How do I mount an install.esd image?

Hi,
I would like to know how I mount a windows install.esd image.

What I have tried is the following:
Pass 01: Downloaded a windows.iso image containing latest Windows 10

Pass 02: Mounted the ISO file with explorer and copied the install.esd to my desktop

Pass 03: Creaed a folder in the desktop called Mount where I want to mount the install.esd image

Pass 04: Opened an elevated command prompt, switched to desktop folder (cd %userprofile%\desktop) and used the following commands without success:

Dism /mount-wim /wimfile:install.esd /index:1 /mountdir:%userprofile%\desktop\Mount

* When I convert the *.esd image to *.wim I'm able to mount the image but not if I try to mount the esd image directly, any ideas?

Maybe convert to ISO first: ESD to ISO - Create Bootable ISO from Windows 10 ESD File

steve108 said:

Maybe convert to ISO first: ESD to ISO - Create Bootable ISO from Windows 10 ESD File

Thanks but it seems this method doesn't work anymore: "As Microsoft has changed the upgrade method from ESD based upgrade to a UUP based, the method told in this tutorial does not work anymore with 15xxx and later builds." and I would rather prefer a method to directly mount the ESD image....

ricardobohner said:

Thanks but it seems this method doesn't work anymore: "As Microsoft has changed the upgrade method from ESD based upgrade to a UUP based, the method told in this tutorial does not work anymore with 15xxx and later builds." and I would rather prefer a method to directly mount the ESD image....

Okay, thanks for letting me know.

What exactly are you trying to do? Knowing that may help use help you.

I'm trying to mount an install.esd image that is basically an image that windows installation uses to install windows (formally they packed the files inside install.wim images which I'm able to mount using dism). To have access to the files inside the install.esd you have to mount it.

I know you also can copy the files inside with 7zip but I don't want to use it. I would like to know if it is possible to mount this images using microsoft tools without downloading extra software. Maybe using another dism or powershell command?

ricardobohner said:

Dism /mount-wim /wimfile:install.esd /index:1 /mountdir:%userprofile%\desktop\Mount

Your command is wrong. It isn't /wimfile. It should be imagefile:

Code:

C:\Windows\system32>dism /mount-image /?

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.19041.572


/Mount-Image /ImageFile:<path_to_image_file>
  {/Index:<image_index> | /Name:<image_name>}
  /MountDir:<target_mount_directory> [/ReadOnly] [/Optimize] [/CheckIntegrity]

  Mounts the image to the specified directory so that it is available for
  servicing.
  Use /Optimize when mounting an image to reduce initial mount time.
  Use /CheckIntegrity to stop the operation if WIM file corruption is detected.
  Use /ReadOnly to set the mounted image to have read-only permissions.

    Examples:
      DISM.exe /Mount-Image /ImageFile:C:\test\images\myimage.wim /Index:1
        /MountDir:C:\test\offline

      DISM.exe /Mount-Image /ImageFile:C:\test\images\myimage.vhd /Index:1
        /MountDir:C:\test\offline /ReadOnly

Why don't you download a iso with a install.wim instead of a install.esd (that is high compacted)?
Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool

With /Mount-Image you can only mount image from a WIM or VHD file.

Its good idea to convert .ESD image file to .Wim image file.

A file with the ESD file extension is a file downloaded using Microsoft's Electronic Software Download application, so the file itself is called a Windows Electronic Software Download file. You might see this type of ESD file when upgrading the Windows operating system. The ESD file is essentially an encrypted and compressed version of their previous WIM file format (it can actually be decrypted back to a WIM image file). ESD is a Windows imaging file that contains a full copy of the Windows operating system in a protected container.

ESD files however, resists some operations like deployment using a WDS server. There is a need to convert the ESD file to a WIM file.

In this tutorial i will show you how to convert ESD file to Windows WIM file using Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM.exe) utility.


1. Open the Command Prompt by clicking Start Menu --> All Programs --> Accessories, right-click on Command Prompt, and open it as an administrator. In Windows 8, 8.1 and Windows 10 simply hold down the + X keys and select the option “Command Prompt (Admin)” from the menu.



2. Type below command and press Enter key to create a folder named "WinImage" at the root of the C: partition.

Code:

Md C:\WimImage

3. Copy "install.esd" image file from source to C:\WimImage folder.

4. Type following command to get details about what images are inside the "install.esd" image file.

Code:

Dism /Get-WimInfo /WimFile:C:\WimImage\install.esd

Take note of the index of the particular OS version you'd like to install (in case the esd has many images therein) the number is what is inserted in the Index. I have choosing index 1 (Windows 7 Home Premium).

5. Type following command to create a Windows 7 Home Premium "install.wim" image file.

Code:

Dism /Export-image /SourceImageFile:C:\WimImage\install.esd /SourceIndex:1 /DestinationImageFile:C:\WimImage\install.wim /Compress:max /CheckIntegrity

After the progress reaches 100% and integrity checks are through, you'll have a WIM file alongside the ESD file.

It should be noted that ESD are highly compressed, and when converted to WIM, the WIM might be slightly bigger.

Thanks @FreeBooter, but I already know how to convert as you can see on my first post...

ricardobohner said:

* When I convert the *.esd image to *.wim I'm able to mount the image but not if I try to mount the esd image directly, any ideas?