Windows 7 image and sysprep

[Brian Norman]

 

1. Create a single partition using these instruction.

There is a hidden partition created by default in Windows 7. This can be very frustrating, especially for IT administrators who are working with capturing and deploying images with Sysprep and ImageX. The boot files needed for Windows 7 to boot correctly are stored on this 2nd hidden partition. This will show you how to install Windows 7 on one partition.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Windows 7 Installation CD or ISO

1. First, there is no way to simply delete this hidden 100MB partition in Windows 7; you simply have to reformat. So the first step is to backup your data and boot to the Windows 7 Install CD. (To boot to CD, restart your computer and normally it will be either DEL, F12, or ESC key to select CD-ROM drive, and boot to it).

2. Once you are up to the Windows 7 screen, you will need to select "Repair Your Computer" option.

3. Next you will need to select "Command Prompt".

4. In Command Prompt we are going to reformat your hard drive in a certain way so the 2nd partition doesn't automatically get created when you install Windows 7. Here are the commands:
   
   Diskpart
   List Disk (You might have more than one hard drive)
   Select Disk 0 (By default your main boot drive will be disk 0, check it)
   Clean
   Create Partition Primary
   Select Partition 1
   Active
   Format FS=NTFS Quick
   Exit

 

5. Then simply walk through installing Windows 7 as you would normally. This time the setup will not create the 100MB hidden reserved partition.

 

Pasted from a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_5231455_avoid-reserved-hidden-partition-windows.html">http://www.ehow.com/how_5231455_avoid-reserved-hidden-partition-win...>

 

2. Install Windows 7

3. Log in the first time with a newly created administrator account (install).
4. Run Windows updates.
5. Add computer to domain and log in with domain administrator user account.

6. Install  software packages (Office, Flash, Shockwave, Java, SmartBoard, Lightspeed SA).

7. Active the built-in administrator account and add any AD groups to required to local administrators group.

8. Log in as LOCAL administrator, delete old "install" user  and make any changes  needed to profile.

9. Copy install.bat and editattend.vbs to the c:\windows\system32\sysprep folder.
10. Run sysprep.exe with oobe and generalize options.  Select "quit".
11. Run insert.bat with right click "run as administrator".

12. *** At this point you must have your sysprep.xml file prepared on your WDS server, do not alter the ReplaceMe1 and ReplaceMe2 entries ***

13. Capture image to WDS server and deploy image from WDS server.

 

 

These instructions do NOT include all of the steps to set up your WDS server and the affiliated XML files that must be installed on your WDS server.

 

The sysprep.inf file will be used when you sysprep your Windows XP pc.

The sysprep.xml file will be assigned to the Windows 7 image on your WDS server.

The wdsunattend.xml will be assinged to your WDS server.

 

I will attach the insert.bat and editattend.vbs to the next post.

[Brian Norman]

Other files needed.