Saturday, January 5, 2008

Vista: ImageX.exe captures a Vista workstation

Assuming you have created a Vista Windows PE media (CD) and a Vista workstation with necessary software installed;

  • Start the Vista workstation;
  • Run sysprep.exe command:
C:\windows\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe /oobe /generalize /shutdown

  • Insert the Windows PE media CD into the workstation DVD Drive;
  • Turn on the computer and press any key to boot from the Windows PE media CD;

--My CD is at E: drive and imageX.exe command is under imageTools folder. I will save the image in D: drive. C: drive is the Vista image.--

Capture the Vista workstation image

E:\imageTools\ImageX.exe /compress fast /capture C: D:\myimage.wim "My Vista Install" /verify

After the image was captured, connect to a network share:

Net use Y: file://computername/network_share/
Copy D:\Myimage.wim y:

==

Build new computers using myimage.wim

Boot the new computer from the Windows PE media CD;

diskpart
select disk 0
clean
create partition primary size=20000
select partition 1
active
format
exit

net use Y: file://computername/network_share/
copy Y:\Myimage.wim c:

Apply the image to the hard drive

E:\imageTools\ImageX.exe /apply C:\Myimage.wim 1 c:

Done.
====

Application of the WIM file:

I install the Vista in C: and Windows 2003 in D: drive.

From Vista, run imageX.exe as:

C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\PETools>ImageX.exe /compress fast /capture D: C:\exchange2007.wim "Windows 2003 with Exchange 2007" /verify

To rebuild the Windows 2003 with Exchange 2007, from Vista you run:

C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\PETools>imagex /apply c:\exchange2007.wim 1 D:

--Pretty fast recovery--