Ransomware – malware that gets on your customers’ computers, encrypts their data, and extorts a hefty ransom for the decryption keys – is a surging new threat. The purpose of this eBook is to educate the reader about ransomware attacks.
Course Of The Month
9 days, 16 hours left to enrollBecome a Premium Member and unlock a new, free course in leading technologies each month.
Solved
Windows 7 standard image creation
Posted on 2010-09-07
Hi Experts,
We would like to create a custom standard Windows 7 pro image to use on some new desktop computers that we will be ordering soon (around 35 computers).
Most users will use the same standard set of software (Such as Office 2010, SAP B1, Anti-virus software/ adobe reader etc) but some departments will use software that the other departments do not need installed on there computers. How can we create a custom standard window 7 Image along with other software to put onto all computers? and what software tools do we need or would you recommend to achieve this?
Also do we need to purchase a particular Microsoft Windows 7 license agreement such as a group or cooperate license agreement to do this so that we can use the same windows licenses key on all computers or can we just buy the computers with OEM licenses? And use one of the license keys to use on all computers?
Any recommendations would be great.
Thanks
Kevin
We would like to create a custom standard Windows 7 pro image to use on some new desktop computers that we will be ordering soon (around 35 computers).
Most users will use the same standard set of software (Such as Office 2010, SAP B1, Anti-virus software/ adobe reader etc) but some departments will use software that the other departments do not need installed on there computers. How can we create a custom standard window 7 Image along with other software to put onto all computers? and what software tools do we need or would you recommend to achieve this?
Also do we need to purchase a particular Microsoft Windows 7 license agreement such as a group or cooperate license agreement to do this so that we can use the same windows licenses key on all computers or can we just buy the computers with OEM licenses? And use one of the license keys to use on all computers?
Any recommendations would be great.
Thanks
Kevin
[X]
Welcome to Experts Exchange
Add your voice to the tech community where 5M+ people just like you are talking about what matters.
- Help others & share knowledge
- Earn cash & points
- Learn & ask questions
6-
4
3
13 Comments
Hi,
With regards to licensing you will need to register with the Microsoft Volume Licensing Program and purchase your licence key through that program. This gives you greater flexibility and management over your licence keys for MS products.
Program Homepage: http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/
How to Buy: http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/how-to-buy/Default.aspx - You need to select your region.
As for the imaging, do you have a Windows Server you can load Windows Deployment Serviuces onto?
- Mart
With regards to licensing you will need to register with the Microsoft Volume Licensing Program and purchase your licence key through that program. This gives you greater flexibility and management over your licence keys for MS products.
Program Homepage: http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/
How to Buy: http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/how-to-buy/Default.aspx - You need to select your region.
As for the imaging, do you have a Windows Server you can load Windows Deployment Serviuces onto?
- Mart
You have a number of activation methods you can use, either MAK or KMS to name 2, its worth checking this link for a basic overview... then potentially reading more into volume activation and deployment guides
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd772269.aspx
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd772269.aspx
Ok, ill have a look at the Microsoft Volume Licensing Program, in the past we have just purchased desktop computers with windows pre-installed so used a seperate license key for each machine.
We have a SBS 2003, Server 2003 and Server 2008, what server requirements do we need? does it matter which server we install windows deplyment services onto?, are the software tools available for free?
We have a SBS 2003, Server 2003 and Server 2008, what server requirements do we need? does it matter which server we install windows deplyment services onto?, are the software tools available for free?
woolnoir: ok thanks for that link ill have a read, do you have a preference on the MAK or KMS method?
You will be using one of two technolagies depending on the version of the OS on your deployment server either http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Deployment_Services or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_Installation_Services (with the former being the 2008 and newer version).
I would go with Windows Deployment Services as its designed to be used to deploy vista and windows 7 and is available as a role on the 2008 severs. There are a lot of tools microsoft makes available and for a small/medium sized company they are free.
I would go with Windows Deployment Services as its designed to be used to deploy vista and windows 7 and is available as a role on the 2008 severs. There are a lot of tools microsoft makes available and for a small/medium sized company they are free.
Yes the tools should be included on the original install media for the server. If your deploying Win7 I think it would probably be best to use the Windows 2008 server but essentially any server with a big enough disk area to store the image for each computer group you plan to install.
this is a good starting point for windows deployment services http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc766320(WS.10).aspx
this is the 2008 version http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc771670(WS.10).aspx
When we purchase the desktop computers with Windows 7 pre-installed would we still be able to use volume licensing?, or should we buy computers without Windows 7 pre-installed, buy some volume licesences and install windows 7 ourselves? dont want to pay twice for operating system licesence.
It depends on price, if you can get the machines without windows 7 installed, then its often cheaper to use a volume licensing agreement to sort the legality. Often though - depending on the OEM, there isnt much price difference, and sometimes an increase to have the machines without a OS installation - its all about COST. at any rate, you want to end up with a volume license being applied.
Featured Post
Drastically shorten your training time with WalkMe's advanced online training solution that Guides your trainees to action. Forget about retraining and skyrocket knowledge retention rates.
Question has a verified solution.
If you are experiencing a similar issue, please ask a related question
Invest in your employees with these five simple steps to improve employee engagement and retention.
If you are IT support and need to work after hours to resolve customer issues then here are a few tips on how to handle after hours support
This Micro Tutorial will give you a introduction in two parts how to utilize Windows Live Movie Maker to its maximum editing capability.
This will be demonstrated using Windows Live Movie Maker on Windows 7 operating system.
The viewer will learn how to successfully create a multiboot device using the SARDU utility on Windows 7.
Start the SARDU utility:
Change the image directory to wherever you store your ISOs, this will prevent you from having 2 copies of an ISO wit…
Suggested Courses
Earn Certification
HTML5 Specialist - Certification
Free withPremium
Course of the Month9 days, 16 hours left to enroll
623 members asked questions and received personalized solutions in the past 7 days.
Join the community of 500,000 technology professionals and ask your questions.