Consolidating Disk Images 09/12/2005

[SameOld]

I am in the process of creating a single Windows 2000 disk image for18 PC
types.

From a technet posting this information was provided:

Include multiple HAL types in an image. You can put multiple HAL types in
one image, use a script to help you determine the HAL type of the target
computer, and then use the appropriate HAL in the image (this is required
for images you use Sysprep to build).



. Include all necessary device drivers in one image. Group as many
device drivers as possible into one image while maintaining a reasonable
image size. You can then deploy one image to multiple computer types.

What I really would like is some methodology to do the above!

I have read the MS press Desktop deployment guide but only says to
create a single image to not install the device drivers in the master
image?? i dont get that? Does that imply to use sysprep to install the
drivers?

I am about to get into the MS BDD to see if that has some info. But
would appreciate anyone who has some practical advise on this.

FYI: I dont have a problem with the massstorage devices.

Cheers,

Andrew

 

[Guest]

My understanding is that you CAN NOT have one image for multiple
HAL's..............

 

[Johan Arwidmark]

Well, not entirely correct....

Microsoft does not support this scenario, but it is possible under
certain conditions. For example, it often works well "upgrading" ACPI
UP Hals to ACPI MP Hals. You do need to modify sysprep.inf for this
but it works on most hardware.

I know about two customes in sweden, one has 20000 pc's and the other
has about 25000 pc's. They are both using one single image each (quite
cool IMHO)


regards

Johan Arwidmark
Microsoft MVP - Setup/Deployment

 

[Guest]

Johan,
Think you've miss understood the question, which was: can you include
different HAL's in the same image. I'm under the impression that you can't.
If I'm wrong I'd really like to hear how to do it.
Iain

 

[Johan Arwidmark]

Yes, you can have one image for multiple HALs and it is not supported
by Microsoft.

For details, see my reply to the Single disk image posting in this
newsgroup even though that answer is for Windows XP and not for
Windows 2000.

regards

Johan Arwidmark
Microsoft MVP - Setup/Deployment

 

[Guest]

Johan,
I'm not wanting to get into a 'flaming' match, but you're wrong.
When you create an image it is for one HAL or another. I couldn't find the
article you refered to, but I'm certain it won't be for creating an image of
a Windows installation with more than one HAL, by definition it isn't
possible. You cancertainly build CD/DVD's with multiple images, each for a
different HAL, but you can't have an image of a Windows installation for
multiple HAL's. If you want to prove me and Microsoft wrong, please feel
free, I'm intrigued as it's the first time I've ever heard anyone claim
otherwise.

 

[Johan Arwidmark]

No problem, it's always nice being able to discuss deployment methods,
and I'm happy that I got your attention.

Some background info:
Sysprep has a builtin feature for updating the HAL during sysprep
mini-setup. That means that you can take an image of a computer with
one HAL type and restore that image on a computer with another HAL
type and then allow sysprep mini-setup to update the HAL during
mini-setup (I have also seen reports on customers using devcon for
this but I haven't tried that one myself).

Anyway, it is quite easy for you to verify that this works. You will
be amazed how well these (not commonly known) techniques works...

Step-by-step procedure for using a single generic image for computers
with two different HALs

1. Install Windows XP SP2 on a computer with a Advanced Configuration
and Power Interface (ACPI) HAL and run sysprep to seal the computer

2. Boot WinPE and capture an image of that computer with your choice
of 32-bit imaging utility (like OSD, altiris, ghost or pqideploy)

3. Go to a computer with a ACPI Uniprocessor HAL, eg . a different
HAL. Boot WinPE and restore the previously captured image. Do Not
reboot into sysprep mini-setup after restoring the image.

4. Still in WinPE, activate the partition and assign a drive letter,
then add the following to the [Unattended] section in sysprep.inf
UpdateUPHAL=ACPIAPIC_UP,%windir%\Inf\Hal.inf

5. Reboot and allow sysprep mini-setup to run. Sysprep mini-setup will
now load the ACPI Uniprocessor HAL instead of the Advanced
Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) HAL that was in the image.

When testing, if you would to skip step 4 you would end up with either
a Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) HAL running on a
ACPI Uniprocessor HAL computer or simply a black screen (hang).

Customers that are using a single generic image normally updates
sysprep.inf automatically by a script through either Altiris, ZTI
(Microsoft) or other deployment frameworks. This also involves
hardware detection techniques, normally through WMI.


Additional resources.

The article i was refering to can be found on
http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...-ccf91ac56325&dglist=&ptlist=&exp=&sloc=en-us
or
http://groups.google.se/group/micro...ohan+Arwidmark"&rnum=3&hl=sv#541846c0aecfc172

Check info on UpdateHAL and UpdateUPHAL in ref.chm in deploy.cab

See the "Table 2-16 HAL Compatibility" section in this article
Windows XP Professional Resource Kit
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/reskit/c02621675.mspx


regards

Johan Arwidmark
Microsoft MVP - Setup/Deployment

 

[SameOld]

Gotcha,

From all teh readin I have done on the subject it is possible, but as Johan
states, it is not supported

I do know that MS do document in the updated MS sysprep 1.1 info that you
can create an image on a MP Hal and use this on a UP Hal. It gets tricky
when you try to use this same image on a APCIC Hal which is what i am
looking at.

I appreciate your feedback and will let you knolw how I go with Johans
steps.