Customize operating system images with Configuration Manager

Applies to: Configuration Manager (current branch)

Operating system images in Configuration Manager are WIM files and represent a compressed collection of reference files and folders that are required to successfully install and configure an operating system on a computer. A custom operating system image is built and captured from a reference computer that you configure with all the required operating system files, support files, software updates, tools, and other software apps. The extent to which you manually configure the reference computer is up to you. You can completely automate the configuration of the reference computer by using a build and capture task sequence, you can manually configure certain aspects of the reference computer and then automate the rest by using task sequences, or you can manually configure the reference computer without using task sequences. Use the following sections to customize an operating system.

Prepare for the reference computer

There are several things to think about before you use capture an operating system image from a reference computer.

Decide between an automated or manual configuration

The following outlines advantages and disadvantage for an automated and manual configuration of the reference computer.

Automated configuration

Advantages

• The configuration can be completely unattended, which eliminates the requirement for an administrator or user to be present.

• You can reuse the task sequence to repeat the configuration of additional reference computers with a high level of confidence.

• You can modify the task sequence to accommodate differences in reference computers without having to recreate the entire task sequence.

  Disadvantages

• The initial action to build a task sequence can take a long time to create and test.

• If the reference computer requirements change significantly, it can take a long time to rebuild and retest the task sequence.

Manual configuration

Advantages

• You do not have to create a task sequence or take the time to test and troubleshoot the task sequence.

• You can install directly from CDs without putting all the software packages (including Windows itself) into a Configuration Manager package.

  Disadvantages

• The accuracy of the reference computer configuration depends on the administrator or user who configures the computer.

• You must still verify and test that the reference computer is configured correctly.

• You cannot reuse the configuration method.

• Requires a person to be actively involved throughout the process.

Considerations for the reference computer

The following lists the basic items to consider when you configure a reference computer.

• Operating system to deploy

  The reference computer must be installed with the operating system that you intend to deploy to your destination computers. For more information about the operating systems that you can deploy, see Infrastructure requirements for operating system deployment.

• Appropriate service pack

  The reference computer must be installed with the operating system that you intend to deploy to your destination computers.

• Appropriate software updates

  Install all software applications that you want included in the operating system image that you capture from the reference computer. You can also install software applications when you deploy the captured operating system image to your destination computers.

• Workgroup membership

  The reference computer must be configured as a member of a workgroup.

• Sysprep

  The System Preparation (Sysprep) tool is a technology that you can use with other deployment tools to install Windows operating systems onto new hardware. Sysprep prepares a computer for disk imaging or delivery to a customer by configuring the computer to create a new computer security identifier (SID) when the computer is restarted. In addition, Sysprep cleans up user and computer-specific settings and data that must not be copied to a destination computer.

  You can manually Sysprep the reference computer by running the following command:

  Sysprep /quiet /generalize /reboot

  The /generalize option instructs Sysprep to remove system-specific data from the Windows installation. System-specific information includes event logs, unique security IDs (SIDs), and other unique information. After the unique system information is removed, the computer restarts.

  You can automate Sysprep by using the Prepare Windows for Capture task sequence step or capture media.

  Important

  The Prepare Windows for Capture task sequence step attempts to reset the local administrator password on the reference computer to a blank value before Sysprep runs. If the Local Security policy Password must meet complexity requirements is enabled, this task sequence step fails to reset the administrator password. In this scenario, disable this policy before you run the task sequence.

  For more information about Sysprep, see Sysprep (System Preparation) overview.

• Appropriate tools and scripts required to mitigate installation scenarios

  Appropriate tools and scripts required to mitigate installation scenarios

• Appropriate desktop customization, such as wall paper, branding, and default user profile

  You can configure the reference computer with the desktop customization properties that you want to include when you capture the operating system image from the reference computer. Desktop properties include wallpaper, organizational branding, and a standard default user profile.

Manually build a reference computer

Use the following procedure to manually build a reference computer.

To manually build the reference computer

1. Identify the computer to use as the reference computer.

2. Configure the reference computer with the appropriate operating system and any other software that is required to create the operating system image that you want to deploy.

   Warning

   At a minimum, install the appropriate operating system and service pack, support drivers, and required software updates.

3. Configure the reference computer to be a member of a workgroup.

4. Reset the local Administrator password on the reference computer so that the password value is blank.

5. Run Sysprep by using the command: sysprep /quiet /generalize /reboot. The /generalize option instructs Sysprep to remove system-specific data from the Windows installation. System-specific information includes event logs, unique security IDs (SIDs), and other unique information. After the unique system information is removed, the computer restarts.

   After the reference computer is ready, use a task sequence to capture the operating system image from the reference computer. For detailed steps, see Capture an operating system image from an existing reference computer.

Use a task sequence to build a reference computer

You can automate the process to create a reference computer by using a task sequence to deploy the operating system, drivers, applications, and so on. Use the following steps to build the reference computer and then to capture the operating system image from the reference computer.

• Use a task sequence to build and capture the operating system image from the reference computer. For detailed steps, see Use a task sequence to build and capture a reference computer.