Method for creating a CD-based win 2003 image

Administrators can use the Remote Installation Preparation Wizard to copy an installation image of an existing Windows Server client, including any locally installed programs and operating system configuration changes, to a remote installation server available on the network. Once the installation image has been copied, it can be remotely installed by any supported client.

On a Windows Server 2003-based RIS server, run Risetup.exe and select the option to add a new operating system image to the server. When prompted for the source file, point to the location of the Windows Server file.

When prompted for a folder name, use Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003 (the default name).

Follow the instructions on the screen until Risetup.exe is complete.

You can also create and upload a Windows Server client image on a Windows Server 2003-based RIS server using the Remote Installation Preparation Wizard image format.

How to create a custom installation of Windows Server and how to use Riprep.exe to upload an image to a Windows RIS server

Use the Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003 installation CD to local (or pass) on the source machine Use RIS to remotely install the Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003 base operating system.

Install the program on the client (source) machine that is required for this custom installation.

Configure the source computer to match any company standards or settings you need. For example, you might want to define a specific screen color, set the background to a company-based logo, configure Microsoft Internet Explorer proxy settings, install any required server services, and more.

Exit all programs and run the Remote Installation Preparation Wizard (Riprep.exe). To do this, click Start, click Run, type the Uniform Naming Convention (UNC) path to the Riprep.exe file, and then click OK. For example, you can type \\\\server_name\\share_name\\RemoteInstall\\Admin\\I386\\RIPrep.exe and then click OK. The wizard then configures the primary system (the source machine) to a generic state and removes anything specific to the client installation, such as the computer's unique security ID (SID), computer name, and any registry specific to the client's source computer. Settings.

Read the information on the Welcome screen of the Remote Installation Preparation Wizard, and then click Next.

Type the name of the server to which you want to copy this image, and then click Next. By default, this is the current RIS server from which you run the wizard.

Type the folder name on the RIS server to which you want to copy this installation image, and then click Next.

Type a friendly description and help text (the help text will be used to describe what this installation image will install), then click Next. This information is used in the Client Installation Wizard during the remote installation client request for network services.

Check any programs or services currently running on the source machine and then exit or stop them before proceeding. Click Next.

Review the settings summary and click Next.

Check the information in the "Completing the Remote Installation Preparation Wizard" and click Next to copy the installation image of the source machine to the Remote Installation Services (RIS) server.

Additional Notes

You must have administrator privileges.

To upload a custom image to a Windows RIS server, you must use the Riprep.exe utility, which is available in the RemoteInstall\\Admin\\I386 folder on the Windows RIS server.

When the image copy process is complete, the source computer will shut down.

When you restart the source machine, the simplified installer will run automatically. Complete the installation process to use this client to create another installation image.

To use RIS, your computer must have a network adapter that supports the Preboot eXecution Environment or a network adapter that is supported by the RIS boot floppy. For a list of network computers and network adapters that support this service, please consult the Windows Server 2003 Hardware Compatibility List (HCL). To create a RIS boot floppy, you must use the Rbfg.exe utility in the RemoteInstall\\Admin\\i386 folder of the Windows Server 2003 RIS server.