I think it is a rather clever tool, but it has many functions within.
It produces a windows.iso tailored to your existing system and OS, and obtains among other things, the activation status of your system, Product code, your hardware and software details.
I think if you try to produce an all in one (x64 and x86 versions) USB, You may well have problems with it.
As far as tool for this use goes, it is like using a screwdriver as a circuit continuity tester for your home electrics. Bang! Yep, we have continuity, but we lost the screwdriver, and the operator!
The ~WS folder contains some interesting stuff to give you an idea of how it works.
First the structure (made using the tree command in Windows 8.1 cmd.exe):
Code:
tree /A c:\$windows.~WS > c:\Treecopy\trees\tree-of-$windows.~WS.txt
notepad c:\Treecopy\trees\tree-of-$windows.~WS.txt
Code:
C:\$WINDOWS.~WS
\---Sources
+---Panther
\---Windows
+---boot
| +---en-gb
| +---fonts
| \---resources
+---efi
| +---boot
| \---microsoft
| \---boot
| +---fonts
| \---resources
+---sources
| +---dlmanifests
| | +---bitsextensions-server
| | +---en-gb
| | +---microsoft-activedirectory-webservices-dl
| | +---microsoft-windows-bluetooth-config
| | +---microsoft-windows-com-complus-setup-dl
| | +---microsoft-windows-com-dtc-setup-dl
| | +---microsoft-windows-dhcpservermigplugin-dl
| | +---microsoft-windows-directoryservices-adam-dl
| | +---microsoft-windows-iasserver-migplugin
| | +---microsoft-windows-ie-clientnetworkprotocolimplementation-migration
| | +---microsoft-windows-iis-dl
| | +---microsoft-windows-international-core-dl
| | +---microsoft-windows-internet-naming-service-runtime
| | +---microsoft-windows-mediaplayer-drm-dl
| | +---microsoft-windows-msmq-messagingcoreservice
| | +---microsoft-windows-ndis
| | +---microsoft-windows-networkbridge
| | +---microsoft-windows-networkloadbalancing-core
| | +---microsoft-windows-offlinefiles-dl
| | +---microsoft-windows-performancecounterinfrastructure-dl
| | +---microsoft-windows-performancecounterinfrastructureconsumer-dl
| | +---microsoft-windows-rasconnectionmanager
| | +---microsoft-windows-rasserver-migplugin
| | +---microsoft-windows-shmig-dl
| | | \---en-gb
| | +---microsoft-windows-storagemigration
| | | \---en-gb
| | +---microsoft-windows-sxs
| | | \---en-gb
| | +---microsoft-windows-tapisetup
| | +---microsoft-windows-terminalservices-licenseserver
| | +---microsoft-windows-textservicesframework-migration-dl
| | +---microsoft-windows-unimodem-config
| | +---microsoft-windows-winsock-core-infrastructure-upgrade
| | +---microsoft-windows-wmi-core
| | \---networking-mpssvc-svc
| +---en-gb
| +---etwproviders
| | \---en-gb
| +---inf
| +---migration
| | \---wtr
| +---replacementmanifests
| | +---en-gb
| | +---microsoft-activedirectory-webservices
| | +---microsoft-client-license-platform-service-migration
| | +---microsoft-ehome-reg-inf
| | +---microsoft-hyper-v
| | +---microsoft-international-core
| | +---microsoft-windows-appx-deployment-server
| | +---microsoft-windows-audio-mmecore-other
| | +---microsoft-windows-bth-user
| | +---microsoft-windows-deviceaccess
| | +---microsoft-windows-deviceassociationframework
| | +---microsoft-windows-directoryservices-adam-client
| | +---microsoft-windows-gameuxmig
| | +---microsoft-windows-iis-rm
| | +---microsoft-windows-mapscontrol-migration
| | +---microsoft-windows-ndis
| | +---microsoft-windows-network-setup
| | +---microsoft-windows-offlinefiles-core
| | | \---en-gb
| | +---microsoft-windows-pnpmigration
| | +---microsoft-windows-rasapi-mig
| | +---microsoft-windows-rasserver-migplugin
| | +---microsoft-windows-security-ngc-localaccountmigplugin
| | +---microsoft-windows-shmig
| | | \---en-gb
| | +---microsoft-windows-storagemigration
| | | \---en-gb
| | +---microsoft-windows-sxs
| | | \---en-gb
| | +---microsoft-windows-terminalservices-appserver-licensing
| | +---microsoft-windows-terminalservices-licenseserver
| | +---microsoft-windows-textservicesframework-migration
| | +---networkbridge
| | +---printing-localprinting-replacement
| | +---sebmigration
| | +---sppmig
| | +---usb
| | +---windowssearchengine
| | \---wslicensing
| +---sxs
| +---vista
| \---xp
\---support
\---logging
\---en-gb
The first interesting folder is Panther
Code:
FOLDER C:\$Windows.~WS\Sources\Panther\
FILE 29/07/2015 14:27 2,839 diagerr.xml
FILE 29/07/2015 14:27 19,815 diagwrn.xml
FILE 29/07/2015 14:27 501,154 setupact.log
FILE 29/07/2015 14:27 351 setuperr.log
FILE 29/07/2015 14:27 26,644 windlp.state.xml
FILE 29/07/2015 14:27 26,644 windlp.state-old.xml
This is a snapshot of my Windows 8.1 installation revealing some interesting things.
The XML files may be opened in a web browser or notepad, or a custom xml editor, the log files in notepad or any text editor.
I'll post back when I have explored further on copies of these files, not to risk their corruption - any digging around by other interested parties would be welcomed.