Vista System Status Image Manager (SIM) is a graphical interface program that enables users to create "answer files" for unattended installations.
The answer file is like the "unattend.txt" file on Windows 2000/XP. You can pre-set all the options for the Windows installer. Users don't have to sit in front of the computer and keep clicking " One step" and other options.
Vista's answer file is better planned than the unattend.txt file. They are stored in an XML format with a good architecture, and other programs can be parsed and called better.
that is to say, users will be difficult to read the answer file, so Microsoft developed for users to set their own SIM answer file provides beautiful graphical interface.
SIM is an important third-party tool in the Microsoft Automated Installation Toolkit (WALK). I mentioned this in the following article:
Create your own Vista installation DVD.
Use ImageX to browse Wisdom's WIM graphics format.
SIM can be divided into five main areas:
distributed shared (DistributionShare) systems - in these folders, users can specify drivers and applications used by Windows. However, distributed sharing cannot be modified using SIM. Users can only make changes at the file level, but you can use SIM to simply update the answer file to point it to the correct location.
For example, if there third-party drivers in shared, the user can see the drive in the SIM inside. Right click on "Eject Driver", user
can insert the driver path in the specific area of the answer file, the driver will be called automatically during the installation process.
Windows Image--Each answer file created by the user corresponds to a specific installation image, so you can open the image browsing content here.
Image files are in WIM format. But it is not mounted in the same way as ImageX. These image files cannot be modified here and can only be used for browsing because it is only applied to create answer files.
SIM reads the WIM information and asks which image state will be used (if there are multiple images available), create a directory for this information. Users can use this directory in the SIM program to add new features, products, or other components to the answer file, instructing Vista to call these components at the appropriate time.
For example, if the user extended capability package, can be found in the assembly may be mounted Vista unattended installation process, the user can then "added to the document answered" by right clicking or selecting an answer file directly drag assembly Inside the package.
Answering the file--Like the rest of the SIM, the answer file section simply provides the user with an image display of how the answer file was modified, and shows which components are installed and where they are installed.
Right-click the file name, the user can directly add components to numerous Folder section.
As mentioned at the beginning of the article, the answer file is an XML file that is saved to the SOURCES of the Vista DVD folder when it is saved.
Of course, users can use Notepad (WordPad) to modify, but SIM is a better tool than WordPad, users do not have to add countless tags to XML - adding tags is like reading a web page Source code.
answer file is set to XML format in Vista benefit is that they may be using different distribution methods, such as remote configuration and SYSPREP and so on. //This article comes from the computer software and hardware application network www.45it.com
Attribute--The attribute window displays the outline metadata information of the selected component and package for the user.
Some installation files contain custom installation options -- for example, the user can select the default installation option, add it to the answer file, and then select "Remove", the installation package will be automatically deleted after installation.
Message Window - Finally, when modifying the answer file, the message window immediately monitors the modification process, alerting you to any potential issues related to XML, file validation, and configuration. It is a useful visualization window that monitors what programs are not working properly.
In short, SIM is an excellent tool. Once the user learns to use the basic functions, they will find that the SIM configuration is very good and easy to use.
is no doubt that a fresh installation of Vista than Windows XP system provides a more advanced, but relative, and they work together more complicated.
like system state image housekeeper (SIM) tools such as a boon for system administrators. They help the pipeline manage the entire installation process, maximizing efficiency and allowing users to better manage the installation process.