How to Convert Windows 10 Install.esd to Install.wim (2 Methods)

The Windows installation media comes with the Install.esd but automating the OS install requires a .wim file. Learn how to convert the .esd to a .wim file.

Option 1: Convert the Windows Install.esd to a WIM File with DISM

The first method discussed in this guide is with DISM. DISM is more like a “Do-and-fix-anything” tool. It can fix Windows problems but can also be used to manage Windows image files!

Here are the steps:

• Insert Windows 10 installation media into your PC.

• Then type cmd in the search bar. Then right-click cmd or Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

• To get information in the Install.ESD file, including the index numbers of Windows 10 editions in the ESD file, type this command in command prompt. Then press enter.

DISM /Get-WimInfo /WimFile:E:\sources\install.esd

Replace E:\sources\install.esd with the path to the ESD file on your Windows installation media. To get this path, open the media. Then open Sources folder.

The command returns a list of all Windows 10 editions in the ESD file. Here is the result of my command. I want to create a WIM file for Windows 10 Pro. The index number is 6.

• To convert ESD to WIM (Install.ESD to Install.WIM) with DISM, type this command. Then press enter.

DISM /Export-Image /SourceImageFile:E:\sources\install.esd /SourceIndex:6 /DestinationImageFile:C:\WIMFiles\install.wim /Compress:Max /CheckIntegrity

Modify the following:
/SourceImageFile – replace E with the drive letter of your Windows 10 installation media
/SourceIndex – replace 6 with the index of the edition of Windows you wish to convert to WIM
/DestinationImageFile – replace C:\WIMFiles with the path you want to save your WIM file

The conversion will take some time to complete.

• When the conversion is completed you can access the WIM file from the path you specified in /DestinationImageFile parameter.

Option 2: Convert the Windows Install.esd to a WIM File with PowerShell

You can also convert Install.ESD to Install.WIM with PowerShell.

Here are the steps:

• Right-click Start menu. Then click Windows PowerShell (Admin).

• At Windows PowerShell command prompt, type the command below. Then press enter.

Get-WindowsImage -ImagePath "E:\sources\install.esd"

Replace:
-ImagePath: Change E to the drive letter of your Windows 10 installation media

The command returns information about Windows editions in the ESD file.

Here is my result of the command. For this example, I will create an Install.WIM file for Windows 10 Pro N. The index number is 7.

• To Convert Install.ESD to Install.WIM with PowerShell, type this command and press enter.

Export-WindowsImage -SourceImagePath E:\sources\install.esd -SourceIndex 7 -DestinationImagePath C:\WIMFiles\export.wim -CheckIntegrity

Modify the following:
-SourceImagePath – replace E with the drive letter of your Windows 10 installation media
-SourceIndex – replace 7 with the index of the edition of Windows you wish to convert to WIM
-DestinationImagePath – replace C:\WIMFiles with the path you want to save your WIM file

PowerShell will begin converting Install.ESD to Install.WIM. This will take a while. Wait..

• When the conversion is completed, you can access the WIM file from the path specified in -DestinationImagePath parameter (see the second image below).

Conclusion

For example, you need a WIM file to install Windows from a Windows Deployment Server. Unfortunately, the Windows 10 media comes with an ESD file, so you need a way to convert the file.

This guide explained two methods to do this and I hope you achieved your aim of reading it. If you did, would you spare 2 minutes to share by responding to the “Was this page helpful?” question below?