and x64 images is far less work.

1. Download all 4 ISO's, and 7-Zip extract to separate folders.
2. Load each of the W10 install images one at a time (if they're ESD format instead of WIM), and convert to WIM.
3. Unload the converted WIM images.

4. Select W7 x86 image, and right-menu -> Export -> WIM -> Save [as W10 x86's install.wim]. When asked, specify Append instead of Overwrite.
5. Select W7 x64 image, and export (append) to W10 x64's install.wim

6. Now work on each of the combined W10 + W7 install.wim's. You can share the same unattended.xml file for both releases.
7. Make the two separate ISO's, one for x86 and another for x64.

Because W7 and W10 are entirely different Windows, you must use a different preset for each version. But you can re-use the same preset for both W7's, and another preset for both W10's. You must use the W10 ISO's as the base, because W10 WinPE can install W10 or any older version.

Before you try modding the images, just run through the 7 steps to make sure you get bootable ISO that let's you install either Windows. It's better to know the process works, before blaming a broken install on these steps.

thanks for instant reply. If I don't include unattend.xml, setup will end up with error? Any guide to make unattended.xml containing just installation key and accepting EULA etc.

 

[garlin]

unattend.xml files are always optional. You're only allowed one product or install key in the unattended file, so you must leave it blank and provide one during Setup. Normally, NTLite will auto-fill the generic install key -- but only if you pick a specific edition to install (which defeats the point of having a multi-edition ISO).

EULA can be skipped from the Unattended settings screen. Make sure to check "Prompt edition selection" in the Toolbar.

 

[crypticus]

or you can copy it to panther folder and remove it from main folder. so each edition will use its own?

 

[garlin]

That works too, but it gets labor intensive as the number of images grow. You'd have to do this 4 times in this instance.

 

[garlin]

or you can copy it to panther folder and remove it from main folder. so each edition will use its own?

I made a script to auto-update all or some of the images to have the correct generic keys in Panther. You can substitute a permanent key in place of the generic ones. And mix & match Windows different releases on the same ISO.

You do need an existing autounttend.xml as the starting point.

 

[greenworld]

Two separate ISO's, one each for x86 and x64 images is far less work.

1. Download all 4 ISO's, and 7-Zip extract to separate folders.
2. Load each of the W10 install images one at a time (if they're ESD format instead of WIM), and convert to WIM.
3. Unload the converted WIM images.

4. Select W7 x86 image, and right-menu -> Export -> WIM -> Save [as W10 x86's install.wim]. When asked, specify Append instead of Overwrite.
5. Select W7 x64 image, and export (append) to W10 x64's install.wim

6. Now work on each of the combined W10 + W7 install.wim's. You can share the same unattended.xml file for both releases.
7. Make the two separate ISO's, one for x86 and another for x64.

Because W7 and W10 are entirely different Windows, you must use a different preset for each version. But you can re-use the same preset for both W7's, and another preset for both W10's. You must use the W10 ISO's as the base, because W10 WinPE can install W10 or any older version.

Before you try modding the images, just run through the 7 steps to make sure you get bootable ISO that let's you install either Windows. It's better to know the process works, before blaming a broken install on these steps.

I done as you said.
Win 10 installation is working fine but 7 has error "Windows can not find the Microsoft License Terms. Make sure the installation sources are valid and restart the installation. "

 

[garlin]

I just exported a W7 Pro image to the W10 ISO, and booted into WinPE. Works for me.
Both images are clean, so if it's not working then think about what changes you made to either the ISO or image.

 

[greenworld]

I just exported a W7 Pro image to the W10 ISO, and booted into WinPE. Works for me.
Both images are clean, so if it's not working then think about what changes you made to either the ISO or image.

my images are clean, nothing modified. What you have any autoubattenden.xml are anything like this used?

 

[garlin]

I'm not using an autounattend in my example. Since you didn't provide more specifics, I'm doing the least possible changes to get it working. If there's other details, then I can test those cases too.

 

[Clanger]

Two separate ISO's, one each for x86 and x64 images is far less work.

1. Download all 4 ISO's, and 7-Zip extract to separate folders.
2. Load each of the W10 install images one at a time (if they're ESD format instead of WIM), and convert to WIM.
3. Unload the converted WIM images.

4. Select W7 x86 image, and right-menu -> Export -> WIM -> Save [as W10 x86's install.wim]. When asked, specify Append instead of Overwrite.
5. Select W7 x64 image, and export (append) to W10 x64's install.wim

6. Now work on each of the combined W10 + W7 install.wim's. You can share the same unattended.xml file for both releases.
7. Make the two separate ISO's, one for x86 and another for x64.

Because W7 and W10 are entirely different Windows, you must use a different preset for each version. But you can re-use the same preset for both W7's, and another preset for both W10's. You must use the W10 ISO's as the base, because W10 WinPE can install W10 or any older version.

Before you try modding the images, just run through the 7 steps to make sure you get bootable ISO that let's you install either Windows. It's better to know the process works, before blaming a broken install on these steps.

x64 only, w7 eoes capture and ltsc 1809 .4499 capture. Load updated w10 dvd folder, load full updated w7 folder or just the isolated install wim?

How to boot into PE and what do you do then? - for myself(w7 laptop install problems grrrr) and other home user plussers looking in.

 

[greenworld]

I'm not using an autounattend in my example. Since you didn't provide more specifics, I'm doing the least possible changes to get it working. If there's other details, then I can test those cases too.

I just selected Windows 7 x64 "install.wim", and exported (used APPEND option) to the Windows 10 x64 "install.wim.

later created Bootable iso with NTLITE of Windows 10 (W10 and 7).

 

[garlin]

That's what I'm doing. Are you using Dynamic Update by chance?

 

[greenworld]

That's what I'm doing. Are you using Dynamic Update by chance?

No update or modification in Genuine ISO.
Just using untouched ISO.

 

[greenworld]

I just exported a W7 Pro image to the W10 ISO, and booted into WinPE. Works for me.
Both images are clean, so if it's not working then think about what changes you made to either the ISO or image.

I seen 2nd picture, its W10 installation.
what you tried to install w7?

in my case w10 is working fine. only w7 is causing problem.

 

[Hellbovine]

Post an XML of your last preset so we can check for other pertinent information. For example, are you using the same OS on the computer that is running NTLite as the target image? Mismatched host to target OS can cause issues. Also, try uninstalling NTLite, then install the latest version and make a new image from scratch, using all the default settings and compatibility options.

 

[garlin]

I installed W7 from the ISO, and stopped watching when it got to the "orb" screen, which tells you it's working.

Not to criticize -- it's really simple to follow these steps. If it's not working, you're leaving out a crucial detail.
- download legitimate ISO
- extract to folders
- append WIM
- create ISO (what app are you using?)
- boot, select image

 

[greenworld]

Post an XML of your last preset so we can check for other pertinent information. For example, are you using the same OS on the computer that is running NTLite as the target image? Mismatched host to target OS can cause issues. Also, try uninstalling NTLite, then install the latest version and make a new image from scratch, using all the default settings and compatibility options.

I clearly said I don't customized or touched anything.
I just selected W7 install.wim' and exported it to w10 install.wim.

installed os is W7 x64.
If still there's something, please tell me.

 

[greenworld]

I installed W7 from the ISO, and stopped watching when it got to the "orb" screen, which tells you it's working.

Not to criticize -- it's really simple to follow these steps. If it's not working, you're leaving out a crucial detail.
- download legitimate ISO
- extract to folders
- append WIM
- create ISO (what app are you using?)
- boot, select image

Many thanks for quick response. I did as you guided.
tomorrow I'll clean install W10 and start from scratch and will tell you it will work or not.

 

[Hellbovine]

I clearly said I don't customized or touched anything.

XML contain more data than just the components someone might have removed. It's more efficient for us to view it than to ask questions. Plus, sometimes people don't realize a detail is important, so they don't convey that information to us. Most problems on this forum are some form of operator error, and providing the XML allows for better troubleshooting.

Windows 7 ISO cannot be downloaded from Microsoft anymore, can you please clarify where you obtained one? I ask because this is often a source of confusion too--people use ISO from 3rd party sites and that can cause problems sometimes. It usually boils down to what Garlin said, "You're leaving out a crucial detail" and we mean this in a friendly way, mistakes happen, that's all.