Veaam Backup and Replication

  KB 0000180
  Dated 13/08/10
  Revision 2.02
   

Windows Deployment Services (On Server 2008 R2)
Deploying Windows 7
 

Problem

It's been a while since I posted run through's on WDS - they were on Server 2003, and were for deploying Windows XP.

I've completely re-written this page and shot a series of videos to make the process a little easier to understand.

Solution
Step 1 (Install and configure Windows Deployment Services.)
Step 1 Notes

 

1. If the WDS Server is NOT the DHCP server then do NOT tick both the DHCP options, (as stated in the video), on your DHCP scope configure "DHCP Options" 66 and 67, like so;

2. If you are going to capture and deploy x64 Bit images you want to import the x64 bit boot.wim file from either the Windows 7 OR Windows Server 2008 R2 DVD (In the sources Directory).

 
Step 2 (Capture the Windows 7 Reference Machine).
Step 2 Notes

 

1. If your having trouble with talking to the WDS server over the network you may need to import the network drivers into the boot images on the WDS server, see here and here.

2. Make sure your machines are able to boot from the network.

3. If you CANT see a drive to image then sysprep did not complete correctly.
Step 3 (Prepare and Import the Unattended Answer files).
Step 3 Notes

 

1. Windows Automated Install Kit (Windows 7) LINK

2. Sysprep Modules to Add for WDSClientUnattend.xml

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1. WindowsPE

amd64_Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE

InputLocale = en-GB
SystemLocale = en-GB
UILanguage = en-GB
UILanguageFallback = en-GB
UserLocale = en-GB

SetupUILanguage

InputLocal = en-GB

2. OfflineServicing

Nothing.

3. Generalize

Nothing.

4. Specialize

Nothing.

5. AuditSystem

Nothing.

6. AuditUser

Nothing.

7. OobeSystem

Nothing.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Note: If you want to remove partitions and carry out drive formatting see the following article.

WDS - Unattended file - Removing /Formatting Drive Partitions

 

3. Sysprep Modules to add for OOBEunattend.xml

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1. WindowsPE

Nothing.

2. OfflineServicing

Nothing.

3. Generalize

Nothing.

4. Specialize

amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup_6.1.7600.16385_neutral

Computername > * (Note: Generates a random name).
CopyProfile> true
Registered Organization> Your Organisation
Registered Owner> Your Owner
ShowWindowsLive> false
TimeZone> GMT Standard Time

5. AuditSystem

Nothing.

6. AuditUser

Nothing.

7. OobeSystem

amd64_Microsoft-Windows-International-Core_6.1.7600.16385_neutral

InputLocale = en-GB
SystemLocale = en-GB
UILanguage = en-GB
UserLocale = en-GB

amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup_6.1.7600.16385_neutral

OOBE

HideEULAPage = true
HideWirelessSetup = true
NetworkLocation = Work
ProtectYourPC = 1

UserAccounts

LocalAccounts

LocalAccount

Description = Admin
DisplayName = Admin
Group = Administrators
Name = Admin

Password

Value = password123

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

4. Additional stuff you might want to add to OOBEUnattended.xml

THIS ENABLES THE Local Administrator

4. Specialize

amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Deployment_6.1.7600.16385_neutral

RunSynchronous

RunSynchronousCommand

Order= 1
path = net user administrator /active>yes
WillReboot = Never

 

THIS Automatically Activates the Machine with your VL / MAK Key

4. Specialize

amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP-UX_6.1.7600.16385_neutral

SkipAutoActivation> true

7. OobeSystem

amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup_6.1.7600.16385_neutral

AutoLogon

Enabled> true
LogonCount>2
Username> administrator

Password> {Administrator Password}

FirstLogonCommands

SynchronousCommand[Order="1"]

CommandLine = cscript //b c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX (Windows 7 VL / MAK key)
Order 1
RequiresUserInput> false

SynchronousCommand[Order="2"]

CommandLine = cscript //b c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ato
Order 2
RequiresUserInput = false

5. Unless you generate a random computer name you CANNOT JOIN A DOMAIN! for more info see,

WDS - Unattended file - Joining a Domain Automatically

6. If you want to manually specify a computer name you need to delete the line from the unattended file that reads:

<computername></computername>
or
<computername>*</computername>
or
</computername>

 
Step 4 (Deploy the Image to the Target Machines.).
Step 4 Notes

 

1.If you are deploying a lot of machines and the network is struggling, consider multicasting.

 
References - Credits - Or External Links
KB0000107
KB0000108
Brian Lee Jackson Blog