Right click on the Deployment Share and select Properties
Select the Rules tab and ensure that the Skip Capture rule is set to NO
If you have to change this rule then you need to update the deployment share. Once the update has completed then you will need to replace your current boot images in Windows Deployment Services with the newly regenerate *.wim file.
Capture Task Sequence
The next step is to create a task sequence that will capture an image from your reference computer
Right click on the task sequence node and select New Task Sequence
Complete all the information to identify this task sequence
Select Sysprep and Capture from the drop down menu
Select the operating system that will be used (this will not affect the image being captured)
After accepting the defaults on the next screen complete all the relevant details on the OS settings screen
Enter a password for the local administrator and click Next
At the last screen check the summary and click Next to complete the task sequence
Disable Sysprep Task Sequence
In my experience the execution of the sysprep command from the task sequence is patchy, so to get around this issue you can follow these steps to disable the sysprep command in the task sequence and run it manually before capturing the image of the reference computer.
Right click on the task sequence you have just created and select Properties
Click on the task sequence tab
Click on the Execute Sysprep option and then click on the Option tab on the right hand side.
Now click on the check box next to Disable This Step and click OK to complete the configuration
Capturing The Image
On the reference computer install all your necessary software and then run Sysprep, the sysprep application can be found in the C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\ folder
Select the options for OOBE (Out Of the Box Experience) and tick the Generalize option
When the PC reboots ensure it boots to the network
As it boots up you will now have another task sequence to choose from as well as your original Windows 7 deployment one, selecting the capture task you have created will start the process of capturing an image of your reference computer and uploading it to your deployment share
In some network scenarios you can get an error message when capturing the image that references a blank UNC error. To solve this error right click on the task sequence and select properties and then select the task sequence tab
You now need to add a variable into the sequence with these settings
- Name: Set Image Folder
- Task Sequence Variable: ComputerBackupLocation
- Value: \\SERVERNAME\deploymentshare$\captures [this could whatever you want it to be, make sure that the share has the correct permissions and enough space]
To add the variable select Add || General || Set Task Sequence Variable and use the details above to complete the fields
Use the arrow buttons to move it to the top of the sequence
I had some time to do a live event on this topic. The video below is a little long, but worth the watch due to it covering all the basics of capturing and sysprep in MDT 2012.
