I have been using Acronis for years, however my new job wants me to use imageX, WindowsPE, WDS, etc. I have done alot of reading about this but it is just plain confusing.
What I have is an HP laptop that has been configured by hand. Everything is set up the way it is supposed to be, all software is installed, etc. I want to be able to make an image of this machine and then deploy the image to the other 29 laptops.
I have already gotten the image from the configured laptop using WinPE and imageX. I am now trying to work my through answer file so all of the set up on another laptop will be less work.
All the documentation and tutorials I have read go through the procedure using a plain vanilla Windows 7 CD, creating an answer file for that, loading it on a reference machine, then using sysprep, and reimaging it, then using the reimage to deploy to the target machines.
Is there a way I can take my image from the already configured laptop and load that image on another laptop using an answer file to automate the windows setup?
Best Answer
Yes, while you COULD use just standalone WAIK tools, you should really use them in conjuction with the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit. (AIK is just commandline tools, MDT is the GUI and scripts) Part of the confusion here is what toolset does what. You really need both MDT and AIK to deploy windows 7 successfully. AIK is the toolset, MDT is the workbench. MDT is the automation framework you're missing, AIK alone won't cut it.
While in theory you could use just imagex and sysprep, you're making things more complicated than they need to be. Using the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2012 Update 1, you can build, capture, and deploy windows image files (WIM). WAIK is the set of tools that MDT uses to automate the whole process.
Download the MDT 2012 Update 1
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/solutionaccelerators/dd407791.aspx
Theoretically one could use just WDS and WAIK. but it's not really recommended. Most people don't need WDS unless you're PXE booting, and pushing dozens and dozens of PCs at the same time, besides, you need Server 2008 or 2012 to get WDS. MDT can be hosted from any vista, win7 or 8 box you have laying around. Once MDT is installed you would use the Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) in conjunction with MDT. In your case, this laptop you want to build a thick image with can be captured and used as an reference, you need to capture it first then import into a deployment share.
MDT uses deployment shares to push both thick and thin images. Traditionally, most people have used thick images in the past, but where MDT really shines is in its ability to push drivers and software after an a lean clean and mean thin image has been applied during a task sequence. Its widely regarded as best practice in MDT to build two shares, one for builds with it's own task sequence, and another for deploying. If your systems are 100 homogeneous, you can get away with using the old school "thick images"
Confusing? Yes, but here's the deal, MDT builds images for you, captures them, and then formats, images, names the workstations installs drivers, applications, windows updates, and can even join them to a domain or workgroup if you even want to.
Build two shares in MDT, one for building images, one for production. Do yourself a HUGE favor and build your image in a VM. That way it can run on anything.
Install MDT & AIK 1. Install MDT 2012 2. Install WAIK 3.0 3. Install WAIK Supplement (3.1)
Building a Reference Share
Capturing Reference Image
Building a Production Share
Deploying Captured Image
Deployment Soup Video
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hh215959
Deploying Windows A - Z
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=6157
Learning to use MDT litetouch
http://www.deploymentresearch.com/Videos/MDT2010LiteTouchUnleashedVideos.aspx