Microsoft created a new set of imaging tools for the windows vista release. The new WIM format is a powerful tool that can be useful to  any power user. From the admin trying to simplify the deployments in his environment to the average guy looking for a free way to take flexible images of his home machine. In this set of articles I am going to cover how to take full advantage of these new tools

Before we begin you will need to install the following

Windows AIK

Preparing the WinPE CD to work with WIM images

Launch the WinPE Tool Command Prompt(found in the “windows aik” folder in the start menu)

Then run the following command

copype.cmd x86 O:winpe

I am using O:winpe as an example. This should be the path where you want to put your WinPE files. The target folder must not exist as it will get created in the process.

Now we are going to want to add the Imagex application to the WinPE IMG.

copy “c:Program filesWindows AIKToolsx86imagex.exe” O:winpeISO

Continue reading Working with WIM:Use WinPE to Capture or Apply WIM Images

Download octopus1.3.2

Octopus is a program that allows you to run, view and control multiple applications simultaneously over a network or on a single computer. Though Octopus can be used for nearly any application and configured many ways, this article will focus on running two instances of a game, in this case World of Warcraft, on a single computer.

Getting Started

The following steps assume that you already have an installed copy of Octopus (version 1.3.2 is used for this demonstration) and World of Warcraft. You will also need two active World of Warcraft accounts, and while it is entirely legal to own and play multiple WoW accounts, it is not legal to buy, sell, trade or even use another account other then your own.

NOTE: Vista users may need to launch this as administrator if there appears to be problems with Octopus not saving configuration settings properly.

Continue reading Dual-Boxing World of Warcraft with Octopus