System Management

Depending on what you need the .wim file for, you can create it manually or automatically.

- To manually create a .wim file (capture image) you need a bootable CD with Windows PE (with ImageX.exe included) that you can create using Windows Automated Installation Kit.

The basics steps are:

1. Boot your computer using Windows PE disk.
2. In the Windows PE command prompt navigate to the folder with ImageX.
3. To capture the C: partition, use the following example:
   imagex.exe /capture C: D:\CapturedImage.wim “My captured image”

   Where: C: is the partition to be captured; D:\CapturedImage.wim is the place of the captured file; “My captured image” is the name of the file.
   More switches can be found on the ImageX Command-Line Options page.

If you need the image for deployment, do not forget to run sysprep before capturing the image!

- To automatically create a .wim file you can use a capture media created using Configuration Manager.

If you want to capture a Windows XP OS, copy sysprep files to C:\sysprep. Newer operating systems have sysprep files installed by default.

To use capture media:

1. Insert the CD into your CD/DVD drive and shortly autoplay will open Image Capture Wizard.
2. Clicking Next will show you Image Destination page. Select where to save the wim file.
3. On the next page enter some information about the image.
4. On the Summary page click Finish. The task sequence will start sysprep and restart the computer. After restart, the computer will boot to Windows PE and will capture a image of the machine.

Besides using Software Distribution to install software, you can do this using a Task Sequence too. This can be done during and Operating System Deployment process or not.

Usually, I install software during an OSD. For this, you must have a package for that software product (of course) and at least one program that runs silently. If the program  requires user intervention, you will not have the possibility to add it to your TS. I hope you know the fact that the package should exist on a Distribution Point.

This is how one of my simplest TSs looks like:

To add an Install Software step, in your TS click Add from the menu and select General – Install Software.

Then, type a name for this step and using the Browse button select a package to add the TS. Remember that you can only add packages that has a program to run without user intervention.

I find it useful to have a step to install latest updates after all install software steps.

One more way to install software using a TS, is to have only Install Software steps. This way, you can install multiple software products using one advertisement instead of advertising every package. I use this only when I have an OS installed and I want to install software on it.

This is how such a TS looks like:

Following the post regarding how to install drivers based on computer model using WMI query, here is another query you can use in your task sequences to install some processor specific software for example.

To find the processor manufacturer during a task sequence, insert a condition for the step you need, and select Query WMI. Then, for WMI Namespace use root\cimv2. For WQL Query use SELECT * FROM Win32_Processor WHERE Manufacturer like “%GenuineIntel%” or SELECT * FROM Win32_Processor WHERE Manufacturer like “%AuthenticAMD%” depending on what you need.

To find the processor manufacturer of your computer, open a command prompt and type the following: WMIC CPU GET Manufacturer.

Our helpdesk asked me to make a task sequence that can be used on computers with more than one partition. In this case, I had to make sure that the operating system will install only on first partition and will not touch the data on other partitions.

To achieve this, I copied another TS and modified the following 2 steps:

• removed any “Format and Partition Disk” step
• in the “Apply Operating System Image” step, under “Select the location where you want to apply this operating system” made the following modifications:
  • Destination: Specific disk and partition
  • Disk: 0 (if all computers are installed on first hard disk)
  • Partition: 1 (if all computers have OS installed on first partition)
    

This way, when TS runs, it automatically wipes partition 1 from disk 0 and will not touch any other partition or disk.

When using task sequence, you might want to install different driver packages for different computer models. This can be accomplished by using a WMI query.

First of all you need to have driver packages for all your computer models and know the exact model name for every computer.

To find this, open a command prompt and type WMIC ComputerSystem GET Model (use this command on every computer to find it’s model).

Then, Edit your task sequence. Add how many steps you need with “Apply Driver Package”. Select the driver package you have created for a certain computer model (HP dc5700 in my case).

In the Options tab, click Add Condition and select Query WMI. In the WMI Query Properties window, make you sure you have root\cimv2 as WMI Namespace and write the following query in the WMI Query input box:

SELECT * FROM Win32_ComputerSystem WHERE Model LIKE “%dc5700%” for HP Compaq dc5700 computer models.

Now, for every driver package, replace the model name with the computer model name the driver package is for. This way, the task sequence will install the correct drivers on every computer that will match the model specified in the query and will skip other steps sending the following status message: “The task sequence execution engine skipped the action (HP Compaq dc5700) in the group (Apply driver packages) because the condition was evaluated to be false”.

Having to create a package with McAfee ePO agent, I wanted to make it available to task sequence too so it can be installed during the operating system setup. For this, I had to make it install unattended or silent not requiring any user input. As I have never worked with McAfee, first, I did not understand what the purpose of this agent is. I couldn’t understand why you should install the agent and not the antivirus software itself? When I did, I started to think how to deploy it easily and with no user interaction.

So, to do this, simply put FramePkg.exe into a folder, say “ePO”, and create a package as you normally would. Then create a program that has the following command line FramePkg.exe /install = agent /silent.

If you want to install ePO as part of one task sequence, make sure the program can run whether or not a user is logged on and do not allow users to interact with the program.

This way, after the computer is added to domain it will connect to the server and will receive all necessary settings (for example install antivirus software, patches and latest definition updates).

Short post that I think might be useful…

If you receive the following error: “An error occurred while retrieving policy for this computer (0×80072EE7)” when Task Sequence Wizard starts, this can happen if you have DHCP or DNS problems.

You should check if you can contact the DHCP server in order to get an IP address or you can configure a static IP address.

If you have a switch with STP enabled, you might want to read this post.

This post assumes you have created a reference computer and captured an image of it as described in the previous post.

Import and configure a task sequence to deploy the target computer

After the task sequence to deploy the reference computer (Home-XPSP3-Ref01) finishes, a captured image of the reference computer is stored in \\Home-SCCM\Captures$\Home-XPSP3-Ref01.wim. Now, We’ll create a task sequence that will deploy the captured image of reference computer to the target computer (Home-XPSP3-Tar01).

Create an MDT 2008 Task Sequence for the Target Computer

To create a task sequence to deploy the captured image to the target computer:

1. Click Start, point to All Programs, and then point to Microsoft System Center. Point to Configuration Manager 2007, and then click ConfigMgr Console.
2. In the Configuration Manager console console tree, go to Site Database/Computer Management/Task Sequences.
3. In the details pane, click Import Microsoft Deployment Task Sequence.
4. The Import Microsoft Deployment Task Sequence Wizard starts.
5. Complete the Import Microsoft Deployment Task Sequence Wizard by using the information in the table below. Accept the default values unless otherwise specified

Customize the target computer task sequence

By default, the task sequence sets the password for the local Administrator account to a random value. At this step we will specify the password we want.

To customize the Windows Vista Target Deployment task sequence:

1. In the Configuration Manager console console tree, go to Site Database/Computer Management/Operating System Deployment/Task Sequences.
2. In the details pane, click Windows XP SP3 Target Deployment.
3. In the details pane, click Edit.
4. In the Windows XP SP3 Reference Deployment Task Sequence Editor dialog box, go to PostInstall/Apply Windows Settings.
5. On the Properties tab, click Enable the account and specify the local administrator password.
6. On the Properties tab, in Password and Confirm Password, type P@ssw0rd, and then click Apply.

Select distribution point for packages and images

Running the Import Microsoft Deployment Task Sequence Wizard to create the task sequence for the target computers, creates a new software distribution package and a new image.

To select the distribution points for software distribution package:

1. In the Configuration Manager console console tree, go to System Center Configuration Manager/Site Database/Computer Management/Software Distribution/Packages.
2. In the details pane, click MDT 2008 Target Computer Custom Settings.
3. In the details pane, click Manage Distribution Points.
4. The Manage Distribution Points Wizard starts.
5. Complete the Manage Distribution Points Wizard by using the information in the table below. Accept the default values unless otherwise specified.

To select the distribution points for operating system images:

1. In the Configuration Manager console console tree, go to System Center Configuration Manager/Site Database/Computer Management/Operating System Deployment/Operating System Images.
2. In the details pane, click Windows XP SP3 Reference Image.
3. In the details pane, click Manage Distribution Points.
4. The Manage Distribution Points Wizard starts.
5. Complete the Manage Distribution Points Wizard by using the information in the table below. Accept the default values unless otherwise specified.

Deploy the captured image of the reference computer to the target computer

Create an advertisement for the target computer task sequence

To create an advertisement for the task sequence:

1. In the Configuration Manager console console tree, go to System Center Configuration Manager/Site Database/Computer Management/Operating System Deployment/Task Sequences.
2. In the details pane, click Windows XP SP3 Target Deployment.
3. In the details pane, click Advertise.
4. The New Advertisement Wizard starts.
5. Complete the Manage Distribution Points Wizard by using the information in the table below. Accept the default values unless otherwise specified.

Now, we can boot Home-XPSP3-Tar01 computer from the ConfigMgr2007_TS_Boot_Media.iso file created earlier.

On the Welcome to the Task Sequence Wizard page, in the Password field type P@ssw0rd and press Next. You will see that there are two assignments: Windows XP SP3 Reference Deployment and Windows XP SP3 Target Deployment. Select Windows XP SP3 Target Deployment and click Next to start the operating system deployment.

The operating system deployment starts. If any problems occur during the deployment, consult the MDT 2008 document or learn how to troubleshoot task sequence issues in Configuration Manager.

And that was the simplest way (and with any configuration made to the operating system) to make an image of a reference computer and then use that image to deploy target computers.

This post is especially for those few to whom I told how easy is to deploy Windows Vista with Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 R2 and who told me that they will use Windows XP few more months. In this post, I will show how to deploy Windows XP SP3 (the easiest and least customizable way) in a virtual environment (Virtual PC 2005 SP1) step-by-step. This post is inspired from “Quick Start Guide for Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007” document.

In this post, I will create a reference machine with Windows XP SP3 and will capture an image of it. And in the then next post, I will use the captured image to create a new task sequence that can be used to deploy Windows XP SP3 to target machines.

My environment is described below (note that all operating systems and products used are x86 versions):

So, let’s start.

Prepare the environment

Create required folders and shares

The MDT 2008 deployment process requires additional folders that are used as the source for files or to store files created during the MDT 2008 deployment process. Some of these folders need to be shared so that they can be accessed from other computers.

To create the required folders and shares:

1. On Home-SCCM computer, create the following folders:
   • Captures
   • Packages
   • Source
2. Configure the following shares and permissions:
   

   Share name	Share permissions	Security permissions
   Captures$ Packages$ Source$	Administrators: Full Control Everyone: Read SYSTEM: Full Control	Administrators: Full Control Creator owner: leave as default SYSTEM: Full Control Users: Read & Execute, List Folder Contents

3. Create the following subfolders:
   • Source\MDT2008
   • Source\Sysprep_XPSP3
   • Source\USMT301
   • Source\Windows_XPSP3
   • Packages\CustomSettings_Reference
   • Packages\CustomSettings_Target
   • Packages\ MDT_2008_Files
   • Packages \Sysprep_XPSP3
   • Packages \USMT301
   • Packages \Windows_XPSP3
   • Packages \WinPE_Custom

Note: Please note that I do not have the “Drivers” folder as I’m installing the OS in a virtual machine and I will not use any drivers.

Obtain the required software

Besides the OS, SQL, Configuration Manager and other software installed already, we will also need the software listed below:

Install User State Migration Tool

The USMT is used to save and restore user state migration information.

Install USMT on Home-SCCM in order to extract the files needed to create the System Center Configuration Manager package.

To install USMT 3.0.1:

1. In Windows Explorer, go to C:\Source\USMT301, and then double-click InstallUSMT301_x86.msi.
2. Complete the installation wizard by accepting all the default values.
   This installs USMT in C:\Program Files\USMT301.
3. Copy the USMT source files from C:\Program Files\USMT301 to C:\Source\USMT301.

Install Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2008 Update 1

To install MDT 2008 Update 1:

1. In Windows Explorer, go to C:\Source\MDT2008.
2. Double-click MicrosoftDeploymentToolkit_x86.msi and then click Install.
3. Click Next to skip the welcome page.
4. On the End-User License Agreement page, review the license agreement, select I accept the terms in the License Agreement, and then click Next.
5. On the Custom Setup page, click Next.
6. Click Install.
   The installation process status is displayed, then finishes.
7. Click Finish.

Enable Configuration Manager Console integration

To enable Configuration Manager console integration:

Note: Ensure that Configuration Manager Console is closed while performing these steps.

1. Click Start, and then point to All Programs. Point to Microsoft Deployment Toolkit, and then click Configure ConfigMgr 2007 Integration.
2. The Configure ConfigMgr 2007 Integration script starts.
3. In the Configure ConfigMgr Integration dialog box, in Site server name, verify that the value entered is your site server name.
4. In Site code, verify that the value is your site code, and then click Finish.

Import and configure a task sequence to create a reference computer

The reference computer is used as the template for deploying new images to the target computers. Configure this computer (Home-XPSP3-Ref01) exactly as the target computers will be configured. An image of the reference computer will be captured and the image deployed to the target computers.

Create a MDT 2008 task sequence for the reference computer

To create a task sequence for deploying the reference computer:

1. Click Start, point to All Programs, and then click Microsoft System Center. Click Configuration Manager 2007, and then click ConfigMgr Console.
2. In the Configuration Manager console tree, go to Site Database/Computer Management/Task Sequences.
3. In the details pane, click Import Microsoft Deployment Task Sequence.
   The Import Microsoft Deployment Task Sequence Wizard starts.
4. Complete the Import Microsoft Deployment Task Sequence Wizard by using the information in the table below. Accept the default values unless otherwise specified.
   

   On this wizard page	Do this
   Choose Template	Select Client Task Sequence, and then click Next.
   General	In Task sequence name, type Windows XP SP3 Reference Deployment. In Task sequence comments, type Task sequence for deploying Windows XP SP3 to the reference computer (Home-XPSP3-Ref01), and then click Next.
   Details	Click Join a workgroup. In Workgroup, type WORKGROUP. In User name, type Work User. In Organization name, type Work Organization. In Product key, type product_key (where product_key is the product key for Windows XP SP3). In Capture destination, type \\Home-SCCM\Captures$\Home-XPSP3-Ref01.wim. In Capture Account, click Set, and then complete the Windows User Account dialog box by performing the following steps: In User name, type Home\Administrator. In Password and Confirm password, type domain admin password. Click OK. Click Next.
   Boot Image	Click Create a new boot image package. In Package source folder to be created, type \\Home-SCCM\Packages$\WinPE_Custom, and then click Next.
   Boot Image: General Settings	In Name, type Windows PE Custom. In Version, type 1.00. In Comments, type Customized version of Windows PE to be used in deployment of reference and target computers, and then click Next.
   Boot Image: Image Options	Click Next.
   MDT Package	Click Create a new Microsoft Deployment Toolkit Files package. In Package source folder to be created, type \\Home-SCCM\Packages$\MDT_2008_Files, and then click Next.
   MDT Package: MDT Details	In Name, type MDT 2008 Files. In Version, type 1.00. In Comments, type Provides access to MDT 2008 software during Configuration Manager deployment process, and then click Next.
   OS Image	Click Create a new OS install package. In OS installation folder location, type \\Home-SCCM\Source$\Windows_XPSP3. In Package source folder to be created, type \\Home-SCCM\Packages$\Windows_XPSP3, and then click Next.
   OS Image: Image Details	In Name, type Windows XP SP3. In Version, type 1.00. In Comments, type Windows XP SP3 package used to deploy to reference computers, and then click Next.
   Client Package	Click Create a new ConfigMgr client package, and then click Next.
   USMT Package	Click Create a new USMT package. In Path to USMT executables and related files, type \\Home-SCCM\Source$\USMT301. In Package source folder to be created, type \\Home-SCCM\Packages$\USMT301, and then click Next.
   USMT Package: USMT Details	In Name, type USMT. In Version, type 3.0.1. In Comments, type USMT files used to capture and restore user state migration information, and then click Next.
   Settings Package	Click Create a new settings package. In Package source folder to be created, type \\Home-SCCM\Packages$\CustomSettings_Reference, and then click Next.
   Settings Package: Settings Details	In Name, type MDT 2008 Reference Computer Custom Settings. In Version, type 1.00. In Comments, type Configuration settings for MDT 2008 deployment process (such as CustomSettings.ini) for the reference computer, and then click Next.
   Sysprep Package	Click Create a new Sysprep package. In Path to Sysprep executables and related files, type \\Home-SCCM\Source$\Sysprep_XPSP3. In Package source folder to be created, type \\Home-SCCM\Packages$\Sysprep_XPSP3, and then click Next.
   Sysprep Package: Sysprep Details	In Name, type Windows XP SP3 Sysprep. In Version, type 1.00. In Comments, type Sysprep files needed to deploy Windows XP SP3, and then click Next.
   Summary	Displays a status bar that shows the progress of the tasks defined in the wizard. The Import Microsoft Deployment Task Sequence Wizard closes when the task sequence is imported. This process can take several minutes to finish.

Customize MDT 2008 configuration files

When the MDT 2008 task sequence has been imported, customize the MDT 2008 configuration files that provide the configuration settings for deploying Windows XP to the target computer. Specifically, customize the CustomSettings.ini file.

To customize the MDT 2008 configuration files for the reference computer:

1. In Windows Explorer, go to C:\Packages$\CustomSettings_Reference, and then double-click CustomSettings.ini.

2. In Notepad, add DoCapture=Yes to the end of the CustomSettings.ini file.

3. In Notepad, save the file, and then exit Notepad.

Customize the reference computer’s task sequence

By default, the task sequence sets the password for local Administrator account to a random value. At this step we will specify the password we want.

To customize the Windows Vista Reference Deployment task sequence:

1. In the Configuration Manager console tree, go to Site Database/Computer Management/Operating System Deployment/Task Sequences.
2. In the details pane, click Windows XP SP3 Reference Deployment.
3. In the details pane, click Edit.
4. In the Windows XP SP3 Reference Deployment Task Sequence Editor dialog box, go to PostInstall/Apply Windows Settings.
5. On the Properties tab, click Enable the account and specify the local administrator password.
6. On the Properties tab, in Password and Confirm Password, type P@ssw0rd, and then click Apply and OK.

Select distribution point for packages and image

The Import Microsoft Deployment Task Sequence Wizard created a number of packages and images. After these packages and images were modified as needed, we will select the distribution points from which the packages and images will be copied and available to target computers.

To select the distribution points for software distribution packages:

1. In the Configuration Manager console tree, go to System Center Configuration Manager/Site Database/Computer Management/Software Distribution/Packages.
2. In the details pane, click MDT 2008 Files.
3. In the details pane, click Manage Distribution Points.
4. The Manage Distribution Points Wizard starts.
5. Complete the Manage Distribution Points Wizard by using the information in the table below. Accept default values unless otherwise specified.
   

   On this wizard page	Do this
   Welcome	Click Next.
   Select Destination Distribution Point	Click Next.
   Package	In Distribution points, select HOME-SCCM, and then click Next.
   Completion	Click Next.
   Wizard Completed	Click Close.

Repeat steps 2–4 of this procedure, substituting each of the following packages for:

• MDT 2008 Reference Computer Custom Settings
• USMT
• Windows XP SP3 Sysprep
• Configuration Manager Client Upgrade

To select the distribution points for boot images:

1. In the Configuration Manager console tree, go to System Center Configuration Manager/Site Database/Computer Management/ Operating System Deployment/Boot Images.
2. In the details pane, click Windows PE Custom.
3. In the details pane, click Manage Distribution Points.
4. The Manage Distribution Points Wizard starts.
5. Complete the Manage Distribution Points Wizard by using the information in the table below. Accept default values unless otherwise specified.
   

   On this wizard page	Do this
   Welcome	Click Next.
   Select Destination Distribution Point	Click Next.
   Package	In Distribution points, select HOME-SCCM, and then click Next.
   Completion	Click Next.
   Wizard Completed	Click Close.

To select the distribution points for operating system installation packages:

1. In the Configuration Manager console tree, go to System Center Configuration Manager/Site Database/Computer Management/ Operating System Deployment/Operating System Install Packages.
2. In the details pane, click Windows XP SP3.
3. In the details pane, click Manage Distribution Points.
4. The Manage Distribution Points Wizard starts.
5. Complete the Manage Distribution Points Wizard by using the information in the table below. Accept default values unless otherwise specified.
   

   On this wizard page	Do this
   Welcome	Click Next.
   Select Destination Distribution Point	Click Next.
   Package	In Distribution points, select HOME-SCCM, and then click Next.
   Completion	Click Next.
   Wizard Completed	Click Close.

Deploy Windows XP SP3 and capture an image of the reference computer

Create task sequence bootable media

A method must be provided for starting the computer with Windows PE and the necessary software to initiate the MDT 2008 process. At this step we’ll create the task sequence bootable media by using the Task Sequence Media Wizard and will use the .iso file to boot a new virtual machine with no operating system installed, just a new unformatted virtual hard disk.

To create task sequence bootable media:

1. Click Start, point to All Programs, and then point to Microsoft System Center. Point to Configuration Manager 2007, and then click ConfigMgr Console.
2. In the Configuration Manager console tree, go to System Center Configuration Manager/Site Database/Computer Management/Operating System Deployment/Task Sequences.
3. In the details pane, click Create Task Sequence Media.
4. The Task Sequence Media Wizard starts.
5. Complete the Task Sequence Media Wizard by using the information in the table below. Accept the default values unless otherwise specified.
   

   On this wizard page	Do this
   Select Media Type	Click Bootable media, and then click Next.
   Media type	In Media file, type \\Home-SCCM\Captures$\ConfigMgr2007_TS_Boot_Media.iso, and then click Next.
   Security	In Password and Confirm password, type P@ssw0rd, and then click Next.
   Boot image	In Boot image, click Browse. In the Select a Boot Image dialog box, click Windows PE Custom, and then click OK. Click Next.
   Summary	Click Next.
   Confirmation	Click Close.

The wizard creates the “ConfigMgr2007_TS_Boot_Media.iso” file in the \\Home-SCCM\Captures$ shared folder.

Create an advertisement for the reference computer task sequence

As I want to deploy Windows XP SP3 to bare-metal machines (which ConfigMgr doesn’t know about), I have to create an advertisement for All Unknown Computers collection.

To create an advertisement for the task sequence:

1. In the Configuration Manager console tree, go to System Center Configuration Manager/Site Database/Computer Management/Operating System Deployment/Task Sequences.
2. In the details pane, click Windows XP SP3 Reference Deployment.
3. In the details pane, click Advertise.
4. The New Advertisement Wizard starts.
5. Complete the New Advertisement Wizard by using the information in table below. Accept the default values unless otherwise specified.
   

   On this wizard page	Do this
   General	In Comment, type Advertisement to deploy Windows Vista to the reference computer and then capture an image of the reference computer. In Collection, click Browse. In the Browse Collection dialog box, click All Unknown Computers, and then click OK. Select the Make this task sequence available to boot media and PXE check box. Click Next.
   Schedule	Click Next.
   Distribution Points	Click Next.
   Interaction	Click Next.
   Security	Click Next.
   Summary	Click Next.
   Confirmation	Click Close.

As “Home-XPSP3-Ref01″ is a virtual machine, at this point I will start it and boot from the created ISO file.

On the Welcome to the Task Sequence Wizard page, in the Password field type P@ssw0rd and press Next. You will see that there is only one assignment: Windows XP SP3 Reference Deployment. Select it and click Next to start the operating system deployment.

The last task sequence action will capture an image of the reference computer.

If any problems occur during the deployment, consult the MDT 2008 documentation or learn how to troubleshoot task sequence issues in Configuration Manager.

In the next post I will use the captured image to create a task sequence for target machines.

I don’t do this usually, but this time this is really interesting.

I want to recommend a very good blog post written by Kenneth Van Surksum about troubleshooting Task Sequences in Configuration Manager. Find it here http://www.techlog.org/archive/2009/03/01/troubleshooting_task_sequences.

He talks about the smsts.log file, where to find it during installation and what tool you can use to read the logs easily. Also, at the end, he wrote a list of helpful links to get you start troubleshooting.

Definitely I will add his feed to my “SCCM blogs I read” list.