An Old School Geek’s approach to Installing & Setting Up a Windows PC

[Kari]

You can always select Printable Version from Thread Tools and print it to a file to have it on your PC if you'd like to.

 

[VistaKing]

I use the Windows SIM to create my XML file . It creates the partitions and installs the windows where the file tells it to . It's an unattended build. I have either in a DVD disc or USB .

 

[Britton30]

I use the Windows SIM to create my XML file . It creates the partitions and installs the windows where the file tells it to . It's an unattended build. I have either in a DVD disc or USB .

What is SIM? this sounds like material for another tut.

 

[Kari]

Windows SIM is part of the Windows AIK (WAIK), Windows Automated Installation Kit: Download Windows® AIK for Windows® 7 from Official Microsoft Download Center

It is an quite easy to use tool to create pre-customized Windows images for deoloyment. Worth to download and try.

For Windows 8 the same exists with a new name, Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) for Windows 8: Download Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) for Windows® 8 from Official Microsoft Download Center

Kari

 

[Britton30]

got it from Google, SIM is System Image Manager.

 

[Slartybart]

Nice & concise - picked up a new trick (audit mode in Win7) +rep

Thanks,

Bill
.

 

[pragnesh89]

My current setup of my desktop:
I have two Hard drives. 500GB and 250gb. 500gb is fairly new and I've had the 250gb for more than 7 years now.
500gb contains Windows 7 and 250gb contains Windows XP.
I will probably have to reinstall everything when Microsoft stops support for XP in 2014.
When I reinstall, I would probably install Windows 7 and 8 in the 500gb hard drive. I would also install some linux distros in the 250gb hard drive.

Is that a good plan? I would like to keep windows in the same hard drive, and linux in their own drive. How would you go about partitioning hard drive?

 

[Kari]

Personally I would not put two operating systems on one disk, but that's just my opinion. A mechanical failure, HDD dies and you lost both. My max amount of OSs = amount of HDDs, so for instance in your scenario I would install max two OS, Windows 7 and 8 or one Windows and one Linux.

Just remember to give enough space for Windows partitions.

Kari

 

[FredyC]

Hey, thank you for article, really helpful. I am going to need this in couple days for new computer and I want to do it right finally

Anyway I have question to this post below. It is really nice advantage, however it means, that when I will be returining to that backup like 2 years later, I will have to start with all those old versions of software and without windows updates ?

Or is it still possible after restoring to go back to Audit mode again, update these apps and drivers, make new backup and than continue onward ?

Thanks for reply.

The best part in creating an image like that is that it allows you to restore a really virgin Windows. All software and drivers installed but no user data. First boot after image restore is the OOBE boot, stopping to ask the initial username and computer name.

 

[Kari]

No, Fredy. That's just an initial image that allows you to restore the original Windows, when and if you want to. I for instance save this image separately not on the same partition on network storage where I save the later images.

Later on you set up regular backup as you see fit. When you need to / want to restore, you can select which image to use: one of your later images, or to start completely from beginning restoring the initial image.

I am a backup freak, I need to know my a** is covered. I always create this initial image twice, with Windows native Backup & Restore and with Macrium Reflect Free. Also later on I always create two images, one with Windows tool and one with Macrium.

Whatever you do, whichever backup tool and strategy you choose, the main point with this initial image is to be able to restore a virgin Windows setup when need arises.

Kari

 

[FredyC]

That's completelly fine, but it's not what I asked

I create initial image this way and store it somewhere. Two years later I decide to get rid of everything and restore from that image to be virgin again. Enter username and I can go as usual. However at this point I am running with 2 years old drivers, software, etc...

2013 - Initial backup
2015 - Restored from backup, everything is 2 years old
2017 - Restored from 2013 backup, everythig is 4 years old

So I am simply asking if in year 2015 I can make new initial backup (without installing everything from scratch), so in year 2017 it will be again just 2 years old backup, not 4 years,

 

[Britton30]

That's completelly fine, but it's not what I asked

I create initial image this way and store it somewhere. Two years later I decide to get rid of everything and restore from that image to be virgin again. Enter username and I can go as usual. However at this point I am running with 2 years old drivers, software, etc...

2013 - Initial backup
2015 - Restored from backup, everything is 2 years old
2017 - Restored from 2013 backup, everythig is 4 years old

So I am simply asking if in year 2015 I can make new initial backup (without installing everything from scratch), so in year 2017 it will be again just 2 years old backup, not 4 years,

No, you can make only one initial image. You can however image the system at any time and it will restore to that point in time. You need to back up more often than every 2 years.

Err, yes if you do this process completely over in 2015.

 

[Kari]

That's completelly fine, but it's not what I asked

I create initial image this way and store it somewhere. Two years later I decide to get rid of everything and restore from that image to be virgin again. Enter username and I can go as usual. However at this point I am running with 2 years old drivers, software, etc...

2013 - Initial backup
2015 - Restored from backup, everything is 2 years old
2017 - Restored from 2013 backup, everythig is 4 years old

So I am simply asking if in year 2015 I can make new initial backup (without installing everything from scratch), so in year 2017 it will be again just 2 years old backup, not 4 years,

Yes, I gave an exact answer to your question. Which part did you not understand?

I use the term Initial Backup with purpose. Meaning of the word Initial:

In·i·tial [ih-nish-uhl] adjective, noun, verb, in·i·tialed, in·i·tial·ing or ( especially British *) in·i·tialled, in·i·tial·ling.

Adjective:
1. of, pertaining to, or occurring at the beginning; first: the initial step in a process.
2. Phonetics . occurring at the beginning of a word*or syllable, as the (k) sound*of kite, chasm, *or quay.
Noun:
3. an initial letter, as of a word.
4. the first letter of a proper name.
5. a letter of extra size or an ornamental character used at the beginning of a chapter or other division of a book, manuscript, or the like.

Of course if you restore that image, as I call it the Initial Image, you will return to point of installation, creation of that image. Of course the drivers and software, the whole Windows is then as it was when image was created. And of course although totally working Windows, you need to update it if there's been any updates for Windows, its drivers or installed software since the creation of the image.

I repeat: What part of that you do not understand? Please let me know and I will try to explain it using more simple language.

Kari

 

[FredyC]

Sorry, it's probably my bad english and I cannot express what I mean.

Try it that way. After restoring from Initial image, is it still possible to hit Ctrl+Alt+F3 and go back to Audit mode ? That would mean that in year 2015 I can go to that Audit mode, make all those updates and create new Updated Initial Image which can be used in 2017 without needing to get updates from past 4 years. Is that correct ?

 

[Kari]

Fredy, your question was about the same than asking that "I bought Windows 7 installation DVD back in 2009. Now I want to reinstall my Windows using that DVD, do I need to update it then?"

First, you really need to understand I am a backup freak. According to me the three most important things in computing are backup, backup and backup . That's why my backup strategy is not necessary good for you.

The term Initial System Image(*) is not an official term or expression. It is, as far as I know, coined together by me to describe a System Image which you can use to restore your system to a guaranteed working state.

What I mean with it and how I would like you to see it is that your Initial System Image is what you use when you would like to wipe / remove / delete all changes made to your system since creation of that image. That point in time, state of Windows, must of course be such that you can be 100% sure everything works, that going back to that point you have a perfectly working system.

You can of course select yourself what that point in time is. Setting up a new PC, it's the image you created when everything was installed. On an exisiting system it is the one you created when you had not installed anything let's say in a month, so you were sure the system was running well without any issues, and you decided "OK, up till now I have done it correctly and I do not need older images! I will create a new Initial System Image and archive it to be able to go back to this moment whenever I want to.".

I for instance re-create this Initial Image every now and then. When my system has been OK and working without issues for a few weeks, I know that I can speed up a possible restore by creating a new Base Image, Initial System Image. I copy my original Initial Image to a disk where I keep backups of earlier backups of even earlier backups... (I told I am a freak, I keep several generations images just to be sure, each well documented so I know to which point it would take me if used for system restore). after the old Initial Image stored away I create a new one.

My whole point is that for me this my way to speak about an Initial System Image means an image of a 100% working, no issues, no bulls*** Windows, an Image I know that whatever happens will help me to get back my PC as it was when everything worked.

You do not have to use Audit Mode when creating images later on, especially if everything works. If you decide to boot to Audit Mode on an existing Windows installation, it always exits to OOBE boot meaning you have to create "first" user and name the PC and Windows will start as if first time. If you do not want this, create your later images normally in Windows.

Kari

(*) Initial System Image = ISI: I like this acronym because isi is daddy in my native Finnish

 

[FredyC]

Oh well, now I am completely lost. It seemed like simple question and it ended with big story Nevermind, I will try it on my own, I cannot clearly express myself. Thanks anyway.

PS: Feel free to delete this useless spam

 

[Kari]

How are you lost? I tried to explain that you can always create a new as I call it Initial System Image, define the point that for you is The Beginning, the point all was well and everything worked.

Let's try one more time, using my backup strategy as an example.

Setting up a new PC, I do it as told in my original post in this thread, creating my "beginning", my initial image at the end of the setup process. This image I store separately from all other images; it is "My Restore Point #1", the point I can always go back if something fails and I want to start from beginning.

All my rigs are set up to create additional images every Sunday / Monday night. In about every 3 or 4 months, after the system has been functioning without issues and I can be sure this point would work as a "new beginning", I create a new main image which for me is the new initial image, the new beginning. Before discarding the previous main image (initial image, beginning, whatever you want to call it) I restore the system once using it. If the image works and system can be restored using it, it becomes The Initial System Image for me, The Beginning, The Point Where Everything Worked, whatever and however you want to call it. I then discard the previous Initial Image and and store the new one it separately from other images.

Backup cycle starts from beginning now. Once a week an image is created, for a few months, until I once again decide to start from beginning. The criteria for me to start from beginning, to discard old main image and create a new one, is that the PC has to been functioning a couple of weeks since last major update or software install without a hiccup, without a single issue.

I do not understand what's so difficult in this? Each user has his own approach to backup, each user does it in his own way. I do it like this, it works for me.

In other words, this Initial Image I am talking about is the oldest image you decide to keep and save.

Kari

 

[FredyC]

You never give up, I see This all makes sense and I don't have any trouble with it. My question was more technical than practical. Easily said if I can go back to Audit mode when restored from backup, that was made in Audit mode (like your Part 6 in original post).

So when I decide (whatever reasons) to go back to this initial setup (without user profiles) and update there everything and than create new initial backup that is fully updated. Is that possible ?

 

[Kari]

Yes.

 

[AddRAM]

Great Job Kari