Create a Bootable USB Flash Disk

Create a Bootable USB Disk

This is part 4 of a 6 part series that will give you information on capturing and deploying images using ImageX. In this part, you will create a bootable USB disk drive from your prepared folders. You can use the USB disk to boot to WinPE.

• Part 1 Download and Install Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK)
• Part 2 Prepare the Windows PE Folders
• Part 3 Prepare a Bootable CD
• Part 4 Prepare a Bootable USB (optional)
• Part 5 Run Sysprep and Capture an Image using ImageX
• Part 6 Deploy an Image using ImageX

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Warning! You will destroy all the data on your USB disk in these steps. Make sure you don’t have anything you can’t afford to lose stored on your USB disk before starting. Additionally, make sure you follow the procedure to accurately identify which disk is your USB disk. If you use the wrong disk when accessing the drive in DiskPart, you may erase all the data on the wrong disk, such as your hard drive. It could ruin your day!

1. Insert your USB disk into your system. Use Windows Explorer to identify which drive letter your USB is using. You'll need this letter later.
   
2. Launch a command prompt with administrative privileges. Click Start -> All Programs-> Accessories, right-click Command Prompt and select Run As Administrator.
   
3. From the command prompt, launch the Diskpart tool with the following command:
   DiskPart
   
4. In the DiskPart cool, enter the following commands :
   DiskPart
   List disk
   
5. Identify which disk is your USB disk. For example, on one system I did this on, the C: drive is 150GB and the USB disk was 2GB. Diskpart showed Disk 0 as 149 GB and Disk 1 as 1968 MB. Clearly disk 1 is the USB disk.


6. Assuming that Disk 1 is your USB disk, use the following commands to prepare your USB. If your disk is a different disk, substitute your number in the Select statement.
   Warning! If you select the wrong disk you will destroy all the data on the disk you select. For example, if you select the disk holding all the data on the C:\ drive, you will destroy all the data on this drive.
   Select disk 1 ‘ This select your USB
   diskClean ‘ This will erase all data
   create partition primary ‘ Creates one partition using all disk space
   Select partition 1 ‘ Selects the created partition
   active ‘ Makes the partition active
   Format fs=fat32 ‘ Formats the partition as Fat32 (takes time)
   assign ‘ Assigns a drive letter
   exit ‘ Exits DiskPart
   
7. Enter the following command to copy all of the data from your prepared iso directory to the USB disk. Substitute the letter x:\ for the actual letter of your USB disk identified earlier. (You may need to use Windows Explorer or Disk Management to identify the USB drive letter).
   xcopy c:\winpe_x86\iso\*.* /s /e /f x:\
   At this point, you have a fully bootable USB drive.

In the next part you'll create a bootable USB flash drive that has the same contents as the bootable CD created in this part.

Part 1 Download and Install Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK)
Part 2 Prepare the Windows PE Folders
Part 3 Prepare a Bootable CD
Part 4 Prepare a Bootable USB (optional)
Part 5 Run Sysprep and Capture an Image using ImageX
Part 6 Deploy an Image using ImageX

This information is valuable when preparing for the MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician exams.

Prepare a Bootable CD

Prepare a Bootable CD

This is part 3 of a 6 part series that will give you information on capturing and deploying images using ImageX. In this part, you will create an image file from your prepared folders and use it to create a bootable CD.

• Part 1 Download and Install Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK)
• Part 2 Prepare the Windows PE Folders
• Part 3 Prepare a Bootable CD
• Part 4 Prepare a Bootable USB (optional)
• Part 5 Run Sysprep and Capture an Image using ImageX
• Part 6 Deploy an Image using ImageX

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1. Launch the Windows AIK PE Tools command prompt. Click Start -> All Programs -> Windows AIK -> Windows PE Tools Command Prompt.


2. Create an iso image of the prepared Windows PE folders with the following command. oscdimg -n -bc:\winpe_x86\etfsboot.com c:\winpe_x86\ISO
   c:\winpe_x86\winpe_x86.iso
   The entire command should be entered on one line. Since the source path has spaces, the quotes must be included. Enter a single space after …etfsboot.com, and after …\iso.


3. The command will complete rather quickly. It will create an iso file named winpe_x86.iso in the c:\winpe_x86 directory.


4. Use an image burning program to burn the .iso image to a CD or DVD. Note that burning an .iso image is different than copying the .iso image file to the CD. If you don't have an image burning tool, check out ImgBurn.
   ImgBurn is an easy to use program and well worth an optional donation. Once installed, you can just double-click on the .iso file and ImgBurn will launch. If you have a CD in the disk ready to burn, all you have to do is click a single button.


5. Once you burn the .iso file to the CD, you have a bootable WinPE CD.

In the next part you'll create a bootable USB flash drive that has the same contents as the bootable CD created in this part.

Part 1 Download and Install Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK)
Part 2 Prepare the Windows PE Folders
Part 3 Prepare a Bootable CD
Part 4 Prepare a Bootable USB (optional)
Part 5 Run Sysprep and Capture an Image using ImageX
Part 6 Deploy an Image using ImageX

This information is valuable when preparing for the MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician exams.

Prepare the Windows PE Folders

Prepare the Windows PE Folders

This is part 2 of a 6 part series that will give you information on capturing and deploying images using ImageX. In this part, you will prepare the folders used to create a bootable WinPE disk.

• Part 1 Download and Install Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK)
• Part 2 Prepare the Windows PE Folders
• Part 3 Prepare a Bootable CD
• Part 4 Prepare a Bootable USB (optional)
• Part 5 Run Sysprep and Capture an Image using ImageX
• Part 6 Deploy an Image using ImageX

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1. Launch the Windows PE Tools Command Prompt. Click Start -> All Programs -> Windows AIK -> Windows PE Tools Command Prompt.
   
2. Enter the following command at the command prompt:
   Copype.cmd x86 c:\winpe_x86
   This will create c:\WinPE_x86 directory structure and copy files into it. It will also modify the path so that you’ll have access to the peimg, oscdimg and imagex commands.
   
3. Use the following command to add the ImageX program to your directory. ImageX is needed to capture, deploy and manage images. The entire command should be entered on one line. Since the source path has spaces, the quotes must be included.
   Copy “C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\x86\imagx.exe”
   c:\winpe_x86\iso
   If you entered the command correctly, it will respond with “1 file(s) copied.”
   Note: When typing in these long command line commands it’s very likely you’ll have a typo. Expect them and you won’t be disappointed. Common problems are missing spaces or missing quotes. In the previous command, there is a space between Program and Files, and between Windows and AIK. Quotes are used to identify the entire path.
   
4. Install the Package Manager with the following commands. This will allow you to modify Windows image (.wim) files from your bootable disk.
   The XCopy command should be entered on one line.
   XCopy “C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\x86\Servicing”
   c:\winpe_x86\iso\Servicing\ /s
   If prompted if this is a file or directory, enter D for directory. If entered correctly, over 40 files will be copied.
   
5. Enter the following copy command. As with other commands, this should be entered on one line.
   Copy %windir%\System32\msxml6*.dll c:\winpe_x86\iso\servicing
   This command will copy two files.
   
6. Since you included ImageX in step 3 and the purpose of these steps is to capture images, you’ll want to include an exclusion list. This list will prevent ImageX from failing due to some files being locked.
   At the command prompt, enter the following command:
   Notepad
   
7. Notepad will launch. Enter the following exclusion and compression exclusion lists.
   [ExclusionList]
   tfs.log
   hiberfil.sys
   pagefile.sys"
   System Volume Information
   "RECYCLER
   Windows\CSC
   [CompressionExclusionList]
   *.mp3
   *.zip
   *.cab
   \WINDOWS\inf\*.pnf
   
8. Click File -> Save As. On the Save As dialog box, click Browse Folders and browse to the c:\winpe_x86\iso\ folder.
   
9. In the File Name text box, enter “wimscript.ini” and click Save.

You have created your folders that will be used to create a bootable disk. If you want to additional files to your bootable disk, you can add them to the c:\winpe_x86\iso folder. For example, you may want to create a batch file that makes it easier to capture or deploy an image.

In the next part you'll create a bootable CD.

Part 1 Download and Install Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK)
Part 2 Prepare the Windows PE Folders
Part 3 Prepare a Bootable CD
Part 4 Prepare a Bootable USB (optional)
Part 5 Run Sysprep and Capture an Image using ImageX
Part 6 Deploy an Image using ImageX

This information is valuable when preparing for the MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician exams.

Download and install WAIK

Download and install the Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK)

This is part 1 of a 6 part series that will give you information on capturing and deploying images using ImageX. The focus of WAIK is with Windows Vista, but it can be used to capture and deploy other operating systems.

WAIK includes the tools needed to create a bootable disk (CD or USB). You can boot to a WinPE OS and then use ImageX to capture an image. You can then deploy the image to another system

• Part 1 Download and Install Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK)
• Part 2 Prepare the Windows PE Folders
• Part 3 Prepare a Bootable CD
• Part 4 Prepare a Bootable USB (optional)
• Part 5 Run Sysprep and Capture an Image using ImageX
• Part 6 Deploy an Image using ImageX

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1. Locate the Windows Vista Automated Installation Kit download page. Click here or if it moved, enter “Download Vista Windows Automated Installation Kit” to locate the current location.


2. Download the following image file:
   vista_6000.16386.061101-2205-LRMAIK_EN.img


3. Burn the .img file to a DVD. If you don't have an image creation tool, check out ImgBurn. Its a free download and worth a donation.
   
4. Place the DVD into your DVD drive on a Vista system and launch it. If Autoplay doesn’t run automatically, right click the drive in Windows Explorer and select Open AutoPlay. On the AutoPlay dialog box, select Run StartCD.exe.
   
5. Click on the Windows AIK Setup link in the menu on the left. The Windows Installer will launch.
   Note: The Windows AIK requires the .NET Framework 2.0 and MSXML 6.0 to be installed. If you don’t have it, the program will exit. You can install both from the Windows Automated Installation Page. You can then restart the Windows AIK Setup.
   
6. On the Welcome to the Windows Automated Installation Kit Setup Wizard screen, click Next.
   
7. On the License Agreement page, review the license agreement, select I Agree, and click Next.
   
8. On the Select Installation Folder page, accept the default installation folder of C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\. To allow this to be available for anyone that logs onto your system, accept the default choice of Everyone. Click Next.


9. On the Confirm Installation page, click Next. The WAIK will install.
   
10. On the Installation Complete page, click Close.
    

You have installed the Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK). The next step is to create the folders used to create a bootable WinPE image.

Part 1 Download and Install Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK)
Part 2 Prepare the Windows PE Folders
Part 3 Prepare a Bootable CD
Part 4 Prepare a Bootable USB (optional)
Part 5 Run Sysprep and Capture an Image using ImageX
Part 6 Deploy an Image using ImageX

This information is valuable when preparing for the MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician exams.

70-646 Beta results released

It's been almost three months since I took the 70-646 beta exam (PRO: Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator), but the results are out. It appeared on my transcript this past week and I'm happy to say I passed.

Exams usually go live within about 30 days of the beta results being released, so the 70-646 should go live soon. You can check out the objectives here.

The 70-646 is one of the exams required for the MCITP: Server Administrator certification.

All the exams required for the MCITP: Server Administrator certification are:
- 70-640 (TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring)
- 70-642 (TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring)
- 70-646 (PRO: Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator)

If you are an MCSA in Windows Server 2003, you can take the upgrade exam, 70-648, in the place of 70-640 and 70-642 exams:
- 70-648 (TS: Upgrading Your MCSA on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist)
- 70-646 (PRO: Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator)

It's a little early to order it, but the following book will be coming out later this year to help you prepare for the 70-646 exam:
MCITP: Windows Server 2008 Administration Study Guide (Exam 70-646, with CD)

Darril

MCITP: Database Developer book released

The DHL man left a great gift on my doorstep yesterday - two boxes filled with
MCITP SQL Server 2005 Database Developer All-in-One Exam Guides (Exams 70-431, 70-441 & 70-442). Today, I've mailed off half a dozen copies to reviewers.

The book isn't available on Amazon or Bookpool yet, but it'll be just a matter of days now.

Darril

MCITP: Database Developer at the printer

If you've been waiting for the
MCITP SQL Server 2005 Database Developer All-in-One Exam Guide (Exams 70-431, 70-441 & 70-442) there's good news.

The publisher sent it to the printer last week and it could be released any day now.

The official release date is April 11th, 2008 (just a couple of days after mainstreams support for SQL Server 2000 ends), but I fully expect it to be out well before then.

If you want, you can reserve your copy on Amazon now.

Darril Gibson