Sysprep

[Chuckster]

I'm trying to sysprep a machine but I'm not sure if it's working as it should do. I'm following this blog on how to do it: How to Sysprep XP Machine SP3 / Copy Administrator Profile to Default Profile - Blog.BrianLeeJackson.com

 

When you perform a mini setup and you click reboot, how does it image itself? And where can you get the image so that it can be deployed to the rest of the other machines on the network?

[rh91uk]

sysprep doesnt image..... it simply prepares (I think!!) the image ready for deployment.

 

do you use any imaging software to clone computers? fog? wds? then maybe we can advise a bit more....

[FN-GM]

sysprep doesnt image..... it simply prepares (I think!!) the image ready for deployment.

 

do you use any imaging software to clone computers? fog? wds? then maybe we can advise a bit more....

 

You are bang on you use sysprep with something like Ghost

[rh91uk]

excatly what I thought ... I didn't want to sound like a wally if I got it wrong!

[Chuckster]

sysprep doesnt image..... it simply prepares (I think!!) the image ready for deployment.

 

do you use any imaging software to clone computers? fog? wds? then maybe we can advise a bit more....

 

I'm using WDS on a Win 2003 SP2 server.

 

Since it prepapres the image ready for deployment, how do I get the prepapred image for mass deployment?

[FN-GM]

Fog is another good free example

[sparkeh]

Since it prepapres the image ready for deployment, how do I get the prepapred image for mass deployment?

 

The idea if that you run sysprep, it does its stuff then shuts the computer down, you then upload this image to your imaging server, then when you deploy the image the machine starts up and runs mini setup to prepare the image for the new hardware.

 

Been a while since i used wds as I now use FOG but the principle is the same, after the machine restarts after sysprep you PXE boot to upload the image - people may correct me but I think WDS loads the boot image from the server and you choose the option to upload an image. As I say I use FOG now so Ijust schedule an image upload and start the source machine and its uploaded automatically.

[Chuckster]

Once I PXE boot how do I upload the image? Because I don't see an option to do this other than choose other images to rebuild.

[powdarrmonkey]

You need to boot from a capture image, sent by the server - get it off a vista dvd and load it into the Boot Images section.

[sparkeh]

Once I PXE boot how do I upload the image? Because I don't see an option to do this other than choose other images to rebuild.

 

Right sorry you haven't setup up the capture image yet?

Ok have you had a read of the MS step-by-step guide to WDS. It should explain everything.

[powdarrmonkey]

Guide: how can I capture an Image using WDS is a good summary, the MS article is looooooong.

[brianleejackson]

Chuckster you can use my WinPE 3.0 scripts to capture the image and deploy it after the sysprep reboots the computer.

 

Tutorial on creating WinPE 3.0 Boot environment:

Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) – WinPE 3.0 Boot Environment - Blog.BrianLeeJackson.com

 

Free Pre-Complied WinPE 3.0 Boot environment scripts:

WinPE 3.0 Boot Environment Scripts - Blog.BrianLeeJackson.com

 

If you have any other questions feel free to comment on my blog. Thanks!

[Chuckster]

So I've managed to upload an image to the server; but I have some doubts about this. At the moment I deployed the image to a workstation and whilst initiating the rebuild process, it didn't ask me what computer name I want to give the workstation and whereabouts in the AD would I like the workstation to be located.

 

Is this normal?

[powdarrmonkey]

Did you give it a computer name in your sysprep answer file?

[Chuckster]

Did you give it a computer name in your sysprep answer file?

 

I used %MACHINENAME%

 

When it intalled the OS, it didn't wipe the workstation. When you view the C: drive, there is a folder called Windows.old and when it did load up onto the desktop, it discovered a new hardware and somehow it miraculously lost the drivers to the NIC.

 

Where am I going wrong?

 

Here's the rest of it

 

 

;SetupMgrTag
[setupData]
   OsLoadOptions="/noguiboot /fastdetect"

[unattended]
   UnattendMode=FullUnattended
   DriverSigningPolicy = Ignore
   OemSkipEula=Yes
   OemPreinstall=Yes
   OemPnPDriversPath = Drivers\Audio\KB888111\commonfiles;Drivers\Audio\WDM;Drivers\NIC;Drivers\Video;Drivers\MBD;Drivers\Monitor
   InstallFilesPath=C:\sysprep\i386
   TargetPath=\WINDOWS
   FileSystem=LeaveAlone
   NtUpgrade=No
   OverwriteOemFilesOnUpgrade=No

[GuiUnattended]
   AdminPassword="QWERTY1"
   EncryptedAdminPassword=NO
   OEMSkipRegional=1
   TimeZone=85
   OemSkipWelcome=1

[userData]
   ProductKey=12345-12345-12345-12345-12345
   FullName="A School"
   OrgName="West Midlands"
   ComputerName=%MACHINENAME%

[Display]
   Xresolution=1024
   YResolution=768

[TapiLocation]
   CountryCode=44
   Dialing=Tone
   AreaCode=0121

[RegionalSettings]
   LanguageGroup=1
   SystemLocale=00000809
   UserLocale=00000809
   InputLocale=0809:00000809

[identification]
   JoinDomain=NETWORK
   DoOldStyleDomainJoin=Yes

[Networking]
   InstallDefaultComponents=No
   ProcessPageSections=Yes

[RemoteInstall]
   Repartition=Yes

[NetClients]
   MS_MSClient=params.MS_MSClient

[Chuckster]

*Bump*

 

Can anyone help..?

[buzzard]

filesystem=leavealone is why it's not wiping the data I think if you just put in * it will format but i'll check my sif's in a bit!

 

if you've got UnattendSwitch="yes" it will skip mini setup, so I'd put that in set to no under the unattended section. The full reference for the answer file is under the deployment tools on the XP CD ref.chm rings a bell

 

ahh ok - FileSystem=CovertNTFS will format the drive the * will prompt you

 

see - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/155197/en-us - NT page, cant find XP one!

 

and - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457100.aspx for reference

Edited October 29, 2009 by buzzard
updated info