Affecting Changes to Image During Deployment via Uanattended

In my last blog we began discussing images thin verses thick and how to affect changes when using a thin image. Recently while at a client I got asked what about features, lets say I use the standard Windows image deploying updates via the Task Sequence, and application as well, then how about regular Windows features.

There are two potential solutions to this issue the first is the Microsoft Windows System Image Manager and the second is scripting by way of Deployment Image Service Management Tool or DISM for short.

The two examples that I will demonstrate bellow are

1. Adding Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5.1 to Microsoft Windows 8, Microsoft Windows Server 2012, Microsoft Windows 8.1 or Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2
2. Changing the Default Internet Explorer search engine to Google

Deployment System Management Tool

DISM is a command line tool that is used to affect changes either on a mounted image (WIM) file or on a deployed Operating System for Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2, Microsoft Windows 8, Microsoft Windows Server 2012, Microsoft Windows 8.1 and Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2.

1. Open the Microsoft Windows System Image Manager as Admin 
   
   
   
   
   
2. Choose File -> Open Answer File 
   
3. Select the Appropriate .WIM image file 
4. Importing the image to the console may take some time as it requires a Catalog File (.clg) this file is created automatically if one does not exist however depending on on your system it may take as much as a few hours the first time. 
   
5. You may either choose to create a new Answer File or import the existing one, I recommend that you utilize the existing one that MDT or SCCM create when you build the Task Sequence the first time. 
   
6. Your Unattend file should be located for MDT in the \\<MDT Server>\DeploymentShare$\Control\<Task Sequence ID>\Uanttend.xml 
   
7. In the Windows Image field there two trees one for components and another for packages, components contains all the possible changes that can be affected for your Windows Image, packages contains all the possible features that can be added for your image. First things first we will add to new features to our image the first being Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5.1 and the second being TelNet Client. 
8. In the Windows Image Field click on the packages tree -> Foundation -> amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Foundation-Package 
   
9. Right Click and choose Add to Answer File 
10. Two changes should have occurred in the console you should see the package being listed at the bottom of the tree and the second change the options appearing for editing in the far right panel 
    
11. At this point select your package of choice from the right hand panel 
    
12. Click on the pull down menu on the right hand side and choose enable 
    
13. Click File->Save Answer File in order to save the answer file and check that the file can be validated 
    
14. Your Message Pane should be free of any related errors as seen bellow 
    
15. That's it you have added the Tel Net client to all computers that will receive this answer file.

Setting the Default Search Engine for Internet Explorer

This came up a few years ago we had so many requests in help desk the change the default search engine that my manager asked me if there was a way that I could script a solution. Now sure you can script it which would be great for regular deployments but for simplicity's sake one place for as many changes as possible is always preferable.

1. Open the Microsoft Windows System Image Manager 
   
2. Choose File -> Open Answer File 
   
3. Select the appropriate .Wim Image File
4. Importing the image to the console may take some time as it requires a Catalog File (.clg) this file is created automatically if one does not exist however depending on on your system it may take as much as a few hours the first time. 
5. On the bottom left hand side within the Windows Image pane choose the Componets tree 
   
6. Once the Components branch is opened right click on amd64_Microsoft-Windows-IE-InternetExplorer_11.0.9600.16384_neutral 
   
7. Choose add setting to Pass 4 specialize 
   
   
   
8. Within the Answer File pane amd64_Microsoft-Windows-IE-InternetExplorer_11.0.9600.16384_neutral should now have appeared as an option 
9. Open the new branch and right click on Search Scopes and choose Insert New Scope 
   
10. Insert the below information found in the chart into your Answer File 

    Setting	Value
    Display Quick Pick	True
    Favicon URL	http://www.google.com/favicon.ico
    ScopeDefault (Overwrites Bing)	True
    ScopeDisplayName	Blass Deployment Solutions Google Search (Replace Blass Deployment Solutions with your own company name)
    ScopeKey	1
    ScopeUrl	http://www.google.com/search?q={searchTerms}&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:{language}:{referrer:source}&ie={inputEncoding?}&oe={outputEncoding?}
    ShowSearchSuggestions	True
    ShowTopSearch	True
    ShowTopeResult	True
    SuggestionsURL	http://clients5.google.com/complete/search?q={searchTerms}&client=ie8&mw={ie:maxWidth}&sh={ie:sectionHeight}&rh={ie:rowHeight}&inputencoding={inputEncoding}&outputencoding={outputEncoding}
11. Save the File and copy it to the appropriate folder within <DeploymentShare>\Control\<TaskSequenceName> for MDT or add it to the Package for SCCM and your Done.

QA: Microsoft Windows 7x86, Microsoft Windows 7x64, Microsoft Windows Server 2008R2, Microsoft Windows 8x86, Microsoft Windows 8x64, Microsoft Windows Server 2012, Microsoft Windows 8.1 x86, Microsoft Windows 8.1 x64, and Microsoft Windows Server 2012R2.

Happy Deployments all and I look forward to hearing from you as usual question comments and even requests are welcome :-)