Interface library (WIMGAPI), it is distributed as part of the free Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK/OPK). Starting with Windows Vista, Windows Setup uses the WAIK API to install Windows. The first distributed prototype of ImageX was built 6.0.4007.0 (main.030212-2037). It allowed Microsoft OEM partners to experiment with the imaging technology and was developed in parallel with Longhorn alpha prototypes. It was first introduced in Milestone 4 into the Longhorn project and used in later builds of Longhorn. Build 6.0.5384.4 added significant advantages over previous versions, like read-only and read/write folder mounting capabilities, splitting to multiple image files (SWM), a WIM filter driver and the latest compression algorithms. It has been used since pre-RC (release candidates) of Windows Vista. DISM Deployment Image Service and Management Tool (DISM) is a tool introduced in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 that can perform servicing tasks on a Windows installation image, be it an online image (i.e. the one the user is running) or an offline image within a folder or WIM file. Its features include mounting and unmounting images, querying installed device drivers in an offline image, and adding a device driver to an offline image. It is now possible to repair with DISM any image using either a Windows Installation CD or Windows Update. Before Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8, DISM had incorporated the majority of ImageX functions but not all; ImageX was still needed for image capture. However, DISM deprecated ImageX in Windows 8. Support in other operating systems Since April 30, 2012, an open-source library for handling the WIM format is available. This library can be used on Unix-like systems, as well as on Windows. Thanks to this project, Linux distributions now have their own imagex clone called wimlib-imagex, which allows mounting WIM images and managing them (read/write) like any other block-storage provider. As WIM images use somewhat common compression algorithms, they can be accessed by using file archivers like 7-Zip. For other operating systems that might not support this format, it is still possible to convert .wim images to the more commonly used ISO image using the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit on Windows. See also Windows Preinstallation Environment System Deployment Image Windows To Go References External links Windows Imaging Format Whitepaper that describes the internal file structure of WIM files ImageX and WIM Image Format at Microsoft TechNet Archive formats Windows Vista Windows Server 2008 Disk