Customising Deployment Server

[xXshadowXx553]

Hi guys!

 

I have set up a vanilla deployment server to test within the new network I am rolling out at my company. This is to replace an inefficient system of manually restoring a Norton Ghost created image. These are the things I require from it:

 

Request an administrator password (pulled from AD) before allowing the install. Currently this is happening from default settings, so I don't want to lose this when I change anything.

 

Automatic computer naming. We have a naming convention in place (LT-XXX and DT-XXX where XXX is a number and LT is laptop and DT is desktop). I don't mind if it requests this as a manual input during install, but currently it autocreates a name and that is not ideal.

 

automatic install of driver packages for dell PC's and laptops. I need to know what the best way to get them to install drivers during the install is. None of the tutorials really explain how this works and i can't get it to work. I need to be able to just hit F12 and not have to do anything after the install.

 

custom apps and settings and such. is making a capture image from a pc ready to go with sysprep /generalise the way to do this for all PC's?

 

other install settings. I need the locale to be set, the administrator account to not be disabled and have a set password, erase any existing partitions and create default ones, activate windows and office pro 2010 and other things. this all needs to be done automatically

 

I really looked hard for a good tutorial but they all mention AIK and other tools. This has to be a strictly microsoft server 2008 affair. I also need to be able to use nothing more than the F12 key and entering my username and password and the computer name. ie no disks and such and no installing or changing anything after the install, except windows/SEP updates. minimising network traffic would be ideal too.

 

thanks so much for any help you can offer

 

Tim

[ICTCity]

Hi, before going deeper using deployment kit from Microsoft and assuming you want to install Windows 7 clients, take a look at this program:

 

http://www.rt7lite.com/

 

Of course here you must change the name of your computer for each image created. I'm telling you this because of the "sys prep" is not really easy to use.

[xXshadowXx553]

I've already had a look at that. It doesn't appear to offer network boot and this is a feature that is a must for what I want to do. I'm not afraid of diving into the deep end in order to get this setup, I just don't know where to begin with what I have to change.

 

Thanks

Tim

[xXshadowXx553]

I also need to deploy other operating systems, including both 32 and 64 bit editions

[ICTCity]

So... here you are:

 

http://download.microsoft.com/download/b/1/0/b106fc39-936c-4857-a6ea-3fb9d1f37063/step-by-step_guide_for_windows_deployment_services_in_windows_server_2008.doc

 

There's almost everything there, if you do exactly what's written, you will get results :)