Building a Common Image - Developing a common software image for the HP dc7900, Elite 8000 and 6000 Pro desktop models

Creating a Common Image for Windows Vista /

Windows 7

This section specifically addresses Windows Vista / Windows 7 and focuses on

assembling Plug and play drivers on the reference machine. These drivers may be

identical or different for platforms in the same family. However, the following

discussion will show one way of integrating the Plug and Play drivers into a

common image that will make these drivers available to the respective platform on

which it is installed.

After obtaining the relevant drivers, using one of the methods described above,

copy the INF files to a location on the drive. You may create unique folder name for

each type. However, assigning names that reflect the type of drivers that are

installed is helpful in establishing a process flow. For example, HP uses the

following directories and paths for drivers:

C:\Swsetup\Drivers\Audio1; C:\Swsetup\Drivers\Chipset1

C:\Swsetup\Drivers\Video1; C:\Swsetup\Drivers\Modem1

C:\Swsetup\Drivers\Video2; C:\Swsetup\Drivers\Audio2

C:\Swsetup\Drivers\Chipset2; C:\Swsetup\Drivers\Modem2

C:\Swsetup\Drivers\Video; C:\Swsetup\Drivers\Chipset

The INF files of each driver are placed in these locations and the

“C:\Swsetup\Drivers”path is added to the “Microsoft-Windows-

PnpCustomizationsNonWinPE” component in a SYSPREP.XML answer file (see

SYSPREP.XML file below). Using an answer file while SYSPREPing the image allows

the drivers to be copied to the driver store of the Windows installation during the

AuditSystem configuration pass. Later when the deployed image is first booted, and

the system runs Plug and Play, these drivers will be available to install hardware on

the target computer.

After all customizations have been made on the reference machine and drivers

have been copied to desired locations, the system is ready to be prepared for

imaging. This is accomplished by running a Microsoft tool named SYSPREP.

SYSPREP.exe is located in the %WINDIR%\system32\SYSPREP directory. SYSPREP

must always be run from the %WINDIR%\system32\SYSPREP directory and must

run on the version of Windows with which it was installed. SYSPREP can be run

using three different methods:

 From the command line

 From the UI (User Interface)

 From an answer file

Running SYSPREP from an answer file is chosen primarily because of the ability to

instruct Windows Vista / Windows 7 how to configure itself on first boot after the

image is applied to a PC. An answer file will automate OS setup – Computer

name, product key, time zone, and others (see SYSPREP.xml example below).

Most importantly, one can add settings to the answer file in the OOBE and audit

configuration passes that will be processed on the target PC on first boot. Further

detailed information on how SYSPREP works is available on Microsoft Technet at