SSW Rules to Better Windows Vista Deployments

1. Do you ensure you have a computer with the recommended specifications before upgrading to Windows Vista?

    Windows Vista is much more resource dependant (about 25% slower) than Windows XP. Therefore it is essential for PCs, which are being upgraded to Windows Vista, to meet the minimum recommended specifications. There is the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor, but unfortunately it didn't support proxies when we attempted usage.

   For now, in order to check your hardware you can use:

   • ATI's Vista Readiness Advisor (recommended as it is the most comprehensive)
   • DELL (not as good)

   

   Figure: The Browser will open the results of the ATI test.

   

   Figure: Results from DELL's Vista Readiness.

2. Efficient way to check if you can do a RAM upgrade

   Although the minimum operating requirements of Vista state 512MB of memory, we would suggest for practical reasons that you will need at least 1.5 GB of RAM - although 2 GB is ideal.

   An easy way to check the maximum RAM you can upgrade to and the number of slots you have is by using PCMark05. On some older machines, the motherboard specifications may be the limiting factor. It is sometimes common for an older notebook to support up to 2GB of memory.

   If you're not sure what type of RAM your notebook needs, use an online memory finder.
   

   1. Install and launch PCMark05
   2. Click "Details"

      

      Figure: Click "Details..." to see if you have a free slot for more RAM

   3. Scroll down to the memory info

      

      Figure: Then you will see detailed memory information - in this case both slots are used - Now you need to visit the manufactures site to see if it can take anymore RAM

      
      

3. Do you know whether to upgrade or reformat?

   When you're installing a new OS on your PC it's always a dilemma as to whether to go the whole hog and reformat your hard drive or take the upgrade path into the new system. Upgrading is nice because there is no need to install all your programs again. The problem is all the old junk stays around.

   At SSW always go for a fresh start. We've already found a number of programs (including Visual Studio 2003) will not work in Vista. Besides, a nice, clean C: drive to go with your new, nice, clean operating system is always a big plus. Just be sure to follow your organization's backup standards carefully!

   Note: For individuals looking to upgrade to Windows Vista, the upgrade process is exactly the same as that for Windows XP.

   Note: If you intend to follow an automated deployment then you will be forced to reformat.

4. Do you know the best way to deploy Windows Vista across your organization?

   With Windows XP we commonly see situations where a system rebuild takes a day or more. With Windows Vista we have got that down to 45 minutes.

   Windows Vista has deployment tools which you can download, which make it significantly easier for organizations ranging from small to large sizes to migrate to Windows Vista.

   Here are you deployment choices:

   1. Individuals - Standard Installation using Windows Vista CD (not recommended as you then need to install all your programs)
   2. Small Organizations (less than 100 computers) - Business Desktop Deployment 2007 (not recommended)
   3. Small Organizations (less than 100 computers) - Windows Automated Installation Kit (recommended) 
   4. Large Organizations (100 computers or more) - Windows Deployment Services (WDS)

   At SSW, we use option 3, which means that you need the new deployment tool which utilizes Image Based Setups (IBS). When you use IBS you install all the programs you you create a large .WIM file. Once the custom image is created you deployed individually to each PC as detailed below:

   Note, for option 4, you use the same IBS method described for creation of your image. Windows Deployment Services is the equivalent of Remote Installation Services on Windows Server 2003. For this deployment process, a dedicated server is required.

   In order to use IBS you will need to:

   • Step 1: Create a CD with the tools needed to deploy the Image
   • Step 2: Creating a custom image of a Vista Installation
   • Step 3: Get your new PC and Deploy this custom image

    

   Step 1: Create a CD with the tools needed to deploy the Image

   1. Install Windows Automated Installation Kit
   2. Open Command Prompt and change from the current location to the PETools directory.
      Type CD C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\PETools
   3. Copy the PE Tools into a directory on your C: drive.
      Type Copype.cmd [arch] [destination]
      Where arch is the arhitecture of the computer on which Vista is being deployed, either x86, amd64 or ia64 and destination is the path to the local directory, for example, type:
      Copype.cmd x86 C:\WinPE_x86
   4. Copy ImageX into the same folder.
      Type copy "C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\x86\imagex.exe" C:\WinPE_x86\iso
   5. Using Notepad, create a configuration file with the following text and save it as wimscript.ini.
      [Exclusion List]
      ntfs.log
      hiberfil.sys
      pagefile.sys
      "System Volume Information"
      RECYCLER
      Windows\CSC
      [CompressionExclusionList]
      *.mp3
      *.zip
      *.cab
      \WINDOWS\inf\*.pnf

      Save the configuration file to the same location as the ImageX:
      C:\WinPE_x86\iso

   6. Create an image file (.iso) of the folder you just created.
      Type cd C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\PETools
      Oscdimg -n -bc:\winpe_x86\etfsboot.com c:\winpe_x86\iso c:\winpe_x86\winpe_x86.iso
   7. Burn the image onto a blank CD ROM.

   PS: You may skip Step 1 because the CD labeled WIN PE and Image X is kept in n the SSW Sydney boardroom.

    

   Step 2: Creating a custom image of a Vista Installation

   Warning: If you're using a VPC or VMWare then it is best to create a "Clone" before you generialize so that you can revert back to it after the image has been created. 

   Now that we have all the tools on a CD, we now need Vista and all the programs.

   1. Using a master computer, install Windows Vista.
   2. Install all your applications.
   3. Prepare the computer for imaging by running the Sysprep tools and cleaning up User settings.
      In Command Prompt, type C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\Sysprep.exe /oobe /generalize /shutdown
    
   • Caution: Do not forget to execute the above command before capturing the image. Not performing the above step may cause Boot Failure error message when you try to boot the installed image on your PC.
   • Note: You can only generalize your installation 3 times. After that you'll received an error when trying to generalize the installation.
   4. Boot up from the Windows PE CD that you created previously.
      

      

      Figure: This is what it looks like the first time you boot off the CD C it is the Windows Pre-Installation Environment 2.0 - now you capture the image

   5. In the command prompt, capture the image.
      Type D:\ImageX.exe /capture C: C:\MyImage.wim "My Vista Install" /verify

      (Where MyImage.wim is the image name, you can give any name you wish).

   6. Option A (Not Recommended): Copy the image to a network location. (Note: This will not work in VMWare as the network drivers aren't supported without VMWare Tools, instead boot up the Vista install and copy the image to the network drive from within Vista)
      Type: net use \\[network share]
      Where network_share is the location to which the Image will be saved on the network.
      Type your username and password
      Type copy C:\MyImage.wim \\[network_share]

   Now the image is on the network and all the guys can get their Vista image from here

   Warning: It may take 8 to 10 hours to copy the file to network location. Instead try copying the file to any external drive.

   7. Option B (Recommended): Note: If your are building the image on a virtual machine, then
   
   
   • Once the .wim file is created successfully, shutdown the virtual machine > Take a snapshot > Restart the virtual machine.
     
   • Browse to C:\ and copy C:\MyImage.wim
     
   • The external drives may not be recognized if you are working on virtual machine, hence copy the .wim file to \\Public\
     
   • If you are unable to connect to your local computer then, perform the following steps:
     
     • On your local computer and virtual machine Enable Public folder sharing option in Network Sharing Center.
     • Disable Windows Firewall.

     

     Figure: Enable Public Sharing option.

     

     Figure: Steps to disable Windows Firewall.

   • Then try copying the .wim file to local computer.
   • Once the file is copied to local computer, copy the file to any external drive.

   Now your image is ready to be applied from the external drive.

    

   Step 3: Get your new PC and deploy this custom image

   1. On the PC, to which the Image is to be deployed, back up all your data.
   2. Boot up using the Windows PE CD you created previously.
   3. Format the hard drive and create partitions by typing these commands in order:
      diskpart
      select disk 0
      clean
      create partition primary size=<size of hard disk> (For example 'create partition primary size=20000' where 20000 equals 20 GB.
      select partition 1
      active
      format (format quick)
      exit
   4. Option A (Not Recommended): Copy the image from the network share onto the local hard drive.
      Type net use \\<network share>
      Type your username and password
      Type copy \\<network share> C:
      Warning: It may take 8 to 10 hours to copy the file to network location. Instead try copying the file to any external drive.
      

      Option B (Recommended): If you have followed the recommended steps to copy the .wim file to external hard drive, then type the following command to apply the image to your local hard drive:
      Apply the image to the C: drive.
      Type D:\ImageX.exe /apply X:\Myimage.wim 1 C:
      (Where X = External hard drive).

   5. Reboot once the above process is complete.
   6. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
   7. Run Windows Update to get all necessary drivers and software updates.

   You are now ready to work ( it has taken about 45 mins)

5. Do you run all your incompatible applications in a Virtual PC?

   When upgrading to Windows Vista, you will find that many of your important applications will not install or give errors.
   Examples are:

   • Visual Studio .NET 2003
   • Visual Studio .NET 2005 - some live with the crashes in Vista - most don't
   • SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services
   • FullShot 9
   • Windows Desktop Search (you don't need anymore)
   • AVG Antivirus (you don't need anymore)
   • (tell us any others)

             

             

   Figure: Inside your image, make sure you keep track of all the installed applications (along with whom added them, and when). We keep a word document on the desktop.

   Developers are going to have to get used to running in a VPC - and Vista will force you to get used to it - in that respect it may be a blessing in disguise. To ensure a smooth migration process, your image should include a shortcut on the desktop to a Virtual PC so you can continue with all of these incompatible applications.

   Tip: VPCs are a bit slow, so you will want your VPC to be as fast as possible so please see Rules to Better Virtual PC's for an extensive guide to creating an efficient development environment.

6. Do you know your options with respect to developing and maintaining your .NET 1.1 applications?

   Visual Studio .NET 2003 is incompatible in Windows Vista. This poses a significant problem for developers looking to maintain their .NET 1.1 applications. A simple solution is to create a Virtual PC using Virtual PC 2007 of all the necessary development tools on the Windows XP platform.

   To debug your applications in Windows Vista, you can use Remote Debugging where the application is running on the Vista machine, but it being debugged by the Virtual PC. Please see the whitepaper "Taking Advantage of Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 for Developing and Maintaining .NET 1.1 and 2.0 Applications in Microsoft Windows Vista" for a guide to developing both .NET 1.1 and 2.0 applications in Windows Vista as well as remote debugging.

   Please also see Rules to Better Virtual PC's for an extensive guide to creating an efficient development environment.

7. Do you use default gateway on remote network?

   VPN is a wonderful tool for users to remotely control the other PCs via network. If we control the PC located in Sydney and use default gateway on remote network, some of the bandwidth in Sydney will be occupied by us. In order to avoid that, we need to configure the VPN as following:

   

   Figure: Uncheck "Use default gateway on remote network".

   Furthermore, the Microsoft Firewall Client for ISA Server, which connects with the remote server, should be disabled as well.

   After that we can detect our settings by accessing http://www.dnsstuff.com/tools/aboutyou.ch. The result will show Your IP, Your country and Proxy Server etc.

8. Do you make sure all non essential services are set to manual

   The vista image should work fast, even on slow PCs. So only have a service running if people use it the majority of the time

   

   Figure: See the ‘Start Mode’ are all set to Manual.

9. Do you add your Windows Vista Image's version into C:\?

             

   Figure: Vista Image Versioning File Image Versioning File

   It will be much easier for user to know the version of the Windows Vista Image installed in their machines if you put the versioning information in a text file, for example: C:\_VistaImageVersion.txt.

   NOTE: When you build the image you need to update C:\_VistaImageVersion.txt.

    

10. Do you remove the Windows Vista Sidebar?

    It is a waste of time and resources to have Windows Vista Sidebar activated.

    

    Figure: Disabling Windows Vista Sidebar

Acknowledgements

Adam Cogan
Eric Phan
Andy Taslim