How to Capture a Windows 7 Image using PXE and WDS

Setup Windows Deployment Services

• On your server open “Server Manager”, right click Roles and select Add Role

• Select WDS (You will need Active Directory, DNS and DHCP setup on your network), follow the install instructions and reboot.

• Right click your new server instance and select Configure Server

• Select where to save your images, this shouldn’t the same volume as Windows but can be.

• If DHCP is on the same server check Don’t listen on port 67 If you want to use PXE enable this as well.

• Select respond to all clients and check notify administrator. This will allow any PC to connect, but you will need to allow it on the server to install.

• WDS will finish setting up.

Add Boot Images

When you boot a PC with PXE it will load a set of boot images from the server. These can boot WinPE, Capture an image and Install an Image from the server.

• First copy BOOT.WIM from the media you are using, this can be WinPE, Windows 7, Vista or Server 2008 Install Media. (This is found in the SOURCES folder)

• Right click and Add a boot image and search for your image.

• Name it something relevent, the OS and CPU type are important. (This image is used for installing)

• Right click this image and select Create Capture Boot Image

• Input an Image name and select where you want to save the image.

• Add this image the same way as the last.

PXE Boot

• Boot your PC using PXE or LAN booting. You many need to authorize your machine.

• Your PC will load the boot window and display your images.

Capure Image

You will need a WDS server with a Windows 7 capture boot image.

• Boot your PC using PXE or LAN booting. You many need to authorize your machine.

• Your PC will load the boot window; select the Capture image.

• Select your volume ONLY sysprepped volumes will be shown.

• Chose a local location to save the image, connect to your WDS server and select an image group to upload to

• The process will now capture the image and upload it.