New technology of Wimboot under Windows8.1 update

First, Wimboot technology

Wimboot, that is, Windows image file boot, which means that the system reads a WIM image directly to complete the boot process, which is equivalent to an existing system disk and is compressed to a maximum size of 4G (this compression ratio is equivalent to a Win8.1 With update full system mirroring).

This technology can help OEM computer manufacturers deploy systems, upgrade systems, or make restore partitions.

　　Ii. Limitations of Wimboot

Currently, this new technology does not apply to all Windows platforms, only for Windows 8.1, Windows 8.1 Update (Win7 Platform partial support), specifically covering x64, x86, and arm platforms, but Wimboot does not support the same platform Windows Server R2.

If the computer is a traditional bios, then you are not wimboot technology, therefore, wimboot only for the UEFI motherboard based PC devices.

In memory devices, Wimboot is perfectly compatible with existing SSD solid-state drives and EMMC memory devices, but it does not support traditional mechanical hard drives and mixed hard drives. (Taking into account disk reading, fast boot and other technologies, slow traditional mechanical disk can not meet the wimboot higher speed requirements)

Therefore, Wimboot is used only for SSD solid-state drives and needs to be stored to SSD or EMMC storage.

If you are a traditional PC user, you can also configure a second mechanical hard drive or a hybrid hard drive to expand more disk storage space.

Note: Some system backup tools, anti-virus software and disk encryption tools are incompatible with wimboot images.

　　Three, Wimboot principle

After talking about the new characteristics of wimboot, we have to mention its basic principle. How does wimboot achieve lower disk consumption compared to the traditional Windows installation approach? The TechNet community is also revealing how it works.

During the installation of a traditional Windows system, all system files are written to the local disk two times: the first time a compressed archived system backup file is written to the disk, and the second time a system file is written to an uncompressed archive. When the System installation task is complete, our local system disk will store a compressed version of the system backup file.

A large number of system installation files, backup files occupy our local disk space, therefore, the Windows 8.1 minimum disk requirements for 16G, the actual machine occupies about 10G space.

When we use Wimboot technology to install a new Windows system, the entire process can only be written to the local disk once, using a compressed archive. The Windows partition then sets a set of pointers to the compressed files for the image partition, and the new files continue to be written to the Windows partition when the user continues to write new files, modern applications, and update patches for the system.

More attractive is that with the help of wimboot installation technology, we will get a wimboot image, can be applied natively to the System Restore image, continue to save local disk space.

　1, the new zoning division

• Traditional Windows disk partitioning mode:

For example, Win8.1 will automatically generate two system partitions (ESP and MSR), a Windows partition, and two separate restore partitions.

GPT disk partitions are as follows: System, MSR, WinRE, Windows, Recovery

wimboot version of Windows disk partition mode:

The image partition will also contain multiple compressed version image files, such as Install.wim, Winre.wim, and Custom.wim; All Windows partitions use a compressed version of the archive file (pointer file), and the remaining disk space is primarily used to store new files that are later written by the user, such as the registry, paging files, hibernation files, personal data, and Third-party modern application or update patches.

GPT disk partitions are as follows: System, MSR, Windows, Images

　　2, Custom factory image

With Wimboot technology, users can manually create a stand-alone Custom.wim file that includes Windows Update patches, pre-installed applications, and drivers.

　　3, Wimboot and safe start

Wimboot perfectly compatible with the security boot (secure boot) mechanism that WIN8 brings, but users may need to discard some hard disk encryption tools, even the BitLocker functionality built into Windows.

The use of disk encryption may affect local system performance, according to Microsoft.

　4, DISM

How to use or customize the Wimboot feature, we need to use Win8.1 update the latest DISM tool.

After this detailed introduction, I believe that users of this new wimboot technology has a certain understanding of it, but also witnessed its powerful features, but the current new technology does not apply to all Windows platform, only for win8.1, win8.1 update platform.