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Walkthrough: Deploy an Image from a Network Share

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This walkthrough demonstrates how to deploy an image from a network share by using Windows PE and ImageX technologies.

Prerequisites

To complete this walkthrough, you need the following:

  • Windows System Image Manager (Windows SIM), ImageX, and Windows PE tools installed on a technician computer. For more information, see Building a Technician Computer.
  • A Windows Vista product DVD.
  • A bootable Windows PE media with ImageX. For more information, see Windows PE Walkthroughs.

Step 1: Create a master installation

  1. Create a master installation by using one of the following methods:
    Walkthrough: Deploy Windows by Booting from a DVD
    Walkthrough: Deploy Windows by using a Configuration Set
  2. After the installation is complete, shut down the computer.

Step 2: Capture an image of the installation

In this step, you will capture an image of the master installation using ImageX and then store the custom image on the network share.

  1. Boot the master computer with your bootable Windows PE media.

  2. At a command prompt, capture an image of the installation. For example,

    imagex /compress fast /check /scroll /capture c: c:\myimage.wim " Vista Ultimate" "My Custom Vista Image 1"

  3. Copy the image to a network share. For example,

    net use y: \\network_share\
copy c:\myimage.wim y:\network_share\images\

    If necessary, provide network credentials for appropriate network access.

Step 3: Apply the image from the network share

This step requires booting the new computer with Windows PE and applying the image with ImageX.

  1. Boot the new computer with your Windows PE media.

  2. In Windows PE, format the hard drive using DiskPart.

  3. At a command prompt in Windows PE, map the network drive to your network share. For example,

    net use y: \\network_share\images

  4. Apply the image from the network share by using ImageX. For example,

    imagex /apply y:\\network_share\images\myimage.wim 1 c:

Next Step

This completes a basic image deployment. You can automate a number of these steps. For example, you can script Windows PE to partition the hard drive automatically, connect to the network, and then apply the image.

Important

This method requires that you install the image to the same volume. To install an image to a different volume, see Walkthrough: Deploy an Image by using Windows Setup.

See Also

Concepts

Deployment Walkthroughs
ImageX Technical Reference