PowerShell Scripting - Create USB Install Media for Windows 10

Kari · 14 Aug 2018

DrEmpiricism said:

I've looked at some of your other scripts a few minutes ago and they're all the same, too. If I uploaded a script like this to any of the coding repositories I put some of my actual projects on, they'd be removed the same hour I uploaded them.

Thank you for you input.

It looks that you have completely misunderstood the purpose of these few PS scripting tutorials. They are intended to users who have never done any scripting, who will start from scratch. They are intentionally made as simple as possible, and broken to parts to explain what is happening in which order.

These scripts are never meant to be published in any more advanced coding repositories. Their sole purpose is to give newbies something to start with, in a way which is not too complicated.

Kari

Matthew Wai · 29 Dec 2020

@Kari, the script in section 1.1 uses FileSystem FAT32.
What if "install.wim" is larger than 4 GB in size?
In version 20H2, the "install.wim" is 4.94 GB.

scrat · 02 Jan 2021

Matthew Wai said:

@Kari, the script in section 1.1 uses FileSystem FAT32.
What if "install.wim" is larger than 4 GB in size?
In version 20H2, the "install.wim" is 4.94 GB.

@Matthew Wai in this case you can use the dism command "/Split-image" to save the install.wim file to two new separate files called install.swm & install2.swm.

The process leaves the original install.wim file untouched.

There is a guide to the process here... DISM - Split install.wim file

Note, if using Kari's script above as is, you must leave the large install.wim file in the source directory otherwise the script will not find it and will not run.

Just copy the new install.swm and install2.swm files into the source directory then run the script and ignore the red error message about copying failed...it will still create the Bootable USB and copy on all other files.
Obviously the install.wim file will not be on the newly created USB stick, however it will not be needed as it will now use the install.swm & install2.swm instead.

tmcwl · 03 Feb 2021

Hi there,
I've lurked on this forum for YEEEEEAAAAAAARRRRRS - the guidance provided to me throughout my IT career has been CLUTCH. I've never been moved to post because I've either always found the answer I needed OR someone else already posted the answer I would provide.

Today, today is different. I'm at a complete impasse - unable to can. :)

I've followed this tutorial to the letter -- but am still unable to get it to complete successfully. I am receiving this error (screenshot below)

PowerShell Scripting - Create USB Install Media for Windows 10-tenforums-error1.jpg

I have split the wim file (as directed by the linked tutorial). I've tried with several different USB drives -of various sizes and brands. On several different computers, different user accounts. Always running as administrator.
I am simply attempting to create a bootable USB using my custom wim and xml files (built using the TF tutorials) and I just cannot do it.

Any explanation for the error -- I ignored but the USB is just as blank/ empty as it was after formatting.

Thanks in advance for your insight!