RIS - Windows Deployment Services

sagewalkinthere

Hey guys,

I need to deploy XP over the network. I've got mulitple hardware profiles, and most require third party drivers (like RAID drivers) to work. Is it possible for me to make a generic install package and include other applications in it (Office 07) so that I can install unattended over the network?

I've been searching MS Technet and the Server 2003 books I have, and I can't find much info on doing it this way.

If MS software can't do it, maybe a third party can?

rfult001

Introduction

After creating the images you can deploy them over the network with SMS or something of the sort.

blargoe

If you've already installed WDS somewhere, I've found the built-in documentation to actually be pretty helpful.

Yes, it should be possible to do what you're asking. I've never bothered to get it down to a single image for everything though, I didn't have the time to tinker with it to that extent.

dynamik

You might want to look into something like this: midteq - Part 2. Setting up and configuring WDS

I've seen a few ways to do similar things. Just google generic xp wds image or something like that.

Claymoore

You'll need to add the drivers to both the WinPE boot image and the XP install image.

To install custom drivers to WinPE:
Building a Windows PE Image

To add custom drivers to Sysprep images:
How to Add OEM Plug and Play Drivers to Windows XP
Using the System Preparation Tool (Sysprep) in an Image-Based Installation

WDS came out with 2003 SP2 so your books may not have updated information. Try Creating the Secure Managed Desktop by Moskowitz for a good review of the new deployment tools.

Another thing to consider is when to include applications in your deployed images. I prefer to exclude Office and only include applications that cannot be centrally manged or deployed. IMO, applications like Office and Acrobat that can be easily deployed and even customized through transforms and group policy are better left out of base images.