Capturing Images

You can use Windows Deployment Services to deploy custom images you've created as well as the default images from the Windows distribution media. When you create your own boot and install images, you can import them as discussed in the section "Importing Images" earlier in the tutorial. You also can capture images.

First, you need a capture boot image. You can create a capture boot image by completing the following steps:

1. In the Windows Deployment Services console, expand the Servers node and select the server you want to work with. Next, click the server's Boot Images folder to select it and display available boot images.
2. Right-click the boot image to use as the capture boot image, and then click Create Capture Boot Image.
3. On the Capture Image Metadata page, enter a name and description for the capture boot image, and then specify the location and file name of the image to create, such as C:\Images\Win_capture.wim.
4. Click Finish.

To capture an image, you must:

1. Use Windows Deployment Services to install an existing image on a computer, as described in "Installing Windows from an Image."
2. Customize the image.
3. At the command prompt, enter cd %systemroot%\system32\sysprep, and then enter sysprep /oobe /generalize /reboot.
4. When the computer starts and the boot loader prompts you, press F12 to download and start the Windows Deployment Services client.
5. In Windows Boot Manager, select the capture boot image.
6. When the Windows Deployment Services Image Capture Wizard starts, click Next.
7. On the Image Capture Source page, select the volume or volumes to capture in the Volume To Capture list, and then provide a name and description for the image. Click Next to continue.
8. On the Image Capture Destination page, click Browse, and then choose the location where you want to store the captured image. In the File Name text box, type a name for the image using the .wim file name extension. Click Save.
9. Click Upload Image To WDS Server. Type the name of the server, and then click Connect. If you are prompted for credentials, provide a user name and password for an account that can access the server.
10. In the Image Group list, choose the image group in which to store the image, and then click Finish.