TECHBLOG

Windows Server 2008 allows you to brand the OOBE and Server Manager. To brand both you can use the following: Install the x64 Compiler for Visual Studio 2008 Run Visual Studio 2008 Create a Visual C++ / Win32 Project Select DLL Click Finish Create a new Resource Add a String Table Resource Enter all the needed texts for you branding Add a Bitmap to your resources Open the Project Properties Open Configuration Manager Select Release and Click New in the Platform dropdown Select x64 as Platform Click OK Click OK Compile the project Copy the output file to the target [...]

Windows Storage Server 2008 ships with Single Instance Storage – this will enable Storage Server to save space because it will save duplicate files only once. SIS will check all the files on the harddisk for duplicate ones – if they are found it will be saved only once in the Common Store. All files will only link to the physical file in the common store. If one of the duplicate files changes it will be automatically saved phyiscally as new files - no files or content gets lost. To enable SIS use the following command: sisadmin /i D: Note: [...]

Windows Embedded Standard 7 supports booting from a VHD file. Installing the OS into a VHD can be very easy. Boot IBW (Image Building Wizard) Before starting the setup process press Shift+F10 Run diskpart Type in the following commands in this sample the file is located on drive C: with the filename win7emb.vhd and a size of 5GB create vdisk file=C:\win7emb.vhd maximum=5210 type=fixed select vdisk file=C:\win7emb.vhd attach vdisk exit Start the setup and create the configuration you need IMPORTANT: VHD Boot needs the following component System Services - File System - - Advanced File System Finish the setup   IBW [...]

Windows Embedded Standard 7 allows you to add and remove features on your existing image. This can be done very easily by using the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool. The tool allows you to either online or offline edit your image. The online option enables you to add or remove features while the image is running. The offline version lets you add or remove features from an image which is currently not booted. The basic command line to add feature packages to your image looks like this: DISM /online /add-package /packagepath:<PathToThePackageDirectory> The packages are located on the Windows [...]

This video demonstrates you the usage of imagex together with either Windows Vista AIK or Windows 7 AIK. A detailed command description can be found here. The video shows the capturing of an installed “ready-to-clone” image where it will be saved to an external harddrive. The second part will show the deployment to a fresh system where the target disk still needs to be prepared.