Handling Large Windows 11 WIM Files for UEFI USB Deployments with MDT

Introduction:

Windows 11 WIM files often exceed 4 GB in size. If you’re using MDT for deployments via USB, this can pose challenges.

Splitting WIM into SWM:

While it’s possible to split WIM files into SWM format, using an SWM image isn’t native in MDT. Here’s how to utilize an SWM image:

• Importing the ISO: Start by importing your ISO with the WIM image as usual.

• Splitting the WIM: Next, split the WIM image into the SWM format using the following command:

Dism /Split-Image /ImageFile:\\nas\\MDTOEM\\Operating Systems\\Windows11wim\\sources\\install.wim /SWMFile:\\nas\\MDTOEM\\Operating Systems\\Windows11wim\\sources\\install.swm /FileSize:1024

• Removing the WIM File: After splitting, delete the original WIM file.

• Editing the OperatingSystems.xml: Navigate to the ‘control’ folder and edit the ‘OperatingSystems.xml’ file. Replace the ‘install.wim’ filename with ‘install.swm’.