GDism ELDI: A Simple and Effective GUI for DISM in Windows 7 and 8 - TechSpot
GDism ELDI 6.2: A GUI for Dism in Windows 7 and 8
If you are looking for a graphical user interface (GUI) program for controlling the Dism (Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool) present in Windows 7 and Windows 8, you might want to check out GDism ELDI. This tool allows you to mount/unmount images *.wim, *.vhd, edit them, commit changes, add/remove updates, add/remove drivers, upgrade to higher edition, make *.iso image, convert packages *.msu to *.cab, and more. In this article, we will explain what Dism is, what GDism ELDI is, how it works, and how to use it for common tasks.
GDism ELDI 6.2 Java and .NET Multilingual ( Portable)
What is Dism and why do you need it?
Dism stands for Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool. It is a command-line tool that can be used to service and prepare Windows images, including those used for Windows PE (Preinstallation Environment), Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE), and Windows Setup. Dism can also be used to service a running Windows operating system.
Dism can help you perform various operations on Windows images, such as:
Enumerate, install, uninstall, configure, and update features and packages.
Enable or disable Windows features.
Apply changes based on the Unattend.xml file.
Configure international settings.
Upgrade a Windows image to a higher edition.
Prepare a Windows PE image.
Take advantage of the offline servicing capabilities.
Service down-level operating systems like Windows Vista with SP1 and Windows Server 2008.
Dism can be useful for IT professionals, system administrators, developers, and advanced users who need to customize and optimize Windows images for deployment or recovery purposes. Dism can also be used to troubleshoot and repair a corrupted or damaged Windows image.
Dism features and commands
Dism has many features and commands that can be used to service Windows images. Some of the main features are:
Image Management: Dism can mount and unmount Windows images from WIM or VHD files. It can also list information about images, such as name, description, architecture, edition, etc. It can also export, append, capture, apply, split, or delete images.
Package Management: Dism can add or remove packages from a Windows image. Packages can be either updates (.msu files) or drivers (.inf files). It can also list information about packages, such as name, state, release type, etc. It can also enable or disable features within an image.
Edition Servicing: Dism can upgrade a Windows image to a higher edition using a product key or an unattended answer file. It can also list information about editions within an image.
Component Store Cleanup: Dism can reduce the size of an image by removing superseded components from the component store. It can also analyze the component store for corruption and repair it if needed.
International Servicing: Dism can change the language and other international settings of a Windows image. It can also add or remove language packs, language interface packs, or features on demand from an image.
Application Servicing: Dism can provision or deprovision Windows Store apps from a Windows image. It can also list information about apps, such as name, version, publisher, etc.
Unattended Servicing: Dism can apply an unattended answer file to a Windows image. An unattended answer file is an XML file that contains settings and configuration options for Windows installation or deployment.
WIMBoot: Dism can configure a Windows image to boot directly from a WIM file. This can reduce the disk space used by the operating system and speed up the boot process.
Dism commands are organized into different groups based on the feature they belong to. For example, the /Image group contains commands that operate on a mounted or applied Windows image, such as /Get-Features, /Add-Package, /Cleanup-Image, etc. The /Online group contains commands that operate on a running operating system, such as /Get-CurrentEdition, /Enable-Feature, /ScanHealth, etc. The /WIMFile group contains commands that operate on a WIM file, such as /Export-Image, /Split-Image, /Delete-Image, etc.
To use Dism commands, you need to open an elevated command prompt (run as administrator) and type the following syntax:
Dism.exe /WIMFile: [dism_global_options] /command_group [command_options]
For example, to list all the features in a mounted Windows image at C:\test\offline, you would type:
Dism.exe /Image:C:\test\offline /Get-Features
To enable the Telnet Client feature in a running operating system, you would type:
Dism.exe /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:TelnetClient
To export an image from a WIM file at C:\test\install.wim to another WIM file at C:\test\export.wim with maximum compression, you would type:
Dism.exe /WIMFile:C:\test\install.wim /Export-Image /SourceIndex:1 /DestinationImageFile:C:\test\export.wim /Compress:max
Dism limitations and challenges
While Dism is a powerful and versatile tool for servicing Windows images, it also has some limitations and challenges that you should be aware of. Some of them are:
Command-line interface: Dism is a command-line tool that requires you to type commands and parameters correctly. This can be tedious and error-prone for some users who are not familiar with the command-line syntax and options. It can also be difficult to remember all the available commands and parameters for different tasks.
Lack of feedback: Dism does not provide much feedback or progress information when performing operations on Windows images. This can make it hard to know if the operation is successful or not, or how long it will take to complete. It can also be frustrating to wait for a long time without knowing what is happening behind the scenes.
Lack of documentation: Dism does not have a comprehensive and user-friendly documentation that explains all the features and commands in detail. The official documentation is often vague, incomplete, or outdated. It can also be hard to find relevant information or examples for specific tasks or scenarios.
Lack of support: Dism does not have a dedicated support team or community that can help you with troubleshooting or resolving issues. If you encounter any problems or errors with Dism, you might have to rely on your own research or trial and error to fix them.
What is GDism ELDI and how does it work?
GDism ELDI is a GUI program for controlling the Dism tool in Windows 7 and Windows 8. It was developed by ELDI (Eldi License Distributor), a group of hackers who created various tools for activating Windows products illegally. However, GDism ELDI itself is not an illegal tool, as it does not modify or bypass any license or activation mechanisms in Windows. It simply provides a graphical interface for using the Dism tool that is already present in Windows. GDism ELDI can help you perform various tasks on Windows images, such as mounting/unmounting, editing, committing, adding/removing updates and drivers, upgrading to higher edition, making ISO image, converting packages, and more.
GDism ELDI features and benefits
GDism ELDI has many features and benefits that make it a convenient and user-friendly tool for servicing Windows images. Some of them are:
Graphical user interface: GDism ELDI provides a graphical user interface that allows you to perform operations on Windows images with a few clicks. You do not need to type any commands or parameters manually. You can also see the progress and status of the operations in real time.
Multilingual support: GDism ELDI supports multiple languages, such as English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, and more. You can choose your preferred language from the settings menu.
Portable application: GDism ELDI does not require any installation or registration. You can simply download the ZIP file and extract it to any folder on your computer. You can also run it from a USB flash drive or external hard drive.
Compatibility with Dism: GDism ELDI is compatible with the Dism tool that is present in Windows 7 and Windows 8. It does not modify or replace the original Dism tool. It simply uses it as a backend to perform operations on Windows images.
Free and legal tool: GDism ELDI is a free and legal tool that does not violate any license or activation mechanisms in Windows. It does not require any product key or activation code to use it. It does not modify or bypass any system files or registry entries.
GDism ELDI versions and compatibility
GDism ELDI has two main versions: GDism ELDI 6.2 Java and GDism ELDI 6.2 .NET. The Java version requires Java Runtime Environment (JRE) to run, while the .NET version requires .NET Framework 4 to run. Both versions have the same features and functions, except for some minor differences in the user interface.
GDism ELDI is compatible with Windows 7 and Windows 8 operating systems, both 32-bit and 64-bit. It can also be used on Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 with SP1 or later, but some features may not work properly.
GDism ELDI installation and usage
To install GDism ELDI, you need to download the ZIP file from the official website or from a trusted source. You can choose either the Java version or the .NET version depending on your preference and system requirements. After downloading the ZIP file, you need to extract it to any folder on your computer. You can also copy it to a USB flash drive or external hard drive if you want to use it on another computer.
To use GDism ELDI, you need to run the executable file (GDism.exe for Java version or GDism.NET.exe for .NET version) from the extracted folder. You will see the main window of GDism ELDI with several tabs and buttons. You can select the tab that corresponds to the task you want to perform on a Windows image, such as Mount/Unmount Image, Edit Image, Add/Remove Updates/Drivers, Upgrade Edition, Make ISO Image, Convert Packages, etc. You can also access the settings menu from the top right corner of the window.
To perform an operation on a Windows image with GDism ELDI, you need to follow these general steps:
Select the source image file (.wim or .vhd) from your computer or network location.
Select the destination folder where you want to mount or save the image.
Select the index number of the image within the source file (if there are multiple images).
Select the options or parameters for the operation (such as compression level, edition name, package name, etc.).
Click on the Start button to begin the operation.
Wait for the operation to complete and check for any errors or warnings.
Click on the Close button to exit GDism ELDI.
How to use GDism ELDI for common tasks
In this section, we will show you how to use GDism ELDI for some common tasks that you might want to perform on Windows images. We will use screenshots and examples to illustrate the steps and results. Note that these are not the only tasks that GDism ELDI can do, but they are some of the most useful and popular ones.
How to mount and unmount images with GDism ELDI
Mounting an image means attaching it to a virtual drive or folder so that you can access and modify its contents. Unmounting an image means detaching it from the virtual drive or folder and saving any changes you made to it. Mounting and unmounting images are essential steps for servicing Windows images with GDism ELDI.
To mount an image with GDism ELDI, you need to follow these steps:
Run GDism ELDI and select the Mount/Unmount Image tab.
Click on the Browse button next to the Source Image File box and select the image file (.wim or .vhd) that you want to mount from your computer or network location.
Click on the Browse button next to the Destination Folder box and select the folder where you want to mount the image. You can create a new folder if you want.
Select the index number of the image within the source file from the drop-down list. If there is only one image, it will be selected by default.
Click on the Start button to begin mounting the image.
Wait for the mounting process to complete and check for any errors or warnings. You will see a message saying "Image mounted successfully" when it is done.
You can now access and modify the contents of the mounted image from the destination folder. You can use Windows Explorer or any other file manager program to do so.
To unmount an image with GDism ELDI, you need to follow these steps:
Run GDism ELDI and select the Mount/Unmount Image tab.
Click on the Browse button next to the Source Image File box and select the image file (.wim or .vhd) that you mounted previously from your computer or network location.
Click on the Browse button next to the Destination Folder box and select the folder where you mounted the image previously.
Select the index number of the image within the source file from the drop-down list. It should be the same as when you mounted it.
Select whether you want to commit or discard any changes you made to the image from the Commit Changes drop-down list. If you select Yes, any changes you made will be saved to the source file. If you select No, any changes you made will be discarded and the source file will remain unchanged.
Click on the Start button to begin unmounting the image.
Wait for the unmounting process to complete and check for any errors or warnings. You will see a message saying "Image unmounted successfully" when it is done.
You can now delete or move the destination folder if you want. The source file will be updated with any changes you committed or remain unchanged if you discarded them.
How to edit and commit changes to images with GDism ELDI
Editing an image means modifying its contents, such as adding or deleting files, changing settings, editing registry entries, etc. Committing changes means saving any modifications you made to an image back to its source file. Editing and committing changes are important steps for customizing and optimizing Windows images with GDism ELDI.
To edit an image with GDism ELDI, you need to follow these steps:
Mount the image that you want to edit with GDism ELDI following the steps in the previous section.
Access and modify the contents of the mounted image from the destination folder using Windows Explorer or any other file manager program. You can also use other tools or programs that can operate on Windows images, such as Regedit, Notepad, etc.
Make sure that you do not delete or rename any system files or folders that are essential for Windows operation, such as Windows, Program Files, Users, etc. Doing so might cause errors or problems when using or deploying the image later.
To commit changes to an image with GDism ELDI, you need to follow these steps:
Unmount the image that you edited with GDism ELDI following the steps in the previous section.
Select Yes from the Commit Changes drop-down list when unmounting the image. This will save any modifications you made to the image back to its source file.
Wait for the unmounting and committing process to complete and check for any errors or warnings. You will see a message saying "Image unmounted and committed successfully" when it is done.
You can now use or deploy the edited image as you wish. The source file will be updated with any changes you made.
How to add and remove updates and drivers with GDism ELDI
Adding updates and drivers means installing patches or enhancements for Windows or hardware devices to an image. Removing updates and drivers means uninstalling patches or enhancements from an image. Adding and removing updates and drivers are useful steps for improving the performance and security of Windows images with GDism ELDI.
To add updates and drivers to an image with GDism ELDI, you need to follow these steps:
Mount the image that you want to add updates and drivers to with GDism ELDI following the steps in the previous section.
Select the Add/Remove Updates/Drivers tab from GDism ELDI.
Click on the Browse button next to the Package File box and select the update or driver file (.msu or .inf) that you want to add to the image from your computer or network location. You can select multiple files by holding down the Ctrl key while clicking on them.
Click on the Add button to add the selected files to the list of packages.
Repeat steps 3 and 4 for any other updates or drivers that you want to add to the image.
Click on the Start button to begin adding the updates and drivers to the image.
Wait for the adding process to complete and check for any errors or warnings. You will see a message saying "Packages added successfully" when it is done.
Unmount and commit changes to the image with GDism ELDI following the steps in the previous section.
To remove updates and drivers from an image with GDism ELDI, you need to follow these steps:
Mount the image that you want to remove updates and drivers from with GDism ELDI following the steps in the previous section.
Select the Add/Remove Updates/Drivers tab from GDism ELDI.
Click on the Get Packages button to list all the packages that are installed on the image. You will see their names, states, release types, etc.
Select the packages that you want to remove from the image by checking their boxes. You can select multiple packages by holding down the Ctrl key while clicking on them.
Click on the Remove button to remove the selected packages from the list of packages.
Repeat steps 4 and 5 for any other updates or drivers that you want to remove from the image.
Click on the Start button to begin removing the updates and drivers from the image.
Wait for the removing process to complete and check for any errors or warnings. You will see a message saying "Packages removed successfully" when it is done.
Unmount and commit changes to the image with GDism ELDI following the steps in the previous section.
How to upgrade to higher edition with GDism ELDI
Upgrading to higher edition means changing the edition of a Windows image to a more advanced or feature-rich one, such as from Windows 7 Home Premium to Windows 7 Professional. Upgrading to higher edition can help you unlock more functionalities and capabilities of Windows with GDism ELDI.
To upgrade to higher edition with GDism ELDI, you need to follow these steps:
Mount the image that you want to upgrade with GDism ELDI following the steps in the previous section.
Select the Upgrade Edition tab from GDism ELDI.
Click on the Get Editions button to list all the editions that are available for the image. You will see their names, descriptions, architectures, etc.
Select the edition that you want to upgrade to from