Building a Common Image

4
Advantages of a Common Image
Creating a common image has several advantages.
• Image reduction—by creating a product family-based common image, image
management becomes easier because the number of images that require
management is reduced.
• Image validation—by using the image preinstalled by HP, you will start with an
image that has already undergone extensive testing and validation with the
hardware on which it will be deployed. This will save considerable testing
resources in your environment. In addition, using the HP image as a base will
bypass the Microsoft Windows Activation process that requires each user to
activate their copy of Windows Vista and Windows 7.
• Operating System-controlled driver installation—by implementing the .inf file-
based driver installation method outlined in this white paper, it is assured that
hardware will be installed in the most optimal manner possible.
Limitations of a Common Image
While the use of a common image can be extremely advantageous, it is not without
caveats. Creating a common image causes a shift in the support liability from the
PC OEM back to the organization creating the common image.
It is also very important to be aware of the operating system license as well as
licensed applications that are part of the common image. Royalty-based
applications typically have strict guidelines surrounding deployment and usage. For
example, devices such as DVD’s have strict distribution restrictions regarding how
DVD software is distributed.
Contact your Microsoft licensing representative for the proper operating system
license.
Choosing a Base Image
As mentioned previously, HP recommends beginning with the factory preinstalled
image as the base image. If the file system type or the partition structure is not
desirable, HP recommends that you still use the factory preinstalled image to build
the common image. File system and partitioning can be customized during the
image load phase of the deployment process.
If the preinstalled image is modified and the operating system is Windows Vista or
Windows 7 on a reference PC that supports the F11 restore-feature, a clean factory
preinstalled image can be restored by rebooting the PC and pressing F11 at the
start of the reboot. After pressing the “NEXT” button, check the “Recover the factory
installed operating system, drivers and applications” option and accept the default
prompts. The “HP Backup and Recovery Manager” PC Recovery will restore the
factory preinstalled image to the system.