How can I delete documents/files from a install.wim?

Hi everyone,

I just made the mistake of capturing a(n old) Windows 10 installed image without first removing documents (files) in Documents, Downloads and Pictures folders. If possible, how can I now delete those files from the install.wim? I understand that I would first have to mount the image/install.wim. But I don't know what to do next.

Thank you in advance.

Kind regards,

tecknot

1. Create a temporary mount folder.

Code:

mkdir C:\MountDir

2. Mount the install.wim. For a captured WIM, there's usually only one image (index 1).

Code:

DISM /Mount-Wim /wimfile:D:\path\to\install.wim /index:1 /mountdir:C:\MountDir

3. Delete files as needed from C:\MountDir's subfolders.

4. Unmount the updated image. Replace /commit with /discard, if you don't want to keep the changes.

Code:

DISM /Unmount-Wim /MountDir:C:\MountDir /commit

5. Remove the temporary folder

Code:

rmdir C:\MountDir

garlin said:

...

3. Delete files as needed from C:\MountDir's subfolders.

Hi garlin,

I appreciate the steps you provided. I have the .wim file mounted, I just don't know how to access the install.wim and delete the offending documents. I know that this is pretty basic, but I never did it before in cmd/DISM.

Thanks.

Kind regards,

tecknot

After you mounted it, all the files should be present as normal folders.
ie. C:\MountDir\Users\tecknot\Documents

As Administrator, you should be able to browse and delete whatever using "rmdir [folder] /s /q".

7-zip is one way to do it.

garlin said:

After you mounted it, all the files should be present as normal folders.
ie. C:\MountDir\Users\tecknot\Documents

As Administrator, you should be able to browse and delete whatever using "rmdir [folder] /s /q".

Cool. Thanks, garlin!

Kind regards,

tecknot

if you have mounted the image, just browse to the offending documents and delete them. What is the purpose of using commands?

Hi garlin,

I tried the command line, but it came back with an error

Code:

C:\MountDir\Users\Kramer\Documents: The term 'C:\MountDir\Users\Kramer\Documents' is not recognized as a name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or executable program.
Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.

What did I do wrong? (The user's name is "Kramer".)

Kind regards,

tecknot

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SIW2 said:

if you have mounted the image, just browse to the offending documents and delete them. What is the purpose of using commands?

HI SIW2,

I don't know how to browse to the offending documents. For instance, I don't know how to list the documents in a folder, much less how to delete them. I'm in PS using DISM.

Kind regards,

tecknot

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Wait, wait. I think I get it now. I can go through Windows to delete the docs. Is that correct?

Kind regards,

tecknot

yes just use windows explorer the same as you do with any other folder