Windows 7: Customized Recovery Partition Image

Hi

My purpose is to create the image of the customized recovery partition, I mean i need all settings and user applications (not the factory) and then want to deploy on machines using F11.
Can someone let me know if its possible? If yes, how i can do this for Windows 7 ?
Regards
Malik

You can make a copy of any partition, save on a DVD and use as needed.

Hi

But i mentioned my purpose is to have the recory works like factory recory form BIOS. F11.

This is available as a bootable "capsule" on some high-end cloning softwares like Paragon Partition Manager 2009. Other backup images can be booted by setting active.

Easier free method is to save Windows 7 Backup image to a primary partition, then either use the DVD or add WinRE to your bootmanager.

If you have the 100mb System Reserved partition sometimes installed with Windows 7 you already have the Repair console (and "Recover Using an Image") available at F8.

Hi

Thxs for your reply but could you explain the solution for me a little bit ? So i can have a better understanding from ur idea and then i can try to test that isn a lab envirnemnt

If you are talking about creating a custom backup image from recovery partition of an OEM PC?

You can't. It has to be recreated. And OEM's put all their junk in the images, even on CD/DVD.
You can't actually remove it, unless maybe something like Vlite,,, maybe. But you would need the CD/DVD first. the Vlite method is a complicated process that could not be answered in a simple post.

Most OEM PC's have software in the OS to create a backup of the recovery partition on CD/DVD which can not be customized.

If you are talking about creating one, then Paragon may have a wizard to walk you through the process and I know Acronis does. But, you will need a NON-OEM Disk. Dell, HP, Toshiba etc. will not work as those are Big OEM manufacturers which will include all their garbage.

You would need to use a System Builder OEM disk, but your existing License Key probably won't work with it.

If you are talking about volume licensing and deploying to numerous PC's across a company?
You need to seek further assistance through your colleagues and Microsoft.

Again, This (imo) goes beyond a simple post to explain the full process.

And yes, this can be done with Windows 7 also.

Create a new primary partition in Disk management, save a Windows 7 Backup image there.

Now boot into the Windows 7 DVD or repair CD (which Backup app will make for you) and select Recover using an Image and cue up the stored image to make sure it is ready to reimage the HD or a replacement.

Done.

Hi there
the standard method of doing this is to use the "Winpe" (Windows Pre-installation Environment).

You can build an image using this and then set up an "unattended install" for deploying it to your target machines. This is what OEM's do.

Note you'll need either a corporate license for "multiple Windows activations" or a valid key for each Windows image you want to deploy.

Here's some good info

Walkthrough: Create a Custom Windows PE Image

Note that Windows PE version 3 is slightly different

Documentation here

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en


Cheers
jimbo

Hi

Thank you for your reply. Ok for the moment lets assume it works, then will i able to deploye the iamge using BIOS function ? I mean i want to run this by pressing F11 and OS recovery should started.

Waiting for valuable answer/

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Hi

Thank you for showing interest i=towards my problem.
Well i try to explain again what i want to do exactly.
Suppose i got Windows 7 PC, i have installed all the necessary application, applied changes and modifications etc. Now i try to create the image (this image should not be the one as Recovey Partition since its factory, in case i need all the customizations.) Once customized image is created i want to use this with BIOS F11 so it behaves like OEM