image W7 PC

[TechSupp]

We are due to change from XP to W7 this summer and as we have six different models of PC ( mainly Fujitsu Esprimo and a set of netbooks, Samsung) I have been asked to create a master image PC of each one. Now not wanting or have the time really but if needs must, I presume I could install one with all.software and set up etc (we are buying in to the new MS licensing so I am told the key for W7 will be the same on each PC) then image it on to the other models and just fix driver issues, quicker than a fullsetup. Done this before with XP then done a new SID but whats the procedure in W7? Is it possible if I get all the drivers needed I could build a single image for all? And how would I do that? Been told I could use sysprep but its longer as it does a mini setup after it reboots. Not the time either to set up WDS or Fog espess as I am not doing the final imaging of the school PCs, that may have to be looked at a later date when more time.

[FN-GM]

When you sysprep windows 7 it will strip out your key. So you would be best using KMS.

[TechSupp]

Do I have to use sysprep? Always done XP without and never had any problems.

[plexer]

How are you going to be imaging them then?

 

Ben

[TechSupp]

Not a clue how the rest of the school PC's were going to be imaged as thats by a separate company, but I was just going to use clonezilla for the few PC's I have to create.

[sted]

if your using wds you must use sysprep.

 

tbh id be tempted to set up with software/updates 1 image on a vm and deploy it with mdt which will add drivers

[TechSupp]

Not using WDS as its not set up and not the time to do that and the images at the moment which is why I'm trying to find quickest and best solution to just creating a few imaged PC's. If I were going to be doing the whole school as well the yes, I would have been looking in to setting up wds or fog before now, but just been landed with this and the end of term is comming up fast. Have not got a spare machine capable of running a vm anyway so cant do that, we are only a primary and spare resources are scarce.

[newpersn]

Sysprep them use cloneziller.

[TechSupp]

Ok, sysprep it is then. Next question is anyone got a simpletons guide to sysprep. Googled it but so many different guides, not sure which one the best. Understand I need an unnattended xml file, anyone got one of those already edited. Sure seen one on bere but dont seem to be able to find it now.

[newpersn]

Build the PC to how you like it. All software and updates.

 

Once done

 

 

start > run > sysprep

 

Opens a folder

 

Run sysprep. Oobe (out of box experience) and generalized. (Recreates Sid codes and asks for key)

 

Select the shutdown option. Once its done it will shutdown.

 

Start your computer back up by using cloneziller. And image.

Edited June 23, 2012 by newpersn

[TechSupp]

Briliant! Have some rep and thanks.

[TechSupp]

Do i need to.do.anything about the swap.file.before I image and sysprep? With xp image I turned it off so it wasnt included in the image to try and make it smaller.

[SYNACK]

Depends on what you're capturing it with, imagex/WDS automaticlly exclueds the TEMP folders, recyle bins and page files/hybernation files.

 

I always run the disk cleanup tool from inside windows before sysprepping it as an administrator and then from the more option tab and clean up the shadow copies and previous versions then from the other tab clean out everything else.

 

If not using imagex you'll want to boot the machine off CD or something after sysprep to access the filesystem without starting the OS and manually delete the pagefile and hybernation file so that they are not included. These will be recreated on firstboot on the fresh machine. I would not want to turn the pagefile off as it will effect your performance even if your machines have stacks of RAM as some programs are designed to check for and require a certain ammount of virtual memory even if they don't need it.

[TechSupp]

Thanks, may try the imagex as suggested on a sysprep guide I found. Usually use clonezilla but may give this a try. If I usex imagex would I be able to use the image with WDS if I managed to get chance to set that up at some later date?

[twin--turbo]

Get alll the drivers for all the machines on the C: Drive and windows should find them on re-install.

 

We used to have 4 Images ( Intel Curriculum/admin and AMD curriculum and admin) Could re-image 90% of our 700 machines with one of the 4 images despite being a mix of 10-15 different makes and models.

 

TT

[sted]

Thanks, may try the imagex as suggested on a sysprep guide I found. Usually use clonezilla but may give this a try. If I usex imagex would I be able to use the image with WDS if I managed to get chance to set that up at some later date?

 

may as well use wds from outset then saves learning commands and takes 5 mins to set up if that

[SYNACK]

Thanks, may try the imagex as suggested on a sysprep guide I found. Usually use clonezilla but may give this a try. If I usex imagex would I be able to use the image with WDS if I managed to get chance to set that up at some later date?

Yes, you can use it with WDS, MDT and it does image compression and file based imaging with gives you single instance storage in the image and it makes it easier to insert drivers and updates offline.

 

If you end up using it remember to add the

 

/flags "ENTERPRISE"

 

you need to change it for the edition that you're using. This allows MDT to figure out which OS is in the package.

[TechSupp]

If it only takes 5min to set up anyone got a simpletons guide to setting WDS up from scratch?

[SYNACK]

If it only takes 5min to set up anyone got a simpletons guide to setting WDS up from scratch?

 

Augusto Alvarez » Blog Archive » Installing and Configuring WDS (Windows Deployment Services): Full Images Deployment (Part I)

 

I'd look at MDT TBH, a bit more complex but gives you way more options and makes things much easier in the long run.

 

Deploy Windows 7 with MDT 2010 + WDS + WAIK | I am legend