Today, Microsoft's official blog article introduces Win8.1 Update's new WIMBoot (Windows image file boot) technology. For example, the new installation of Win8.1 Update on 16G tablet only takes up 4G disk space. This also means that the Win8.1 computer can directly boot the local high-compression version of the WIM image file to start the system.
How is this technology implemented? How is its specific principle mechanism achieved? Which computer devices can experience this new feature. Next, let's go to the Microsoft TechNet community to learn about the latest Windows technologies.
1.WIMBoot Technology
WIMBoot, which is Windows image file boot, means that the system directly reads a WIM image to complete the entire boot process, and the WIM image is equivalent to the existing system disk, and its volume is greatly compressed. The maximum compression is 4G (this compression ratio is equivalent to a complete system image of Win8.1 with Update).
This technology can help OEM computer manufacturers deploy systems, upgrade systems or create restore partitions.
Second, WIMBoot limitations
The current new technology can not be applied to all Windows platforms, only for Windows 8.1, Windows 8.1 Update (partial support of Win7 platform), specifically covering x64, x86, ARM platform, However, WIMBoot does not support the same platform Windows Server 2012 R2.
If the computer is a traditional BiOS, then you will not be able to use WIMBoot technology. Therefore, WIMBoot is only suitable for PC devices based on UEFI motherboard.
In terms of memory devices, WIMBoot is perfectly compatible with existing SSD solid state drives and eMMC memory devices, but does not support traditional mechanical hard drives and hybrid hard drives. (Considering the technology of disk reading, fast boot, etc., slow traditional mechanical disks can not meet the higher speed requirements of WIMBoot)
Therefore, WIMBoot is only used for SSD solid state drives and needs to be stored to SSD or eMMC memory.
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 not compatible with WIMBoot images.
Three, WIMBoot principle
After talking about the new features of WIMBoot, you have to mention the basic principles. How does WIMBoot achieve lower disk usage than traditional Windows installations? The TechNet community also unveiled the specific operating principles for everyone.
In the traditional Windows system installation process, all system files will be written to the local disk twice: the first to write the compressed archive system backup file to the disk; the second time to write the uncompressed archive system file. When the system installation task is completed, our local system disk will store a compressed version of the system backup file.
A large number of system installation files and backup files occupy our local disk space. Therefore, the minimum disk requirement for Windows 8.1 is 16G, and the actual installed space occupies about 10G space.
When we use WIMBoot technology to install Windows system completely, the whole process only needs to write to the local disk once, and the whole process uses compressed archive. Then, the Windows partition will set a set of pointers to the compressed files corresponding to the image partition. When the user continues to write new files, Modern applications and update patches for the system, these new files will continue to be written to the Windows partition.
What is more attractive is that with WIMBoot installation technology, we will get a WIMBoot image, which can be used as a system restore image for native applications, and continue to save local disk space.
1, the new partition partition
• Traditional Windows disk partition mode:
For example, Win8.1 will automatically generate two system partitions (ESP and MSR), a Windows partition and two independent restore partitions.
//GPT disk partitions are as follows: System, MSR, WinRE, Windows, Recovery
• WIMBoot version of Windows disk partition mode:
Image partition will contain multiple compressed image files, such as install .wim, winre.wim, and custom.wim; Windows partitions all use a compressed version of the file (pointer file), the remaining disk space is mainly used to store new files written by users later, such as the registry, page files, hibernation files , personal data, and third-party modern applications or update patches.
//GPT disk partition is as follows: System, MSR, Windows, Images
2, custom factory image
With WIMBoot technology, users can manually create a separate custom.wim file, you can Includes Windows update patches, pre-installed applications, and drivers.
3, WIMBoot and secure boot
WIMBoot is perfectly compatible with the Secure Boot mechanism brought by Win8, but users may need to give up some hard disk encryption tools, even Windows built-in BitLocker function.
According to Microsoft, after using the disk encryption function, it may affect the performance of the local system.
4, DISM
How to use or customize the WIMBoot function, we need to use the latest DISM tool of Win8.1 Update.