Split install.wim into install.swm and install2.swm
sources\install.wim in recent releases of Windows 10 has exceeded FAT32’s maximum filesize of 4 GiB. If you only boot UEFI systems and you want to use memory sticks for better performance while installing, you must split sources\install.wim into smaller files. Luckily, the dism command can do this for you.
- Start by creating a new temporary directory, say
C:\W10-EN-20H2-splitted. - Mount your
.isofile in a virtual DVD drive by doubleclicking the file in Windows’ File Explorer. - Copy all files and directories from the virtual DVD drive to the temporary directory.
- Launch
cmd.exewith elevated privileges, e.g. Win+R, type incmd, and hit this key combination Ctrl+Shift+Enter. - Enter
c:and hit the enter key. - Enter
cd \W10-EN-20H2-splitted\sourcesand hit the enter key. - Enter
dism /Split-Image /ImageFile:install.wim /SWMFile:install.swm /FileSize:4095and hit the enter key. This will create the two filesinstall.swmandinstall2.swm. Additional files might be created for future releases of Windows 10. - Enter
del install.wimand hit the enter key. - Enter
exitand hit the enter key. - Use ImgBurn or your favorite tool for creating
.isofiles and create a new.isofile for this new distribution. Ensure you only include the contents of theC:\W10-EN-20H2-splitteddirectory. - Use Rufus or your favorite tool for creating bootable memory sticks and point it to the newly created
.isofile. You’ll notice Rufus now allow us to use FAT32 as the main filesystem, and not only NTFS. - Delete the temporary directory created in step 1 at your own discretion.