Also referred to as a “Clean Machine” or “Clean Image”, it is a minimal install of the OS and OS patches and the IE browser. This image should not be used prior to imaging in order to keep the registry as clean as possible. Just launching an application will populate the User hive and possible the Machine hive as well. If possible, have the OS installed by automated means (Unattended install of windows). This way, your image will always be consistent and clean of usage. Here we explain how you can build that CleanPC in an automated way.
-Working install of Windows (must match the version you want to automate.)
-Setupmgr.exe for that version of Windows (look it up on your CD or MS’ site)
Install and Run Setupmgr.exe (aka Setup Manager) and select Create an answer file that duplicates this computer’s configuration.
Select Unattended install
Select Fully automated
Enter Administrator Password and make it auto-login 2 times (we can adjust this later)
For Network Settings, select Typical settings
Select Yes, edit the additional settings
For distribution Folder, select No, this answer file will be used install from a CD
To prevent conflict with other Machines names on the network change the Machine name in the winnt.sif file before you first start the unattended install. For example call the Snapshot PC “SNAPSHOT” and the Testing PC “TESTER”. Now put the modified winnt.sif file on a floppy and use it to install Windows. If you must, have one floppy for each PC.
Optional 1: Create CleanPC.bat to map the W: drive for you and lock the Computer password to prevent having to re-join the domain after the image is 20-30days old. This will work if the GPO doesn’t in turn prevent locking the Computer password.
Optional 2: Create Cleanup.bat to cleanup all of the temp files, etc. This makes your image files smaller.
To start Windows Setup unattended from the Windows product CD
The computer must support booting from the CD ROM drive (Check CMOS setup if necessary) and the NIC must be support by the drivers on the CD. Otherwise see caveat below.
When prompted be the Press any key to boot from CD message at the bottom of the screen, press the space bar to confirm that you want to boot from the CD.
Insert the floppy with the Winnt.sif file as soon as the computer boots from the CD (before you see the drivers being loaded at the bottom of the blue screen)
You should be able to go on from here.
After you have build a CleanPC image, configure the computer the way you need it so that it is not so annoying that you could inadvertently change during a SetupCapture session. This could include:
-Windows explorer settings (like current folder, hidden files, etc)
-Keyboard layout selection (i.e. No TBITS)
-Disable Windows Auto Updates
-Etc.