WDS Reference Computer

Install all the softwares, drivers, applications that you need on your reference computer. You can also add your company logo to the computer image if you want to. That logo must be in bmp format and 120x120px. After you prepare your logo, put that logo C:\windows\system32 folder. I will name my logo file as oemlogo.bmp. .Net framework 3.5 and 4.5 must be installed on the computer for our logo. You can install those .Net Frameworks from  Add/Remove programs - Windows features.

 

 

I dont want my drivers to be removed during the Sysprep. Therefore, I will create an unattend.xml file by using Windows ADK. Download and install Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) for Windows 8.1 on a computer but not onto the reference computer. I will install WADK onto my personal computer.     

Here are the links for WADK

Downlaod Windows ADK for 8

Download Windows ADK for 8.1

Start the setup file and just choose the options below. Installation is really simple (Next Next Finish). (Do not forget, I DO NOT install this to the reference computer)

 

 

On the computer that I installed WADK (my personal computer), I create a folder named Dist-ShareWin8.1 under C partition and copy all the contents of Windows 8.1 DVD into that folder. Now run Windows System Image Manager which comes with WADK.

 

 

 

From Distribution Share Panel, right click on "Select a Distribution Share" and then select "Create Distribution Share"

 

 

Show the path for "sources" folder.

 

 

Under the Windows Image Panel, right click on "Select a Windows image or catalog file" and choose "Select Windows Image". Browse C:\ Dist-ShareWin8.1 \sources\install.wim and create catalog file.

 

 

Add PnpSysprep component to Pass 3 Generalize.

 

 

Set PersistAllDeviceInstalls Setting to "TRUE" 

 

Click File - choose Answer File As – name it unattend.xml. Copy unattend.xml file into the sysprep folder of our reference computer.

 

Open notepad and copy the codes below into the notepad, name it mysysprep.bat. Copy this file also into thesysprep folder on the reference computer. 

 @echo off

cd c:\windows\system32\sysprep

sysprep /oobe /generalize /unattend:c:\windows\system32\sysprep\unattend.xml

 

Now we have 2 files that copied to sysprep folder and 1 file in System32 on the reference computer: 

1. mysysprep.bat

2. Unattend.xml

3. oemlogo.bmp (in system32 folder)

 

You can also add SCCM Client on your image as well. DO NOT install SCCM client in Audit Mode.You should install it before accessing the Audit Mode. To install SCCM Client in your image first see This Link.

 

 

Audit Mode will let you to log on to reference computer with Administrator account. Delete accounts that you dont need.

 

 Run Sysprep on your reference PC with the settings below.

 

Now run mysysprep.bat with RUN AS ADMIN option. Reference PC will shutdown itself.  We will boot the reference machine with PXE Boot and will let WDS capture the image. This is explained in the next article named Capturing Image