ixagex vista issues

[Kaizen]

I have been struggling with capturing a usable install.wim using imagex with vista. Here is the basic procedure we are following

1. install vista the normal way, since it is simpler, I am not using a product key, but instead choosing the install type, Vista Business. I am fully updating it, skipping the drivers.

2. run sysprep in audit mode to remove the user account

3 . run ssyprep again and choose generalize and oobe

4. capturing using a window 7 pe disk with imagex, using the following command

imagex /capture c: e:\install.wim "image capture" /flags "Business" /verify

5. insert the install.wim file into a standard oem vista disk

when I go to do a test install using the new image I get an error "windows cannot open the required file e:\sources\install.wim. Make sure all files required for installation are available, and restart the installation. Error code: 0x8007000d

I have tried a second capture to make on the off chance my syntax was wrong the first time. I get the same error.

Any thoughts?

 

[tek9]

What do you mean that you installed Vista in the normal way? Did you create a user account first? If so, why? Why didn't you enter Audit mode the first chance you got?

 

[MichaelBits]

How are you trying to install it?

You use imagex to apply an image to the hard drive as well.

Are you trying to use the wim without setting up an answer file or config set? Are you using wsim?

 

[mikeroq]

You're going to need to make an answer file to use a custom image with Windows Setup.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc722053(v=ws.10).aspx

 

[Kaizen]

How are you trying to install it?

You use imagex to apply an image to the hard drive as well.

Are you trying to use the wim without setting up an answer file or config set? Are you using wsim?

It appears we were doing it wrong. For Windows 7 we installed with an oem disc, captured it with imagex, then used an iso editor to replace the captured install.wim. Then we just installed using a bootable usb drive. We tried using this same procedure with Vista, but it did not work

What do you mean that you installed Vista in the normal way? Did you create a user account first? If so, why? Why didn't you enter Audit mode the first chance you got?

We installed Vista the normal way with a DVD. I don't know any way to install it without a user account. Other than deleting the initial user account at the end before capturing the image I did not know any reason to use audit mode.

answer file

Is this something only Vista needs? We have not needed one when using Windows 7(or do we)

 

[MichaelBits]

We installed Vista the normal way with a DVD. I don't know any way to install it without a user account. Other than deleting the initial user account at the end before capturing the image I did not know any reason to use audit mode.

You can do it this way, but once the install gets to the user account creation, that's when you reboot to audit mode to do updates. You then use imagex to capture the image. This way it's a fully updated image as well.
Audit mode removes the user account and generalizes the install for the image (removes drivers etc.).

Is this something only Vista needs? We have not needed one when using Windows 7(or do we)

How did you do it with win 7?

 

[Kaizen]

How did you do it with win 7?

1. we installed using a bootable usb (oem win 7 unaltered)
2. fully updated it
3. ran sysprep audit mode to delete the user account
4. ran sysprep oobe with genreralize
5. captured the image with imagex
6 replace the default install.wim file on the oem install with the newly captured one
7. installed win 7 using oem media which contained the new install.wim

 

[AlaDes]

To boot to audit mode without creating a user account, you need to press shift+ctrl+F3 after the final boot of the install stage. Do not create an account, as it can complicate things.

 

[Kaizen]

Thanks for all the help guys. I have a hybrid method using imagex to apply the image. I wrote a batch script along with a diskpart answer file. to automate the install.

 

[Kaizen]

on a side note, when ever I boot into audit mode it disables my networking service. I did not research it, since I just use it at the end to remove the user accounts where internet is not needed.

 

[mikeroq]

You have a problem if you don't have network access in audit mode as it has always worked for me.

This is my setup:

Capture image:
Install windows via DVD/USB/or .wim/WDS/whatever
Audit mode once OOBE is up
Do whatever I need
sysprep
Old way: boot winpe disc imagex /capture
New way: WDS capture

Install windows:

New way:
PXE Boot WDS server
Pick image
Pick partition options
Does it's magic
OOBE, Done

Old way:
PXE Boot/CD Boot WinPE
Connect to mapped drive
Batch file with diskpart script
Reboot computer
OOBE, Done


Things I have learned:

Windows (99.9%) of the time doesn't sysprep correctly if there is an active AV running. You can disable the services to get it to work but I just leave the AV out of the image that way it is more flexible.

You can only rearm windows 3 times before it fails, so to sysprep an image more then 3 times you need to modify the registry and run a couple commands:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\Status\SysprepStatus\GeneralizationState\

CleanupState:2
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\Status\SysprepStatus\GeneralizationState\

GeneralizationState:7

After done with the registry, do the following :

Start -> Run : msdtc -uninstall (wait few seconds)
Start -> Run : msdtc -install (wait few seconds)

 

[Kaizen]

You have a problem if you don't have network access in audit mode as it has always worked for me.

This is my setup:

Capture image:
Install windows via DVD/USB/or .wim/WDS/whatever
Audit mode once OOBE is up
Do whatever I need
sysprep
Old way: boot winpe disc imagex /capture
New way: WDS capture

Install windows:

New way:
PXE Boot WDS server
Pick image
Pick partition options
Does it's magic
OOBE, Done

Old way:
PXE Boot/CD Boot WinPE
Connect to mapped drive
Batch file with diskpart script
Reboot computer
OOBE, Done


Things I have learned:

Windows (99.9%) of the time doesn't sysprep correctly if there is an active AV running. You can disable the services to get it to work but I just leave the AV out of the image that way it is more flexible.

You can only rearm windows 3 times before it fails, so to sysprep an image more then 3 times you need to modify the registry and run a couple commands:

Thanks!