Contents
Overview 1
Introduction to Creating and Deploying
an Image 2
Preparing a Reference Computer 3
Creating an Image 11
Testing an Image 12
Deploying an Image 13
Lab A: Creating an Image of
Windows 2000 Professional 15
Review 30

Module 4: Creating and
Deploying an Image of
Windows 2000 Professional

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Manufacturing Support: Laura King (S&T OnSite)
Lead Product Manager, Development Services: Bo Galford
Lead Product Manager: Gerry Lang
Group Product Manager: Robert Stewart

Module 4: Creating and Deploying an Image of Windows 2000 Professional iii Instructor Notes
This module provides students with the knowledge and skills to create and
deploy an image of a preinstallation or installation of Microsoft
®
Windows
® 2000 Professional, which includes preparing a reference computer,
creating an image by using a third-party disk imaging application, testing an
image to ensure its integrity, and restoring an image on a new or existing
computer. Additionally, students will learn how to automate the Mini-Setup
wizard to finish an installation by providing unique configuration information
to the computer.
At the end of this module, students will use a third-party disk imaging
application to create an image of the reference computer’s hard disk, and then
deploy that image to a computer by restoring it.
At the end of this module, students will be able to:
 Explain the role of a reference computer and image, and describe how each
is used in the imaging process.
 Prepare a reference computer to be imaged by preinstalling or installing and
configuring Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional, preserving custom user
settings, configuring an answer file to provide unique configuration
information during setup for the target computer, and running the
Windows 2000 System Preparation Tool (Sysprep.exe) to remove

• Easier Windows NT
® Workstation 4.0 Deployment with Disk Image
Copying and the Microsoft System Preparation Tool
• Automated Deployment Options
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Guide to Unattended Setup

Module Strategy
Use the following strategy to present this module:
 Introduction to Creating and Deploying an Image
Introduce the concepts for creating and deploying an image, including the
role of a reference computer and third-party disk imaging application.
Tell students about using a disk duplicator to distribute the image.
 Preparing a Reference Computer
Briefly describe the steps necessary to prepare a reference computer before
the image is created, including configuring a reference computer, preserving
custom user settings, configuring an answer file, and preparing the hard
disk.
Explain the steps necessary to configure a reference computer before
creating an image.
Explain how to preserve customer user settings by copying the
Administrator profile to the default user profile.
Explain how to configure an answer file to automate the Mini-Setup wizard
by using a text editor or the Setup Manager wizard.
Module 4: Creating and Deploying an Image of Windows 2000 Professional v Explain the purpose of the System Preparation Tool (Sysprep.exe). Explain
or demonstrate how to install Sysprep.exe. Describe how to prepare the hard
disk by running Sysprep.exe to remove configuration information that is
unique to the reference computer.

 Installation of the Windows 2000 Support Tools.
 Specification of the color scheme display setting as Desert for the
Administrator account and Rainy Day for any new users created. New users
will also have a desktop shortcut to Windows Explorer and folder named
Northwind Traders on the desktop.

Importan
t

Module 4: Creating and Deploying an Image of Windows 2000 Professional 1 Overview
 Introduction to Creating and Deploying an Image
 Preparing a Reference Computer
 Creating an Image
 Testing an Image
 Deploying an ImageAt the end of this module, you will be able to:
 Explain the role of a reference computer and image, and describe how each
is used in the imaging process.
 Preinstall (or install) and configure Microsoft® Windows® 2000
Professional in order to prepare a reference computer to be imaged, which
includes:
• Preserving custom user settings
• Configuring an answer file to provide the target computer with unique
configuration information during setup
• Running the Windows 2000 System Preparation Tool (Sysprep.exe) to

Reference
Computer
Windows 2000 Professional
and Applications
Target Computers
 An Image Is Based on the Configuration of a
Reference Computer
 Use a Third-Party Disk Imaging Application
to Create and Restore an Image
 Target Computers Must Have the Same HAL
As the Reference Computer
 An Image Is Based on the Configuration of a
Reference Computer
 Use a Third-Party Disk Imaging Application
to Create and Restore an Image
 Target Computers Must Have the Same HAL
As the Reference ComputerCreating an image means configuring a preinstallation or installation of
Windows 2000 Professional (including applications, desktop settings, and user
preferences), and then duplicating that configuration. Deploying an image
means restoring the image on new or existing computers.
Creating and deploying an image requires the following:
 Reference computer. Provides a baseline configuration for other computers.
The configuration of the reference computer is replicated to other computers
in an organization, or to other new computers in a line of computer
products. The replicated contents are known as an image.
 Third-party disk imaging application. You will need to use a third-party
disk imaging application, such as PowerQuest Drive Image Pro, to create an

deploying an image.

Mention the Note at the
bottom of the page.

Refer to the student notes
for supporting details.
Note
Module 4: Creating and Deploying an Image of Windows 2000 Professional 3 

 Preparing a Reference Computer
Configure the Reference Computer
Configure the Reference Computer
Preserve Custom User Settings
Preserve Custom User Settings
Configure an Answer File to Automate the
Mini-Setup Wizard
Configure an Answer File to Automate the
Mini-Setup Wizard
Prepare the Hard Disk
Prepare the Hard Disk

\
To create and install an image, perform the following steps:
1. Configure the reference computer.
A reference computer includes Windows 2000 Professional, retail and
custom in-house applications, and network and computer settings.


Refer to the student notes
for supporting details.
4 Module 4: Creating and Deploying an Image of Windows 2000 Professional Configuring a Reference Computer
Preinstall or Install
Windows 2000 Professional
Preinstall or Install
Windows 2000 Professional
Configure Components and Settings
Configure Components and Settings
Install and Configure Applications
Install and Configure Applications
Test the Configuration
Test the Configuration
Network
Network
User
User
Desktop
DesktopA reference computer contains the hard disk configuration that will be
replicated to the target computers. This configuration can include not only the
operating system, but also retail and custom in-house applications, and network
and computer settings. When you configure the reference computer, be sure that
you are logged on using the built-in Administrator account.


Refer to the student notes
for supporting details.
Key Point
Use the built-in
Administrator account when
configuring the reference
computer.
Module 4: Creating and Deploying an Image of Windows 2000 Professional 5 3. Install and configure applications.
An application should be preinstalled with an image only if all users need
that application. Applications that are not required by all users should be
deployed using other application deployment methods—and should only be
deployed after the operating system has been installed.
4. Test the configuration.
Test Windows 2000 Professional and all applications before you create an
image. After the image is copied to a shared network folder or compact disc,
you will not be able to reconfigure Windows 2000 Professional or any
application included in the image. If you need to make any changes, you
will have to create a new image. When you have achieved the correct configuration on the reference
computer, shut down the computer to prevent any unwanted alterations to the
configuration.

Im
p

custom settings available to anyone who uses the image, you will need to copy
the Administrator profile to the Default User profile before making the image.
After you have installed and configured the reference computer, perform the
following steps to copy the Administrator profile to the Default User profile:
1. On the reference computer, create a new account with administrative
privileges, and then log on using that account.
This step is necessary because you can copy the Administrator profile only
if that profile is not in use.
2. Copy the Administrator profile to the Default User profile.
a. Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
b. On the User Profiles tab, click computer_name\Administrator (where
computer_name is the name of the reference computer), and then click
the Copy To button.
c. In the Copy profile to box, type %systemdrive%\Documents and
Settings\Default User
3. Assign the Everyone group permission to use the default user profile.
a. Click the Change button.
b. In the Select User or Group dialog box, click Everyone, and then click
OK.
c. Click OK until all dialog boxes are closed.

Slide Objective
To explain how to preserve
custom user settings on a
reference computer before
creating an image.
Lead-in
You will want to preserve
any custom user settings on
the reference computer

OrgName = "Northwind Traders"
ProductID = 12345-54321-12345-54321-12345
Sysprep.exe Answer File (Sysprep.inf)
Sysprep.exe Answer File (Sysprep.inf)
Sysprep.exe Answer File (Sysprep.inf)You can reduce the amount of configuration information that the user needs to
supply when the Mini-Setup wizard runs. You can do this by configuring an
answer file to provide unique configuration information, such as the
organization and computer names, to enable each computer to finish the image
installation. An answer file is a text file that you can create by using any text
editor, such as Notepad, or by running the Setup Manager wizard.
To support the installation of an image, the answer file must be named
Sysprep.inf and stored in the Sysprep folder on the system partition (with
the Sysprep.exe and Setupcl.exe files). If a Sysprep.inf file is found in this
folder, the answer file will automatically be applied when you run Sysprep.exe.
Otherwise, the answer file will be ignored.

OEM system builders must not use an answer file to completely
automate an installation. Instead, OEM customers are required to provide their
own registration information and agree to the End User Licensing Agreement
(EULA).

Creating a Sysprep.inf File by Using a Text Editor
When using a text editor to create the Sysprep.inf file, you can use most of the
keys and values that are supported in the Windows 2000 Professional Setup
answer files. To create the Sysprep.inf file, use any text editor to enter the
appropriate section headers, keys, and values.
Slide Objective

The password for the built-in
Administrator account on
the reference computer
must be blank to enable a
user to create a password
for the built-in Administrator
account when the Mini-
Setup wizards runs on the
target computer
Im
p
ortan
t
8 Module 4: Creating and Deploying an Image of Windows 2000 Professional For example:
[UserData]
FullName = “Authorized User”
OrgName = “Northwind Traders”
ProductID = 12345-54321-12345-54321-12345

Creating a Sysprep.inf File by Using Setup Manager
You can also configure a Sysprep.inf file by running the Setup Manager wizard.
Setup Manager is located on the Windows 2000 Professional compact disc and
the OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK) compact disc.
To install Sysprep.exe and the Setup Manager wizard, perform the following
steps:
1. Create the folder C:\Sysprep
2. Click the Start button, click Run, in the Open box, type

Importan
t

Module 4: Creating and Deploying an Image of Windows 2000 Professional 9 Preparing the Hard Disk
Installing Sysprep.exe
Copy
Copy
Copy
\Sysprep
\Sysprep
Sysprep.exe
Setupcl.exe
Sysprep
Sysprep
Create a Folder Named
Running Sysprep.exe
\sysprep\sysprep.exe -switch
\sysprep\sysprep.exe -switch
\tools\sysprep.exe -switch
\tools\sysprep.exe -switch
Switches
Switches
Switches
-quiet
-reboot
-nosidgen
-pnp

of the system drive).
2. Click the Start button, click Run, and, in the Open box, type
drive:\Support\Tools\Deploy.cab (where drive is the location of the
Windows 2000 Professional compact disc), and then click OK.
3. Select the files Sysprep.exe and Setupcl.exe files and then right-click one of
the files.
4. Click Extract, save these files to systemdrive\Sysprep, and then click OK.

Slide Objective
To explain how to use
the System Preparation
Tool to prepare the hard
disk for imaging.
Lead-in
Before you create an image
of the reference computer,
you must use the System
Preparation Tool to remove
configuration information
that is unique to that
computer, such as the
computer name and SID.
Explain how to install
Sysprep.exe. Also describe
how to prepare the hard disk
by running Sysprep.exe to
remove configuration
information that is unique to
the reference computer.


1. Restart the reference computer, and then log on as Administrator.
2. Click Start, click Run, and, in the Open box, type
%systemdrive%\sysprep\sysprep.exe –switch (where switch is the
appropriate switch or switches), and then click OK.

If you are using the OPK compact disc, Sysprep.exe is located in the
Tools folder.

Example: drive:\sysprep\sysprep.exe –quiet
The following table describes the actions of each Sysprep.exe switch.
Switch Action

-quiet Runs Sysprep.exe without displaying on-screen messages.
-reboot Forces the computer to restart automatically after the image of the
hard disk is installed and the Mini-Setup wizard starts. Restarting the
computer is useful when you want to audit the system and verify that
the Mini-Setup wizard is operating correctly. You must run
Sysprep.exe again to reset the Mini-Setup wizard.
-nosidgen Runs Sysprep.exe without generating a SID. You must use this switch
if you are not duplicating the hard disk on which you are running
Sysprep.exe.
-pnp Forces Plug and Play to refresh the next time the computer is
restarted. By default, Sysprep.exe automatically detects new Plug and
Play devices. Only use this switch if you have computers with older
hardware and you want Plug and Play to find and install these
devices.

3. Sysprep.exe will display a warning page before proceeding (unless you use
the –quiet switch). Click OK to proceed.
After Sysprep.exe is finished, the reference computer is shut down and is


See the manufacturer’s documentation for more information about using
the third-party disk imaging application.

To create an image, perform the following steps:
1. Start the reference computer by using a startup disk provided by the third-
party disk imaging application vendor.
2. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to start the disk imaging application
and create the image.
3. Restore the image on a new or existing computer, and then test
Windows 2000 Professional and applications. If the test is not successful,
reconfigure the reference computer, and then repeat step 1.
4. Copy the image to removable media, such as a compact disc or to a
network share.

Slide Objective
To explain how to
create an image of a
reference computer.
Lead-in
You use a third-party
application to create
an image of a
reference computer.
Describe the steps for
creating an image of a
reference computer.

Refer to the student notes
for supporting details.

The Mini-Setup wizard runs automatically to complete the installation of
the image.
3. Test the configuration. At a minimum, it is recommended that you do
the following:
• Verify that the operating system and applications start properly.
• Run Chkdsk to check for corrupted hard disk files, and then run a disk
defragmenter application.
• Verify that the end-user license agreement appears when you complete
the computer Setup. This ensures that you will not violate the licensing
agreements when users install the image.
• Use Device Manager to verify that all installed devices are working
properly.

If the computer passes each test, the image is ready to be deployed to new or
existing target computers.
Slide Objective
To explain how to test an
image before restoring the
image on new or existing
computers.
Lead-in
Before deploying an image,
test it thoroughly to ensure
that there are no problems
that can replicate to new or
existing computers.
Explain the steps required
to test an image before
restoring it to all target
computers.

• Use a startup compact disc that contains the image. This method works
only if the computer supports starting from the CD-ROM drive.
• Use a startup disk that includes drivers for the removable media device,
such as a CD-ROM drive.
• From a network system disk that can connect the target computer to the
software distribution point that contains the image.
2. From the target computer, connect to the source of the image and run the
third-party disk imaging application that was used to create the image.
Slide Objective
To explain the steps
required to deploy
an image to new or
existing computers.
Lead-in
After you have created
and downloaded an image
to the network distribution
share, you are ready to
deploy the image on new
or existing computers.
Explain the steps required to
deploy an image. Explain
that different third-party disk
imaging applications may
use different steps when
restoring an image.

Mention the Important note
following the student notes.



Objectives
After completing this lab, you will be able to:
 Configure a reference computer for imaging.
 Preserve the default user profile settings.
 Install the Windows 2000 System Preparation Tool (Sysprep.exe).
 Create and modify a Sysprep.inf file.
 Remove all configuration settings that are unique to a computer by using
Sysprep.exe.
 Create an image by using PowerQuest Drive Image Pro.
 Test an image by restoring it on a target computer.

Prerequisites
Before working on this lab, you must have knowledge about using the disk
imaging process to install and configure Windows 2000 Professional.

Lab Setup
To complete this lab, you need two blank, 1.44-megabyte (MB) floppy disks.
Slide Objective
To introduce the lab.
Lead-in
In this lab, you will prepare
the reference computer,
create an image of its hard
disk by using PowerQuest
Drive Image Pro, and then
restore the image.
Explain the lab objectives.
16 Module 4: Creating and Deploying an Image of Windows 2000 Professional


c. In Windows Explorer, navigate to the CD-ROM
\Labfiles\PowerQuest folder (where CD-ROM is the drive letter
assigned to the CD-ROM drive) and then in the details pane,
double-click setup.exe.
d. In the Important Information message box, click OK.
e. In the Installation Options dialog box, click Create Diskettes.
f. On the Select Drivers To Install page, click Next.
g. Insert a blank, formatted 1.44-megabyte (MB) disk into drive A,
and then
click OK.

PowerQuest Drive Image Pro Setup copies files to the disk.

h. When the Disk One Created (Bootable) message box appears,
remove the disk, label it Drive Image Pro Disk 1, and then click
OK.
i. Insert a blank, formatted 1.44-MB disk into drive A, and then click
OK.

PowerQuest Drive Image Pro copies files to the disk.

j. When the Disk Two Created (Program) message box appears,
remove the disk, label it Drive Image Pro Disk 2, and then click
OK.
k. Close Windows Explorer

18 Module 4: Creating and Deploying an Image of Windows 2000 Professional Exercise 2

h. On the Completing the Windows 2000 Support Tools Setup
Wizard page, click Finish.
2. Add a desktop shortcut to
Windows Explorer and add a
folder named Northwind
Traders to the desktop.
a. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, right-drag
Windows Explorer to the desktop, and then click Create
Shortcut Here.
b. Right-click a blank area of the desktop, point to New, and then
click Folder.
c. Type Northwind Traders and then press ENTER to name the
folder.
3. Configure the appearance of
the desktop to the Rainy Day
scheme.
a. In Control Panel, double-click Display.
b. In the Display Properties dialog box, on the Appearance tab,
under Scheme, click Rainy Day, and then click OK.

Module 4: Creating and Deploying an Image of Windows 2000 Professional 19 Exercise 3
Preserving Custom User Settings
Scenario
You need to create a temporary user account so that you can copy the Administrator profile, which
you have just configured, to the Default User profile.
Goal
In this exercise, you will copy the Administrator profile to the Default User profile, so that the

Explorer
Note: The Default User folder, which you use later in this task, is a hidden folder. As a result, you must
configure Windows Explorer to show hidden files and folders to complete this lab.