Building a Common Image

3
Definition of Terms
This document will detail processes that use the following terms.
Product Family—defined as a set of form-factor types within a numerically-
defined series. For example, the HP 8200 Elite product family consists of the
convertible mini-tower, small form factor, and ultra-small desktop form factor. While
the ultra-small desktop form factor machines are considered to be within a product
family, their size could dictate some hardware differences including possible chipset
components. These differences in hardware components do not negate the
possibility of a common image; however, they do add risk and complexity.
Common Image—for the purposes of this paper, defined as an operating system
image that works across multiple hardware platforms such as the 8200 Elite and
6200 Pro products.
Identical Image—an operating system image that is deployed across machines
of a single product line, all using the exact same hardware options, or
configuration. If you are creating an Identical Image, you can disregard the section
entitled “obtaining drivers for the product family.”
Driver Support—in a common image, includes the functionality that can be
obtained via an INF-based install of the driver by the operating system. This
includes device recognition and basic functionality. However, any functionality that
is normally achieved by running a setup program will not be available. For
information on adding setup application processing, please see the section titled
“
Customizing the Image
.”
Reference Machine—term used to describe the system that is being used to
perform work to pool drivers, customize software and set OS options and
parameters. This will be the machine from which the image is captured.
ImageX—a Microsoft command-line tool for capturing, servicing, and applying
Windows Imaging Format (WIM) files, which are file-based Windows disk images
used by Windows Vista. In addition to other tools, documentation and samples to
enable the IT professional to perform automated deployment of the Windows Vista
or Windows 7 operating system, ImageX is available in the Microsoft Windows
Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) that is available from the Microsoft Download
Center as a free download.
SYSPREP (System preparation tool)—a Microsoft tool that prepares the operating
system for imaging. This tool must be run before imaging a system and then
deploying that image.
SYSPREP, as well as other useful documentation and tools, can be found on your
operating system CD obtained either from HP or Microsoft. SYSPREP is located in
the SYSPREP folder at
%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\SYSPREP for Windows Vista and
Windows 7.