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Microsoft

Capture a Vista Windows image using Reverse Integration

By Alan Norton June 17, 2009, 1:00 AM PDT

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Capture a Vista Windows image using Reverse Integration

Install WAIK

Install WAIK

Having a Windows Vista install DVD with the latest service packs can be very helpful – especially if you reinstall Windows more than a couple of times a year or if you have to deploy Windows Vista to multiple computers. Alan Norton shows how he creates one – just follow these steps.n

nYou can get an in-depth description of these steps in the TechRepublic Microsoft Windows Blog or in the corresponding free TechRepublic Download.n

nInstall the Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK)n

nDownload and install a disk burning utility capable of burning ISO files if needed.n

nDownload the WAIK ISO file and burn the WAIK ISO to a DVD. Run the startcd.exe program on the DVD and select Windows AIK Setup from the Welcome to Windows Automated Installation Kit window. The installation is large. Install to a non-system logical drive if possible.n n

Images by Alan Norton for TechRepublic

Capture a Vista Windows image using Reverse Integration

Format target partition

Format target partition

Reinstall Vista to a Non-boot Partitionn

nFormat a non-boot partition. I chose the Vista Ultimate Apps partition, disk 0 partition 3 to reinstall Vista. That is the perfect partition to choose because the apps would have to be reinstalled anyway and the partition is large enough. The format is destructive so you need to choose a partition that you have already backed up and can temporarily use. Reinstall Vista.n

Images by Alan Norton for TechRepublic

Capture a Vista Windows image using Reverse Integration

OOBE

OOBE

The Windows Vista Out Of Box Experience Screenn

nJust before the Vista installation completes, this screen appears called the Out Of Box Experience (OOBE) screen. Press [CTRL][SHIFT][F3]. The computer will reboot and you should end up at the Vista desktop.n

Images by Alan Norton for TechRepublic

Capture a Vista Windows image using Reverse Integration

System Preparation Tool 3.14

System Preparation Tool 3.14

The System Preparation Tool 3.14 Windown

nYou should see the System Preparation Tool 3.14 window open on the desktop. Do not close this window.n

Images by Alan Norton for TechRepublic

Capture a Vista Windows image using Reverse Integration

SP1 successfully installed

SP1 successfully installed

SP1 Successfully Installedn

nInstall SP1. When complete, you should see this screen.n

Images by Alan Norton for TechRepublic

Capture a Vista Windows image using Reverse Integration

SP2 successfully installed

SP2 successfully installed

SP2 Successfully Installedn

nInstall SP2. When complete, you should see this screen.n

Images by Alan Norton for TechRepublic

Capture a Vista Windows image using Reverse Integration

Insufficient disk space to install service pack

Insufficient disk space to install service pack

Insufficient Disk Space to Install Service Packn

nWhen installing SP1 or SP2 you might see a Setup Requirements window if you do not have enough disk space. Select the Open Disk Cleanup option.n

Images by Alan Norton for TechRepublic

Capture a Vista Windows image using Reverse Integration

Choose drive to clean up

Choose drive to clean up

Choose Drive to Clean Upn

nSelect the drive to clean up. This should always be the default value, C: drive.n

Images by Alan Norton for TechRepublic

Capture a Vista Windows image using Reverse Integration

Select only hibernation file cleaner

Select only hibernation file cleaner

Select Only Hibernation File Cleaner Optionn

nCheck the Hibernation File Cleaner option and uncheck all other options. Click the OK button when done. This will free up 3.99GB and it should be enough to allow the service pack install to continue.n

Images by Alan Norton for TechRepublic

Capture a Vista Windows image using Reverse Integration

Select retry

Select retry

Select Retryn

nClick retry. The service pack install will continue if you have freed up enough disk space to continue.n

Images by Alan Norton for TechRepublic

Capture a Vista Windows image using Reverse Integration

Run CompCln

Run CompCln

Perform CompCln (optional)n

nRun the compcln utility as an administrator. This will remove the RTM and SP1 files needed to rollback SP1 and SP2 making them both permanent. This step is optional for the x86 version but recommended. It is required for the x64 version if you want the install files to fit on one DVD. CompCln will free up over one GB of disk space for the x86 version of Vista and two GBs for the x64 version of Vista.n

Images by Alan Norton for TechRepublic

Capture a Vista Windows image using Reverse Integration

System Preparation Tool 3.14 shutdown

System Preparation Tool 3.14 shutdown

Sysprep and Shutdownn

nIf you use the recommended method, select OOBE/Generalize/Shutdown in the System Preparation Tool 3.14 window. Click the OK button to perform the Sysprep and shut down the system. Do NOT boot back into the new Vista install.n

Images by Alan Norton for TechRepublic

Capture a Vista Windows image using Reverse Integration

Create temporary folders

Create temporary folders

Create Temp Foldersn

nCreate the following temp folders:n

n\Temp VICn\Temp VIC\Vista x86 SP2 or \Temp VIC\Vista x64 SP2n\Temp VIC\ISOn

Images by Alan Norton for TechRepublic

Capture a Vista Windows image using Reverse Integration

Copy Vista install files

Copy Vista install files

Copy Vista Install Filesn

nHighlight the folders and files of the Vista RTM DVD and copy them to the clipboard.n

Images by Alan Norton for TechRepublic

Capture a Vista Windows image using Reverse Integration

Paste Vista install files

Paste Vista install files

Paste Vista Install Filesn

nNavigate to the \Temp VIC\Vista x86 SP2 or \Temp VIC\Vista x64 SP2 folder and paste the Vista install files.n

Images by Alan Norton for TechRepublic

Capture a Vista Windows image using Reverse Integration

Select and run PE Tools at command prompt as admin

Select and run PE Tools at command prompt as admin

Open the Windows PE Tools Command Prompt window as administrator.

Images by Alan Norton for TechRepublic

Capture a Vista Windows image using Reverse Integration

PE Tools command prompt

PE Tools command prompt

Windows PE Tools Command Promptn

nThe Windows PE Tools Command Prompt window sets paths to the utilities included in WAIK including ImageX that is needed to capture the Windows image.n

Images by Alan Norton for TechRepublic

Capture a Vista Windows image using Reverse Integration

Imagex enter command time remaining

Imagex enter command time remaining

Enter ImageX Commandn

nEnter the command for imagex including the switches as detailed in the original article and press [Return].

Images by Alan Norton for TechRepublic

Capture a Vista Windows image using Reverse Integration

Run OSCDImg

Run OSCDImg

Run OSCDImg to Make a Bootable ISO Filen

nRun the oscdimg utility to make a bootable ISO file.n

Images by Alan Norton for TechRepublic

Capture a Vista Windows image using Reverse Integration

Burn bootable ISO

Burn bootable ISO

Burn ISO to DVDn

nUse your favorite disc burning software to burn the ISO file to a DVD.n

Images by Alan Norton for TechRepublic

Capture a Vista Windows image using Reverse Integration

Reinstall Vista SP1 and SP2 to boot partition

Reinstall Vista SP1 and SP2 to boot partition

Reinstall Vista SP1 SP2n

nReinstall Vista onto the original partition u2013 the boot partition in this example.n

Images by Alan Norton for TechRepublic

Capture a Vista Windows image using Reverse Integration

Verify installed updates

Verify installed updates

Verify that SP1 and SP2 Have Been Installedn

nOpen the Installed Updates window. Verify that the KB updates in this screen shot appear in your list of installed updates.n

Images by Alan Norton for TechRepublic

Capture a Vista Windows image using Reverse Integration

Post testing and cleanup

Post testing and cleanup

Post Testing and Cleanupn

nSelect and delete the \Temp VIC folder when finished and you are sure that Vista will install properly.n

Images by Alan Norton for TechRepublic

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By Alan Norton
You can contact me at [email protected]. I began my career as little more than a data retrieval and reporting person. Early in my career I did whatever I could to be productive, creating spreadsheets in Framework and charts in GraphWrite
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