Windows 8, Windows 7, or Windows Server 2008 R2 x64

You can capture from either a single or dual-partition OS setup. In case of a dual-partition OS setup, the System Reserved partition will contain the boot manager and HPCA Service OS (SOS) files. The OS partition will contain the boot loader and the OS itself.

Complete the following steps to prepare the reference machine. Note that the following procedure uses Windows 8 as an example.

  1. Install the operating system from the original product media. The reference machine must be capable of running the operating system that you are installing. Make sure the reference machine is using DHCP.
  2. Click New to create a new partition that will hold Windows 8.
  3. In the Size box, select the maximum value.
  4. Click Apply. A dialog box opens to warn you that Windows creates additional partitions. Click OK to close this dialog box and proceed.
  5. To create a single partition installation, follow these steps:
    1. Select the small System Reserved partition, and click Delete. A dialog box opens to warn you that any data stored on this partition will be lost.
    2. Click OK to close the dialog box and proceed.
    3. Select the remaining partition, and click Next. The Windows 8 installation then proceeds.

    To create a dual-partition installation, follow these steps:

    1. Select the partition that you created in step 4, and click Delete. A dialog box opens to warn you that if you delete this partition, any data stored on it will be lost.
    2. Click OK to close the dialog box and proceed.
    3. Select the System Reserved partition, and click Extend.
    4. In the Size box, specify 1024 MB.
    5. Click Apply. Once again, a dialog box opens to warn you that extending a partition is not a reversible action.
    6. Click OK to close this dialog box and proceed.
    7. Select the partition that you created in step 4 again, and click New.
    8. In the Size box, select the maximum value.
    9. Click Apply. Once again, a dialog box opens to warn you that Windows may create additional partitions.
    10. Click OK to close this dialog box and proceed.
    11. Click Next. The Windows 8 installation then proceeds.
  6. When you are prompted to select your computer’s location, select Work Network.
  7. Customize the OS as necessary. This may include installing a set of basic or required applications. Be sure to include the latest service packs for the OS and applications and all required drivers for the devices to which you will deploy the image.

    Note: Installing the HPCA agent on the reference machine is not recommended. When the OS is deployed, the HPCA agent will be installed (or upgraded, if it is already installed).

  8. Configure the BIOS power management so that the device does not power down after a few minutes of keyboard or mouse inactivity before the upload process to the HPCA Server is finished.
  9. Using the Control Panel, set the User Access Control level to Never notify.
  10. Keep the file system as small as possible (this will minimize the size of the .WIM file).

    Caution: To successfully capture an image using the Windows Setup deployment method, you must have sufficient free disk space in the OS partition on the reference machine. For example, to capture a 7 GB image, you will need 50-60 GByte of free disk space.

    1. Delete unnecessary files and directories from the files system.
    2. Turn off System Restore.
  11. As part of the capturing process for Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 R2 x64, the system will be set up to boot into Capture mode if it reboots from the local disk. There is no need to have Image Capture media present on CD or network.


© 2003 - 2012 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.