Guide: how can I capture a Windows Vista image (wim) for Zero Touch

[anyweb]

The original guide (with screenshots) is here. Please note that this is Step two of 18 steps to carry out Zero Touch from start to finish.

The first thing you need to do is have your Windows Vista Capture CD created. Once complete, boot your Windows Vista client computer (do not boot from the Capture CD yet) and verify that your Windows Vista Client computer is not a member of any domain, if it is, remove it from the domain and restart.

Step 1. Verify computer is part of a Workgroup.

The computer must be part of a Workgroup otherwise the image capture process will not work.

To do this, right click on the Computer icon (in the start menu, or on the desktop if present) and choose Properties, then choose Advanced system settings from the Tasks list on the left.

When the System Properties window appears, click on the Computer Name tab.

If the computer is listed as part of a domain then click on Change and remove it from the domain, type the name of a workgroup to join and click ok.

Once you have removed the computer from the domain and rebooted, we will insert the Vista Capture CD which we created earlier and browse it.

Step 2. Run the SMS 2003 Image Capture Wizard.

Locate a file on the cd called OSDICW.exe

and double click on it, this will start the SMS 2003 Image Capture Wizard.

msfn.rar

Click next to continue and input the required details.

eg:-

Image file name:- Vista01.wim

Network location:- \\servername\captures

Account name:- \\servername\Administrator

Password:- **********

Note that if you do not have a folder ready for the above, then create one and give it the appropriate access you require. (I created one called captures and shared it).

Next you will be prompted for Sysprep information, enter it as you want and click next.

You will now have the chance to give your image capture some image properties.

eg:-

Operating System: Windows Vista Enterprise

comments: Capturing a Windows Vista image (wim) for Zero Touch from http://www.windows-noob.com

and so on...

Clicking next at this point will capture the image from this computer to the network location you specified earlier.

Note that the last message prompts you to make sure that CD is set to boot first in the bios settings before continuing, In my case, when the wizard was finished it shut the machine down. I then rebooted onto the CD and pressed a key to start from the CD when prompted. Once done, Windows PE will boot and the SMS 2003 Image Capture Wizard will appear. The capture process will now begin!

Warning: Depending on your hardware this can take a long time (2 or more hours) and the resultant WIM file can be very large also (greater than 5GB).

Once everything is complete, you'll be informed that the capture is complete, you click ok and then the system reboots, and you'll have a Vista01.wim file in your \\server\captures folder.

Edited February 7, 2008 by anyweb