Install from server to multiple machines using 'blank' ISO

sortit · 21 Aug 2016

Hi all,
Just a bit of background...

I have recently taken over as IT support for a small school.

The school wants all the PC's re-imaged (Win 7 Pro... checking tomorrow if 32 / bit)

All PC's running on school domain to a local Server 2008

There are no images available on the network and the old IT company is un-contactable.

Each PC has it's own Product Key label.

My question: Is it possible to get a 'blank' (ie. no Product key) Win 7 ISO, put it on the server, and then reinstall Win7 on each PC.... once installed (or during installation) we can enter Product key.

Many thanks!

sortit · 21 Aug 2016

It appears I was able to get an ISO using the 'Windows ISO Downloader'

I can get into WinPE on each machine by hitting F* key (forget what it was) - I was able to choose 'Reinstall Windows' (or similar) and I can connect to the Server2008 machine without issue.

Can I now just pop the ISO in there? (Or should I extract the ISO and put it in a folder on the Server 2008 machine?)

During re-installation, i'm happy to have to manually enter the hostname / domain to connect to on each PC which i'm reinstalling. I know it will take a while but it's only about 30 PC's so i'll get over it.

samuria · 21 Aug 2016

You dont mess about like that you use RIS server setup one pc with all software, windows etc then create an image to ris server then you install all pc from the ris image which will handle everything for you https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/lib...or=-2147217396

Megahertz07 · 21 Aug 2016

I don't know much about servers and / or network. Product Key on the computer label wont work as OEM uses the same key (not the one on the PC own Product Key label). I've once was in charge of re install Win 7 on 12 Lenovo computers. Assuming that they are same brand and model, this is what I would do:
- Use the factory recover partition to restore one computer to factory default.
- Create a Administrator account.
- Activate.
- Configure network access etc.
- Install all software and updates:
KB3125574 contains all the security and non-security fixes released since the release of Windows 7 SP1 that are suitable for general distribution, up through April 2016.
It’s single, Multi language, 488MB update file (msu). On a recent installation, you must have first to install KB3020369.
- Take off the HDD and place on a desktop
- Take off the HDD,s of the other computers, and one by one, place on the desktop.
- Clone the template HDD to the others HDD.
- Place the HDD back to the original computer, boot and create an user account without administrator privileges.

samuria · 21 Aug 2016

If you clone drives all pc will have the same SID

sortit · 22 Aug 2016

samuria said:

You dont mess about like that you use RIS server setup one pc with all software, windows etc then create an image to ris server then you install all pc from the ris image which will handle everything for you https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/lib...or=-2147217396

Many thanks.

So, are you saying...
1) Install Win 7 / Updates / Software etc. to one PC
2) Create an image
3) Install to other PC's from this image using RIS

What confuses me is... what about hostnames for each PC? Won't they replicate the original PC?

RoasterMen · 22 Aug 2016

You can do that if all of the computers in a room has exactly the same specs as the other. Everything will be copied including the host-name and I wouldn't even do this method. If you can do a diskless setup then go for it.

Megahertz07 · 22 Aug 2016

What I'm saying is that if you install with Win7 Pro Installation media it wont activate with the OEM code on the PC. The OEM code is a license, not an activation code. If they are same brand and model, they come out of the factory with exactly the same software. The activation code is the same for all and built in. If you use factory recover partition to restore one computer to factory default and then clone to the others, all them will be as "out of the box". The advantage of cloning one to the others is that you can install all common software only in one (the template). Of course you will have to assign to each computer a different name and user so they have a different ID on the network.
As you're going to find out, many of the students have high computer skills, so don't forget to disable boot from all devices, allowing only internal HDD.
Any one who wants to use a computer must be allowed by and logged on the server. Restrictions policy s must also be implemented to restrict Internet, file access etc etc. It wont be easy.

samuria · 22 Aug 2016

When you run the image from a ris server it runs a mini install to change basic things like most name serial etc ris is the correct way to do it that's why Microsoft made it

Megahertz07 · 22 Aug 2016

As I wrote before, I don't now much about servers and / or network. Samuria gave a different approach to the installation. Samuria, as the school doesn't have a enterprise media and license, what installation media you place at the server and how is the installed Windows activated at the client computer?