SYSPREP for WDS

[DAckroyd]

Hi all... I'm currently being thick and can't think how to work sysprep.

I have a Virtual PC 2007 image of XP basic install with all updates, I want this to go onto my WDS server but I'm failing to use sysprep properly. I have a folder C:\sysprep\ and I've run "sysprep /factory" hoping that would allow me to capture the image but it can't see C: (can see c: when looking at cmd mode shift+F10) so I know it's my syspreping at fault. I then resealed it and that didn't work and I've just done it again with /factory and that didn't work again - I've currently waiting capture an image to finish loading to test after a reboot using audit but that's just failed.

Can someone please tell me where I'm going wrong and if you know a good simple guide to using sysprep for WDS please point me in the direction

thanks in advance for your help



[just wanted to use these]

[DAckroyd]

got further now but hitting the problem that I can't finish see attachement

[Gatt]

try using

 sysprep -reseal -mini -reboot

this will reseal the Image, then use Mini Setup when re-deployed, the reboot command will reboot the system after Sysprep has finished

the factory flag is for creating OEM branded install setups (eg HP setups, etc) IIRC

In the top box - choose Browse, find the C:\ drive and give the WIM file a name (eg XP-VirtualPC-Test)

What happens is that WDS creates the WIM file locally first, then uploads the completed WIM file to your WDS server and into your chosen group..

It should then remove the C:\<imagename>.wim file when redeployed

[DAckroyd]

Thanks, I hadn't realised that you required to save to C: before it would be able to upload

Second part to the question... I have a WIM file that I saved to HDD on a physical machine I was trying this on... how do I get this onto the image list? it is on the correct server

[Gatt]

Did you tell it to upload to your WDS server? If so it should appear there automatically - you may need to refresh the console..

If not -
1) Boot the imaged PC with either WinPE - or run thru mini-setup (not via WDS) - the image file will stil be there - copy this to the server ( anywhere other than the \\WDS-Server\Reminst\Images folder.. eg to \\wds-server\Reminst\
2) Go Into WDS and Add an Install Image - find the WDS file and add it - it will then be in WDS
Check the Images\<<image-group\ folder for the WIM file then remove the original from whereever your saved it to in 1)

[DAckroyd]

Did you tell it to upload to your WDS server? If so it should appear there automatically - you may need to refresh the console..

If not -
1) Boot the imaged PC with either WinPE - or run thru mini-setup (not via WDS) - the image file will stil be there - copy this to the server ( anywhere other than the \\WDS-Server\Reminst\Images folder.. eg to \\wds-server\Reminst\
2) Go Into WDS and Add an Install Image - find the WDS file and add it - it will then be in WDS
Check the Images\<<image-group\ folder for the WIM file then remove the original from whereever your saved it to in 1)

I have a previous one on the server - it's in the "Install Images" but not in the boot images, If I add a boot image then it says it's not a valid file. my VPC file is creating and should upload soon so I'll check on that when it's up

[Gatt]

Boot Images can only be an Install.WIM from vista/win2008 or the capture/discover imaegs that can be created from them

Sysprep'd (captured) images are Install Images and can only be deployed usiing the "Discover" Boot image

[DAckroyd]

ok... I'm not doing something right here.... I have the image from VPC on the server and it's in the install images area ok but it won't add to the boot images "The file does not contain a valid boot image"

[Gatt]

You cant add it to Boot Images as its not a bootable image...

Boot Images can only come from either Vista/2008/7 DVD media (install.wim) or from the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (LiteTouch)

From that boot image you can create a "Capture" Image and a "Discover" Image

Capture Images are used to create a WIM file from a Sysprep'd PC
Discover Images are used to Deploy a Captured WIM image to another PC

These images are "Install" Images and don't contain any Boot information so cannot be added to the Boot Images container in WDS

To deploy your VPC image - boot the target PC, choose the Discover Image option (Using the label you gave it in WDS) this then starts WDS - follow the prompts, your VPC image should then be listed - choose it - reformat the HDD, and off you go..

[DAckroyd]

you're a star!!!!

I have the XP Basic image I've been trying to get... I can't get the one that I did previously but I am alot further now, thanks!

EDIT: I'm wrong... it's coming up for that make of machine