make a simple default windows image

[Turtleinahafshel]

how would i do this so whenever i need to install windows i can skip the setup process and have default windows like pxe boot but local

[Alir]

You can use Macrium Reflect easily. Install it on a PC and create a bootable CD - it's probably called something else. The software will have a 30 day trial but the cd can be used forever. The cd can easily do what you need it to do and restoring your install is easy.

 

This is provided you do not use encryption or anything like that. 

 

If you use encryption software like Veracrypt or Truecrypt, you can use ntfs-clone in Linux to backup your encrypted install. Are you comfortable with Linux and do you encrypt? If not, ignore this method. Those that are, this site will be of help:

https://linux.die.net/man/8/ntfsclone

[Electronics Wizardy]

Well due to how the drivers work this isn't always the best idea. You will also have network problems as they have the same I'd and you need to sysprep them. Also secure boot will have issues. 

 

But I'd just install Windows on a small drive. Then make a image with dd in Linux, then copy that image back. Boot into the image and expand your partition. 

 

There are also pxe options for imaging. 

 

 

[2FA]

Check my signature.

[Guest]

3 hours ago, Turtleinahafshel said:

 like pxe boot but local

?

[Turtleinahafshel]

58 minutes ago, IAmLamp said:

?

so like i can boot into it and it applies a windows image

[Turtleinahafshel]

1 hour ago, DeadEyePsycho said:

Check my signature.

thanks

[Guest]

This should be what you're looking for. 

 

[Turtleinahafshel]

Just now, IAmLamp said:

This should be what you're looking for. 

 

not quite it needs to be applicable to many PCs can this do that

[Guest]

3 hours ago, Turtleinahafshel said:

not quite it needs to be applicable to many PCs can this do that

I wish that was made a bit more clear in the original post. I believe Windows installations are dependent on the PC/system it's being installed to. I don't think there's a good solution for material like that. 

[Turtleinahafshel]

Just now, IAmLamp said:

I wish that was made a bit more clear in the original post. I believe Windows installations are dependent on the PC/system it's being installed to. I don't think there's a good solution for material like that. 

okay thanks for all the help

[Alir]

I just realised this thread sounds like you're trying to restore a single copy of Windows on multiple PCs. Is this correct? I would advise AGAINST this. For what reason do you need a single install on multiple computers? If you want to create an image to restore your copy of Windows onto the SAME computer or onto another computer with the SAME specifications and components/parts, then it is a simple matter of creating a single image. Transferring installs won't work. 

[Turtleinahafshel]

 

5 minutes ago, Alir said:

I just realised this thread sounds like you're trying to restore a single copy of Windows on multiple PCs. Is this correct? I would advise AGAINST this. For what reason do you need a single install on multiple computers? If you want to create an image to restore your copy of Windows onto the SAME computer or onto another computer with the SAME specifications and components/parts, then it is a simple matter of creating a single image. Transferring installs won't work. 

would a simple image work for multiple pcs

[Guest]

9 minutes ago, IAmLamp said:

I wish that was made a bit more clear in the original post. I believe Windows installations are dependent on the PC/system it's being installed to. I don't think there's a good solution for material like that. 

 

7 minutes ago, Alir said:

I just realised this thread sounds like you're trying to restore a single copy of Windows on multiple PCs. Is this correct? I would advise AGAINST this. For what reason do you need a single install on multiple computers? If you want to create an image to restore your copy of Windows onto the SAME computer or onto another computer with the SAME specifications and components/parts, then it is a simple matter of creating a single image. Transferring installs won't work. 

You can actually sysprep and generalise the image (remove computer specific information)

[Alir]

58 minutes ago, Turtleinahafshel said:

 

would a simple image work for multiple pcs

 

56 minutes ago, AUniqueName said:

 

You can actually sysprep and generalise the image (remove computer specific information)

 

There probably is a way but it sounds like a hassle to me and more effort than it's worth. I wouldn't do it. But only because I wouldn't need it. In a home environment, you have more than one PC because you have more than one configuration for more than one user. Standardising the installs isn't necessary or even wanted.

 

I used to waste a lot of time doing such things. Nowadays I stop myself before starting on such an endevour and ask myself 1) Why I'm doing it. 2) What I intend to get out of it. And 3) Whether the results are worth the effort. If it is not, there is probably a simpler way. And if you still do it, you have to accept you're doing it for your own entertainment only; not for practicality. Which there is nothing wrong with; more power to you. If you try something that is too 'daring', you just need to be aware that you could end up spending days to weeks sometimes if somebody else has not tried it.

 

I am not trying to discourage you, feel free to try this and report back how it goes, here or in the link below!

 

As for what you can do if you still wish to do this, feel free to look into:

I can't vouch for it though. But "I'm a Network Administrator for a school and we have been working on deploying Windows 10 Education to every machine in the building." suggests the bloke knows what he is doing. 

[Guest]

9 minutes ago, Alir said:

 

 

There probably is a way but it sounds like a hassle to me and more effort than it's worth. I wouldn't do it. But only because I wouldn't need it. In a home environment, you have more than one PC because you have more than one configuration for more than one user. Standardising the installs isn't necessary or even wanted.

 

I used to waste a lot of time doing such things. Nowadays I stop myself before starting on such an endevour and ask myself 1) Why I'm doing it. 2) What I intend to get out of it. And 3) Whether the results are worth the effort. If it is not, there is probably a simpler way. And if you still do it, you have to accept you're doing it for your own entertainment only; not for practicality. Which there is nothing wrong with; more power to you. If you try something that is too 'daring', you just need to be aware that you could end up spending days to weeks sometimes if somebody else has not tried it.

 

I am not trying to discourage you, feel free to try this and report back how it goes, here or in the link below!

 

As for what you can do if you still wish to do this, feel free to look into:

I can't vouch for it though. But "I'm a Network Administrator for a school and we have been working on deploying Windows 10 Education to every machine in the building." suggests the bloke knows what he is doing. 

What I said is for large scale deployments. In a home environment, or even a small business, it's a waste of time and effort. It'd be quicker and easier doing it manually. 

 

In larger scale deployments, it's a necessity. We're yet to begin our Windows 10 deployment, but I wouldn't particular fancy doing it manually lol. 

 

OP posted a similar thread earlier to which I pointed out answer files (which is what part of the guy's post which you linked entails)

[Turtleinahafshel]

1 minute ago, AUniqueName said:

What I said is for large scale deployments. In a home environment, or even a small business, it's a waste of time and effort. It'd be quicker and easier doing it manually. 

 

In larger scale deployments, it's a necessity. We're yet to begin our Windows 10 deployment, but I wouldn't particular fancy doing it manually lol. 

 

OP posted a similar thread earlier to which I pointed out answer files (which is what part of the guy's post which you linked entails)

you're right ill just suck it up and do IT the right way

[Guest]

Just now, Turtleinahafshel said:

you're right ill just suck it up and do IT the right way

I mean, there's no harm in it. If you're wanting to do it for experience sakes and a learning experience, go for it. 

 

If you're doing it because you think it's going to make your life easier, it's probably not; unless you have a deployment of 20+ systems. 

[Turtleinahafshel]

2 minutes ago, AUniqueName said:

I mean, there's no harm in it. If you're wanting to do it for experience sakes and a learning experience, go for it. 

 

If you're doing it because you think it's going to make your life easier, it's probably not; unless you have a deployment of 20+ systems. 

Right I just wanted to do it for kicks and so I can skip  the annoying setup thing it would be viable if it wasn't as hard but thanks for all the help