This is my second attempt at creating a bootable Windows PE CD-ROM. The first guide I testet didn’t work for some reason, but this guide is great and works:

Bootable Windows PE CD-ROM

Make sure you have the extension pack installed for USB support etc.
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/server-storage/virtualbox/downloads/index.html

When performing an unattended installation of Windows with an Autounattend.xml on a pen drive, you can accomplish this on by activating your pen drive for use within your virtual machine.

When starting your virtual computer, there are some icons in the bottom right corner. Right click the USB icon to activate your pen drive:

VirtualBox can be downloaded here:
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/server-storage/virtualbox/downloads/index.html

Also download the extension pack at the bottom for USB support etc.¨

To boot VirtualBox from an ISO or DVD.
Click settings. In the settings dialog box, you can add your ISO/DVD like this:

The big question of today was. What component do I choose?

amd_64, wow_64 or x86_64…

amd_64 is used on x64 installs.
x86 is used on x86 installs.
wow_64 is used on x64 installs for 32bit components installed on x64.

Here’s a quote from Microsoft Technet:

The answer file must include processor-specific components. The answer file settings in the windowsPE configuration pass must match the architecture type of the preinstallation environment and the settings that apply to the Windows image must match the architecture type of the image. For example, if you are creating an answer file that deploys 64-bit images from a 32-bit preinstallation environment, all components in the answer file for the windowsPE configuration pass must include the processor type attribute of x86. Settings to be applied in the specialize, oobeSystem, or other configuration passes must include the processor attribute type of amd64.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd744395(WS.10).aspx

When selecting a Windows image in WSIM, WSIM hangs. I tried to close the program and select a windows image again, but got the following error:

Windows SIM was unable to generate a catalog. For troubleshooting assistance, see the topic: ‘Windows System Image Manager Technical Reference’ in the Windows OPK or Windows AIK User’s Guide.

I was trying to use a x86 version of Windows 7 and had copied install.wim to a folder on my computer called images. My computer was running x64. When using WSIM I was only able to import an image with the same architecture as my technician computer.

To solve this issue, I had to import the image directly from the DVD using the .clg file instead of using the install.wim file that I had copied to my images folder.

To save time burning WAIK to DVD-ROM, you can download Daemon Tools Lite for free. Daemon lets you add a virtual DVD-ROM that you can use to mount the WAIK ISO.

When you have mounted the WAIK ISO to your virtual DVD-ROM, you can run the StartCD.exe to install WAIK. Click “Windows AIK Setup” to install WAIK. Then follow the wizard.

To be able to dualboot in Virutal PC, you must be able to boot your Virtual machine from a CD or DVD. By booting from DVD, you are able to use the unallocated space for your second OS rather than installing the second OS on the same volume.

Here is a great guide I found that shows you how you can boot your virtual machine from CD/DVD in Virtual PC.

Virtual PC is a software from Microsoft that can be used to run multiple virtual machines on your computer. The software can be downloaded from Microsoft here.

After installing it I was wondering how to use a USB device on my virtual machines. You can accomplish that by going to Tools -> Install Integration Components. Remember to activate the integration components after installation.

Here is an excellent introduction for beginners that wants to get started using Virtual PC:
How to install Windows 7 into virtual PC