Samples: Applying Windows, System, and Recovery Partitions by using a Deployment Script

Updated: October 20, 2013

Applies To: Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2

This topic includes scripts that configure system and recovery partitions during deployment based on a single Windows image. You can use these scripts on Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) and GUID Partition Table (GPT)-based computers or on BIOS and master boot record (MBR)-based computers. The Capture and Apply Windows, System, and Recovery Partitions topic describes this process. The following diagram illustrates this process:

Diagram showing capturing the Windows partition

  1. Copy the DiskPart script for "Windows RE Tools, System, MSR, Windows, and Recovery Image Partitions" in the Sample: Configure UEFI/GPT-Based Hard Drive Partitions by Using Windows PE and DiskPart topic into Notepad. Save the script as CreatePartitions.txt.

  2. Copy the following script into Notepad, and then save the script as ApplyImage.bat:

    Copy 
    rem These commands copy the selected image file to
rem predefined hard disk partitions on a UEFI-based computer.

rem Usage:   ApplyImage WimFileName 
rem Example: ApplyImage E:\Images\ThinImage.wim

rem === Copy the image to the recovery image partition =======================
copy %1 R:\install.wim

rem === Apply the image to the Windows partition =============================
dism /Apply-Image /ImageFile:R:\install.wim /Index:1 /ApplyDir:W:\

rem === Copy the Windows RE Tools to the Windows RE Tools partition ==========
md T:\Recovery\WindowsRE
copy W:\windows\system32\recovery\winre.wim T:\Recovery\WindowsRE\winre.wim

rem === Copy boot files from the Windows partition to the System partition ===
bcdboot W:\Windows

rem === In the System partition, set the location of the Windows partition ===
W:\Windows\System32\reagentc /setosimage /path R: /target W:\Windows /index 1

rem === In the System partition, set the location of the WinRE tools =========
W:\Windows\System32\reagentc /setreimage /path T:\Recovery\WindowsRE /target W:\Windows

  3. On the destination computer, run the Diskpart and ApplyImage scripts to apply the image to the computer and set up the WinRE tools, Windows, system, and recovery partitions. For example:

    Copy 
    diskpart /s E:\CreatePartitions.txt
ApplyImage E:\Images\ThinImage.wim

    where E:\Images\ThinImage.wim is the name of your Windows image file.

    To apply the recovery image, you might need to change the attributes of the winre.wim file because it is a hidden system file:

    Copy 
    attrib WinRE.wim -h -s -r

  1. Copy the DiskPart script for "System, Windows, and Recovery Image Partitions" in the Sample: Configure BIOS/MBR-Based Hard Disk Partitions by Using Windows PE and DiskPart topic into Notepad. Save the file as CreatePartitions.txt.

  2. Copy the following script into Notepad, and then save the file as ApplyImage.bat:

    Copy 
    rem These commands copy the selected image file to
rem predefined hard disk partitions on a BIOS-based computer.

rem Usage:   ApplyImage WimFileName 
rem Example: ApplyImage E:\Images\ThinImage.wim

rem === Copy the image to the recovery image partition =======================
copy %1 R:\install.wim

rem === Apply the image to the Windows partition =============================
dism /Apply-Image /ImageFile:R:\install.wim /Index:1 /ApplyDir:W:\

rem === Copy the Windows RE Tools to the system partition ====================
md S:\Recovery\WindowsRE
copy W:\windows\system32\recovery\winre.wim S:\Recovery\WindowsRE\winre.wim

rem === Copy boot files from the Windows partition to the System partition ===
bcdboot W:\Windows

rem === In the System partition, set the location of the Windows partition ===
W:\Windows\System32\reagentc /setosimage /path R: /target W:\Windows /index 1

rem === In the System partition, set the location of the WinRE tools =========
W:\Windows\System32\reagentc /setreimage /path S:\Recovery\WindowsRE /target W:\Windows

  3. On the destination computer, run the Diskpart and ApplyImage scripts to apply the image to the computer and set up the system, Windows, and recovery partitions. For example:

    Copy 
    diskpart /s E:\CreatePartitions.txt
ApplyImage E:\Images\ThinImage.wim

    where E:\Images\ThinImage.wim is the name of your Windows image file.

    To apply the recovery image, you might need to change the attributes of the winre.wim file because it is a hidden system file:

    Copy 
    attrib WinRE.wim -h -s -r

See Also

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