Create a task sequence to "Build & Capture Windows 7 Reference machine"

Create a task sequence to "Build & Capture Windows 7 Reference machine"

Definitions:

Task sequence: A task sequence is a series of one or more task steps that can be advertised to Configuration Manager 2007 clients to run user-specified actions. Task sequences are used with Operating System Deployment to build source computers, capture an operating system image, migrate user and computer settings, and deploy an image to a collection of target computers.

Reference Computer :A reference computer is a fully-configured computer from which a WIM file can be generated that will be used to distribute operating system images to target computers.

Target Computer: The target computer is the computer on which you install a Microsoft® Windows operating system image using Configuration Manager 2007 Operating System Deployment.

The below post explains the steps to create a Task sequence to build and capture Windows 7 Reference machine.

1. In the SCCM 2007 Console, navigate to Site Database / Computer Management / Operating System Deployment and right-click the Task Sequences node and select New – Task Sequence.

2. On the New Task Sequence Wizard, in the Create a New Task Sequence screen, select Build and capture a reference operating system image and then click Next.

3. Task Sequence Information: On this screen, enter the appropriate task sequence name, comments and select the Boot Image that has to be used. Here, I am building 32 bit OS and I have selected X86 boot image as shown. 

Click Next to proceed.

4. Install Windows : On the Install the Windows Operating System screen, at the Package field, select Browse.Select the Operating System Install Package i.e. Windows7 32 Bit OS 1 en-US ( here).

On the Edition field, use the drop-down to select image :  1-Windows 7 or appropriate edition

Product key can be entered later and this can be left empty.

Select the option Always use the same administrator password and enter and confirm a password.

Click Next to continue.

5. Configure Network: On this screen, select Join a workgroup and enter the name WORKGROUP and then click Next

It is recommended that the Reference machine should be a workgroup machine and not joined to domain.

6. Install ConfigMgr: On this tab, click on browse and select the Configuration mangager 2007 Client package that was created previously as per the below link.

http://being-sccmadmin.blogspot.in/2013/05/how-to-create-sccm-2007-client-package.html

7. Include Updates : On the Include Updates in Image screen, select Don’t Install any Software updates and click Next.

Note: Unless the Software Update Point role has been installed, and Software Update deployments and packages have been created, the Install Updates task will not do anything.

8. Install Software: On this screen, click on the yellow star button to add software packages if needed. Here, I am adding KB977384 Package as part of the task sequence. Other packages or organization specific or custom softwares can be added here in order to customize the OS.

9.System Preparation: On this screen, there is no need to configure anything since Windows 7 includes system preparation tools. Click Next.

10. Image Properties : Enter any additional details if required and click next.

11. Capture Image: On this screen, enter the Path and filename to the OSDeploy share: \\servername\ OSD_Deploy\Windows7\Win32.wim

This was created as part of the Folder structure topic.

In the Account field, click the Set button and enter the credentials as shown.

12. Review the summary screen, click Next and click close to complete the wizard.

The task sequence is now created and we need to make some minor modifications to this task sequence to suit our requirements.

Editing the Task Sequence:

1. In the SCCM console, select Task Sequences and locate the task sequence just created in the Details pane. 

2. Right-click the task sequence Windows7 Reference Machine and select Edit.

3. In the task sequence editor, select the task: Partition Disk 0 and in the Volume section, highlight the Default (Primary) volume and select the Edit button.

4. On the Partition Properties screen under Formatting Options, check the box: Quick format and then click OK to save it.

This task sequence is now ready to be advertised.