How to Create a Windows Vista DVD Installer from CDs

I’ve recently had a bout of paranoia so I decided to back things up. And since one of the essential backup tools is having a dependable set of installers, I decided to assembly my backup DVD case – a DVD bag full the essential installers. That’s when it struck me that the copy of Windows Vista I had was in CD format, meaning I have 5 discs for the installer.

I hate having multiple disc installers. For one, it demands that you stay during the process to be able to swap discs. Tedious and time consuming. And, if one of the discs go bad, you’re screwed. So I decided to make me a DVD installer instead, consolidating all of the stuff in those 5 CDs. And with some Googling and experimentation, here’s how I made mine.

First, I checked how the installers work. Disc 1 contained the core files for the installation and the rest of the discs contained files named install*.swm inside a folder labeled “/sources.” The * being a number like for Disc 2, it’s install2.swm and so goes the logic. Disc 1 had a “/sources” folder that contained a lot of files together with a install.swm (which I assumed was the first bugger in the series). Googling confirmed my assumption that copying all of these individual SWM files in the root sources folder will make it one seamless installer.

Now the more technical part is to assemble the installer itself.

My installer was a bootable one so I decided I’d like my DVD to be bootable as well. Not wanting to go through the crazy process of extracting boot images and reconstructing the whole thing to the DVD, I just focused on making image files (ISO).

I downloaded MagicDisc a freeware virtual CD/DVD app that works great with Vista (unlike Alcohol and Daemon Tools). With it, I created an ISO of Disc 1 which caries all the boot information and the installer’s publisher credentials.

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Tags: backup_tools, bugger, cd_copy, cd_format, cd_formats, dvd, dvds, google, Microsoft, Software, Windows, windows vista

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 31st, 2007 at 6:06 am and is filed under Windows Vista. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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