Deploying a Vista Image using ImageX

Discussion in 'Windows 7 / 8 /10 Client Exams' started by simongrahamuk, Sep 14, 2007.

  1. simongrahamuk
    Honorary Member

    simongrahamuk Hmmmmmmm?

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    I've spent the last few days at work playing about with image deployment using ImageX, and I have to admit that though it is fiddly to set up at first once you know what you are doing it works great. I've even used it to deploy XP Images.

    For those of you that don't know ImageX is MS's new way of deploying images as an alternative to Ghost or others. It is free to download and is included as part of the Windows Automated Installation Kit.

    Here's how I set it up for the benefit of others. Note though that if you are doing large scale deployments you should use it in conjunction with Business Desktop Deployment.

    1. Firstly I set up a Windows Vista PC to use as my Image source.

    2. Upon building the source PC I then used sysprep (included in vista by default, but on the Tools folder on XP) to remove any non generic info from the PC.

    3. Create a Windows PE boot disk to use on the host and destination computer. I did this using instructions from this site.

    4. Creating the image from the source PC.
    After Syspreping the source PC reboot it, booting from the PE boot disk.

    5. At the PE CMD screen enter the follwing command:
    Code:
    x:\ImageX.exe /capture C: c:\Images\Vista.wim "Windows Vista" /verify
    Where X: = the PE virtual drive

    6. Copying the created image file to a network share:
    Type in:
    Code:
    net use z: \\servername\sharename
    upon connecting to the network share type in:
    Code:
    copy C:\Images\Vista.wim z:
    The image should now be copied to the network share for distribution.

    7. Preparing the destination PC. (this is where I ran into a few problems so had to format the hd on the destination before it would work)

    Boot your destination PC using the PE bootdisk, and use diskpart.exe to create a partition on your hard disk for the new OS. The commands used were as follows:
    Code:
    Diskpart.exe
    Code:
    list disk
    Incase you have more than one physical disk.
    Code:
    select disk 0
    Normal for a single disk system
    Code:
    create partition primary
    you can specify a partition size after this command otherwise the whole disk will be applied as a partition.
    Code:
    select volume 0
    Selects the volume.
    Code:
    assign letter=C
    Assigns C: as the drive letter
    Code:
    Select Partition=1
    Selects the partition
    Code:
    Active
    Marks the partition as active (for booting from)

    Format the partition (I'm sure you all know about the format command!)

    8. It is now necessary to map a drive to the ntework distribution share, this is done exactly as it was when you copied the image to the share.

    9. Create a folder called 'Images' on your new C: drive.
    Code:
    c:
    md Images
    10. Copy your Image file to the destination computer:
    Code:
    z:\
    copy Vista.wim C:\Images
    11. Finally you need to apply the image to your destination PC:
    Code:
    x:\ImageX.exe /apply C:\Images\Vista.wim 1 C:
    Once the image has been applied reboot and watch Vista (Or XP) start up.


    One of the things that I didn't mention there is that I have been using Virtual PC 2007 on an isolated network to do this, and as such it did not have a DHCP server on it so I had to manually assign the destination PC's an IP address. This was done after booting from the PE CD using the following command:
    Code:
    netsh
    interface ip set address name="Local Area Connection" static 100.100.100.50 255.255.255.0 100.100.100.1 1
    Happy Imaging People! :biggrin
     
  2. BrizoH

    BrizoH Byte Poster

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    Good post, thanks for sharing it. I'm sure that'll come in handy when we get round to rolling out Vista
     
    Certifications: CCNA, CCNA Security
    WIP: CCNP
  3. PAT

    PAT Banned

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    thats a big help mate thanks will use this in the future 8)
     
  4. PAT

    PAT Banned

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    how do you make a windows PE boot disk, the link's not working?

    thanks :)
     
  5. simongrahamuk
    Honorary Member

    simongrahamuk Hmmmmmmm?

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  6. mojorisin

    mojorisin Kilobyte Poster

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    Dont suppose you have tried doing automated installs using an answer file the same way that it was easy to do using RIS ?

    Been banging my head for long enough trying to get this so called easier way of deploying to work with XP and Vista images they way RIS used to work

    :blink
     
    WIP: Microsoft 365 Identity and Services MD-100
  7. simongrahamuk
    Honorary Member

    simongrahamuk Hmmmmmmm?

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    Nope, sorry! :(

    Actually I haven't touched this area for a while now, not had the need to do it.
     

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