Install or Remove Packages Offline with Package Manager

Package Manager is a command-line tool used to update offline Windows images only. If you are updating a running Windows operating system, see Install or Remove System MSIs or Packages Online with OCSetup. Service packs must be installed online on a running Windows operating system with the Windows Update Stand-alone (WUSA) installer. For more information, see Install Service Packs.

You must install the latest version of the Windows OEM Preinstallation Kit (Windows OPK), which contains all the tools required, including Package Manager and the RTM servicing stack for servicing Windows Vista RTM images. If you are servicing an image that has been updated with the latest service pack, you must use the latest version of the Windows OPK deployment tools so that the updated servicing stack that is included in the image can be detected by Package Manager.

Install or Remove Packages Offline

  1. Open Windows SIM.

  2. If you are adding a driver package, configure the settings in the Microsoft-Windows-PnPCustomizationsNonWinPE component.
    For more detail on driver packages, see Add Device Drivers to an Offline Windows Image.

  3. To add a new package, click Insert on the main menu, and select Package(s). Browse to the package and click Open.

  4. To remove an existing package, select the package in the Answer file pane that you intend to remove. In the Properties pane, change the Action property to Remove.

  5. Validate and save the answer file.

  6. Mount the offline Windows image.
    For details on mounting an image, see Mount and Modify an Image.

  7. At a command prompt, type the following command.

    start /w pkgmgr /o:<system_drive_path>;<offline Windows directory path> /n:<path to answer file> /l:<path to log file>
    
  8. Check the log file to verify that the package was successfully added.

  9. Commit changes and unmount the image. For details, see Mount and Modify an Image.

Note

For details on Package Manager command-line options, see Package Manager Command-Line Options.

See Also

Concepts

Maintenance How-To Topics
Servicing an Image
Package Manager Technical Reference