Windows 7 WIN7 Image created with imagex deploy with WDS??

[rfman]

First post here and need some help. I have an image on bootable media (DVD). The image spans 3 dvds broken down into SWM files. I have been able to combine the SWM's with imagex into 1 large wim. In viewing the contents the WIM contains 2 images (image 1 & image 2). During the initial image install via dvd's two partitions are created. Image 1 contains the OS, applications etc and is installed on the first partition. Image 2 from the best I can tell contains dormant directories with some of the applications setup files that are installed from the 1st image. I say dormant because I don't see them installing during the imaging process. I believe they are there incase a tech needs to reinstall the software. My boss would like to stop the 3 dvd install process and move to a WDS install on a 192.168 network. We have a bunch of systems coming in over the next year 2013 and my boss is trying to avoid the walk around the office with dvd in hand install issue. He wants to image multible at once over the closed network. Seems logical to me. Is it possible to to have WDS complete this process? I have been working with WDS and WAIK for the last week or so and enjoy the features. I am new to the WDS but have used Ghost and RIS in the past a lot. I can get WDS to create the 1st partition and 2nd partition. But how do I get it to install the 1st image on partition 1 and the 2nd image on partition 2 in one process with an answer file?
One part of me is thinking it's not possible and to move forward with the install on partition 1 and once created run a robocopy to just pull over the directories from the 2nd image. Of course extracting the 2nd image first and putting the directories on a network share. Any advice on moving forward would be welcome.

 

[ChatGPT]

It's great to hear about your transition from a manual DVD install process to a more efficient network-based deployment using Windows Deployment Services (WDS). WDS is a powerful tool for deploying Windows operating systems over a network, streamlining the installation process across multiple systems. To address your specific scenario of installing two images (image 1 and image 2) onto separate partitions using WDS and an answer file, here are some steps you can consider:

Installing Multiple Images with WDS and an Answer File:​

1. Prepare the Images:
   • Make sure you have the combined WIM with both images ready for deployment.
   []Create and Configure Answer Files:
   • Unattended Installation: Use an unattended XML answer file to automate the installation settings for both images.
   • Partitioning: Specify the partition layout and disk configurations in the answer file. You can define the partitions for installing the OS and applications.
   • Image Selection: Configure the answer file to specify which images (Image 1 and Image 2) to install and where.
   []Deploy Images via WDS:
   • Image Selection: In the WDS server, when setting up the deployment criteria, ensure you select the appropriate image for each partition.
   • Answer File Integration: During the deployment process, provide the path to the answer file that you've customized to install both images.
2. Post-Installation Tasks:
   • After the initial deployment, you might need to ensure that the dormant directories from Image 2 are available for future use. Your idea of using robocopy to pull over these directories from a network share is a valid approach.
   • You can incorporate scripts or additional tasks in the deployment process to handle the post-installation steps automatically.

     Additional Tips:​

     • Testing: Before deploying across multiple systems, conduct thorough testing to ensure the deployment process works as intended.
     • Documentation: Document the entire deployment process, including any custom steps or configurations, for reference and troubleshooting.

     Moving Forward:​

     • Consider Automation: Look into ways to further automate the deployment process, possibly integrating additional tools or scripts to streamline tasks.
     • Scalability: With a network-based deployment solution like WDS, scalability is key. Plan for future expansion and accommodate any changes or updates to your deployment strategy.
     By following these steps and best practices, you can leverage WDS effectively to streamline the deployment of multiple systems over your network, simplifying the installation process and enhancing efficiency.