i remember seeing an option somewhere that basically applied an Unattended.xml to a wim, beofre install

what is the command line for doing this?

You can use Dism with /Apply-Unattend:

http://technet.microsoft.com/fr-ch/library/dd744522(en-us,WS.10).aspx

An important note, only settings in the OfflineServicing pass will be applied. I learned this the hard way a couple days ago.

oh ok, so that won't remove updates?

i installed WAY to many updates (every upatch i could get my hands on, now my WinSxS folder is suffering, IT'S HUGE!)

Edited April 20, 201115 yr by marcusj0015

You can shrink a little the file install.wim rebuilding this one:

imagex /export /compress maximum "<path _to >\install.wim" 5 "<path_to_different_place>\install.wim"

You can specifie only one image or all images using "*" to export all images.

Edited April 20, 201115 yr by myselfidem

i'm using a custom WIM, using the install control shift f3 method, not a retail wim

I was talking about reduicing size!

Rebuilding/Re-exporting your wim will make it slightly smaller (use * instead of a image number if you want to rebuild all)

imagex /export /compress maximum "<path _to >\install.wim" * "<path_to_different_place>\install.wim"

Edited April 20, 201115 yr by ricktendo64

YEAH, I KNOW ABOUT EXPORTING, I USE GimageX to export my wims

i'm using a custom WIM, using the install control shift f3 method, not a retail wim

When you have captured the image, you can use imagex to compress a new time the install.wim file, IF YOU ADD UPDATES OR PACKAGES and use DISM to mount and unmount/commit, using the same compression!

*Edit: my post wasn't clear enough

Edited April 27, 201115 yr by myselfidem

your saying you can capture an install as a wim, then compress the first wim, in another wim?

that would = amazing!

Yes, using sysprep method (capture) or after you have customized the install.wim file (adding packages, updates), you can shrink the size with the command above, like ricktendo64 said

The install.wim file is saved inside another folder and you can set the new install.wim compressed inside your Windows 7 folder distribution: %Systemdrive%\%DVD%\sources\install.wim

You can do the same procedure for boot.wim

your just talking about replacing the wim on the DVD, i'm confused now

It's the same file install.wim but reduced (a little shrink), and you can replace the first one inside your folder location DVD Windows 7 customized for an silent installation!

Edited April 21, 201115 yr by myselfidem

your saying you can capture an install as a wim, then compress the first wim, in another wim?

that would = amazing!

Yes this is definately possible, in fact you probably have seen it already. As you know inside the Install.wim (let's say index 4) already has another WIM in it already! It has winre.wim inside of it.

MS Best Practice says that you should capture your first WIM with no compression, then your "wrapper" WIM can use the compression you want.