Windows 7 Deployment

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union122

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Hello guys,

I need to rollout 40 Windows 7(64bit) PC's. I would like to create a base image and deploy via network or local external disk. Any recommendations ?
 
We use Windows Deployment Services; it works like a champ with ALL Windows deployments!
 
Windows Deployment Services setup to use the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit.
Basically you import your base image/s and then create and configure a task sequence/s that installs the OS and any applications or settings.
 
Thanks everyone, I will look at Windows deployment but I just learned my manager purchased symantec ghost solution.. anyone used that before ? thanks
 
Doesn't MHDD (or TRK?) have a network deploy option where you could start a disc in the 'image' computer in broadcast mode and every other network with a disc would be in receiver mode and pull the image from the one onto all the others?
 
Ghost works well... Personally I have always tried to go with the most cost effective solution: Syspreped Image built with WIK, the image deployed with Clonezilla. Works like a charm all day long. Worst thing you gotta watch out for is you can only deploy ~5-7 at a time, else you will saturate a gigabit pipe!
 
I recommned using the x86 Boot.Wim file; since, it will work perfect for x64 and x86 deployments of ALL versions of XP, Vista, and 7. (I don't know if it will work with Itanium though :D). IF you are going to deploy Windows XP make sure to patch your boot.wim file with KB980711-x86 or sometimes proper images for your HAL will not show up. <== Not applicable with Vista and 7. If your boot.wim comes from SP1 media, it might already be patched.

Here is your working WDS Unattend, so you don't have to select your language, logon, and Wipe, Partition, Format, Label every drive... This automates a TON of steps in WDS.

This took days to make work perfect:

Code: 
<?xml version="1.0" ?> 
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
<settings pass="windowsPE">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" processorArchitecture="x86">
<WindowsDeploymentServices>
<Login>
   <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI> 
   <Credentials>
      <Username>username</Username> 
      <Domain>domain</Domain> 
      <Password>password</Password>
   </Credentials>
</Login>
<ImageSelection>
   <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI> 
   <InstallImage>
      <ImageName></ImageName> 
      <ImageGroup></ImageGroup> 
      <Filename></Filename> 
   </InstallImage>
   <InstallTo>
      <DiskID>0</DiskID> 
      <PartitionID>1</PartitionID> 
   </InstallTo>
</ImageSelection>
</WindowsDeploymentServices>

<DiskConfiguration>
   <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI> 
   <Disk>
      <CreatePartitions>
         <CreatePartition>
            <Order>1</Order> 
            <Type>Primary</Type> 
            <Extend>true</Extend> 
         </CreatePartition>
      </CreatePartitions>
      <ModifyPartitions>
         <ModifyPartition>
            <Active>true</Active> 
            <Format>NTFS</Format> 
            <Label>OS</Label> 
            <Letter>C</Letter> 
            <Order>1</Order> 
            <PartitionID>1</PartitionID> 
         </ModifyPartition>
      </ModifyPartitions>
      <DiskID>0</DiskID> 
      <WillWipeDisk>true</WillWipeDisk> 
   </Disk>
</DiskConfiguration>

</component>
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" processorArchitecture="x86">
<SetupUILanguage>
<WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI> 
<UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage> 
</SetupUILanguage>
<UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage> 
</component>
</settings>
</unattend>


This will work, but it will prompt you for the computer name. You must manually join a domain if you want too...

Here is my Image Unattend File; This took days to make work right:

Code: 
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
    <settings pass="generalize">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <SkipRearm>1</SkipRearm>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="specialize">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP-UX" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <SkipAutoActivation>true</SkipAutoActivation>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <CopyProfile>false</CopyProfile>
            <ShowWindowsLive>false</ShowWindowsLive>
            <TimeZone>Eastern Standard Time</TimeZone>
            <OEMInformation>
                <HelpCustomized>false</HelpCustomized>
                <SupportHours>8:30 AM - 5:00 PM</SupportHours>
                <SupportPhone>(800) 555-0000</SupportPhone>
                <SupportURL>http://http://www.technibble.com/</SupportURL>
                <Manufacturer>Supported by Technibble Computers, United States</Manufacturer>
            </OEMInformation>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Deployment" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <RunSynchronous>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>1</Order>
                    <Path>net user administrator /active:yes</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
            </RunSynchronous>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="oobeSystem">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <InputLocale>en-us</InputLocale>
            <UILanguage>en-us</UILanguage>
            <SystemLocale>en-us</SystemLocale>
            <UserLocale>en-us</UserLocale>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <OOBE>
                <NetworkLocation>Work</NetworkLocation>
                <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>
                <HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>true</HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>
                <ProtectYourPC>1</ProtectYourPC>
                <SkipUserOOBE>true</SkipUserOOBE>
            </OOBE>
            <UserAccounts>
                <AdministratorPassword>
                    <Value>Administrator Password Here</Value>
                    <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                </AdministratorPassword>
                <LocalAccounts>
                    <LocalAccount wcm:action="add">
                        <Password>
                            <Value>RSame Admin Password Here</Value>
                            <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                        </Password>
                        <Description>Built-in account for administering the computer/domain</Description>
                        <DisplayName>Administrator</DisplayName>
                        <Group>Administrators</Group>
                        <Name>Administrator</Name>
                    </LocalAccount>
                </LocalAccounts>
            </UserAccounts>
            <RegisteredOrganization>Your Organization</RegisteredOrganization>
            <RegisteredOwner>The Registered Owner</RegisteredOwner>
            <TimeZone>Eastern Standard Time</TimeZone>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="catalog://servername/path/to/catalog/install_windows 7 professional.clg" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>


You may want to change the network location to Home.

You WILL want to update the location of the catalog file near the bottom to your Windows 7 Catalog file (it is in the sources directory of your media). Then open it in Windows SIM (part of Windows AIK) and set your passwords etc.

You will be golden after that.




1. To make an image, Install Windows 7 (DO NOT put in a Product Key or Activate)!

2. Install ALL Windows Updates!

3. Install ALL software you want in your image i.e. Dosbox, Citrix Client, VLC, etc.

4. Sysprep it. You want to specify: OOBE, Shutdown, Generalize



***********************

Now, capture an image with Windows PE media:

net use n: \\server\share\path
username: domain\userid
password:

imagex /compress maximum /capture c: n:\images\imagename.wim "Win 7 Pro SP1 Custom"


Once captured, import that into WDS & Tag that above Image Unattended File... You are DONE!


If you want to add a product key or drivers, you can do it via DISM to the imagename.wim file.
 
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