Media creation

Foundry OSD creates the boot media used to start the target device.

Standard media settings

Set the standard media options before starting the build:

• ISO output path
• USB target disk
• Target architecture
• WinPE language
• WinPE driver vendors

ISO and USB comparison

Aspect	ISO	USB
Output	Single .iso file	Bootable physical USB device
Destructive behavior	Non-destructive	Erases and repartitions the selected USB disk
Best fit	VM testing, remote mounting, archival, controlled distribution	Field media, repeated deployments, persistent cache-backed workflows
Runtime storage	ISO-backed runtime path	Persistent Foundry Cache partition
Cache directories	No dedicated USB cache partition	Initializes Runtime, Cache\OperatingSystems, Cache\DriverPacks, Cache\Firmware, State, and Temp
Operational tradeoff	Easy to store and distribute, but not a prepared physical device	Ready to boot directly, but tied to the selected USB disk

Choose ISO when you need a reusable artifact. Choose USB when you need a physical deployment device prepared directly by Foundry OSD.

Shared preparation

Before either output is created, Foundry OSD prepares the same WinPE workspace:

1. Resolve ADK tooling.
2. Build the WinPE workspace.
3. Inject selected drivers.
4. Apply WinPE language components.
5. Provision Foundry Connect.
6. Stage configuration, network assets, and Autopilot profiles when configured.
7. Prepare the bootstrap path that resolves Foundry Deploy later in WinPE.

Create ISO

ISO creation packages the prepared WinPE workspace into a reusable file.

1. Select the ISO output path.
2. Confirm the target architecture and WinPE language.
3. Select the driver vendors to include.
4. Start ISO creation.
5. Wait for the final .iso file to be written.

Create USB

USB creation provisions the selected disk directly.

1. Select the USB target disk.
2. Confirm that the selected disk is the intended removable device.
3. Select the target architecture and WinPE language.
4. Select the driver vendors to include.
5. Start USB creation.
6. Confirm the destructive action when prompted.

Confirm the USB target

USB creation erases and repartitions the selected disk. Do not continue until the target disk is confirmed.

Build progress

During media creation, Foundry OSD reports progress for runtime downloads and media build steps. Foundry Connect is provisioned with the boot image. Foundry Deploy is resolved later by the WinPE bootstrap, with USB cache paths used when available.

Advanced media options

Advanced media options affect boot behavior and staging:

• CA2023 signature mode
• USB partition style
• USB format mode
• Custom driver directory

Change these only when a deployment environment requires them.

Screenshot placeholder

Capture the advanced media options section with CA2023, partition style, format mode, and custom driver controls visible.

Next steps

• Open Network Readiness to understand what happens after the target boots.
• Open Expert Mode when media should include predefined deployment behavior.