Setup Installation :: Creating Windows 8.1 Image Containing Metro Apps
Aug 27, 2014
I have been doing so research lately into system imaging and deploying said image across multiple devices.
I want to image Surface Pro 3s (about 40 of them) with several dozen apps from the app store. My understanding is that if I want to use an image across multiple devices I have to use sysprep to generalize the image. The problem is any app off the app store is account specific and cannot be generalize. If you try to sysprep with apps installed you will get a Fetal Error, and you cant install apps from the store while in audit mode either.
Are there any options available to me, or will this have to be done manually?
So I'm creating a Windows 8 image with custom software installed, but now i'm stuck on the next steps, I've captured the image but the below link send me in a bit of confusion on the next steps! With win 7 in the past I used to be able to just capture the image and replace the original boot.wim file. Windows 8 doesn't seem to want to let me me do that. it will boot to install but a licence key field appears and doesn't like any licence I use (VLK by the way) What steps should I try and follow next?
A coworker spent the entire day getting a Windows 8 machine up and ready for imaging. As part of the process, he went ahead and let it update the metro apps from the store.
Big mistake: Apparently updating Metro apps breaks sysprep;
Sysprep giving "fatal error" -- but *only* after updating Metro apps?
Here is a KB article on the issue;
Removing or Updating Windows 8 built-in Windows Store apps causes Sysprep to fail
It's even being reported that simply "opening" a metro app will cause sysprep to fail on Windows 8; Techy Geeks Home: SCCM capture of Windows 8 fails during Sysprep stage - Fatal error occurred while trying to sysprep the machine.
I want to try creating a Windows 8 installation USB on my computer and using it to try booting up and repairing my friend's computer which is stuck in recovery mode.
If I put the installation files onto my own personal flash drive and create an installation USB out of it, would I later be able to delete the files off it and continue using it as a regular flash drive?
I want to know if it's possible to create a clean install DVD.
with pre-installed Windows 8without product key (when I buyed the notebook Windows 8 was already installed - the personal product key is "inside" the notebook).
By the way, can I include the Windows Updates in the install DVD somehow - (and programs which should be pre-installed)?
I have a Toshiba Laptop System Model: Satellite L875D-S7332 Part Number: PSKFQU-008003 Pre Installed with Windows 8 x64. I want to create a Windows 8 x64 Install Disk.
My issue is with the Metro Travel app, which keeps displaying: Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah... I do not even have this image set as one of my favorites...?
Problem shooting methods:
1. Made sure all Metro apps were updated 2. Clear tile data-rebooted 3. Synced license-all correct 4. Ran apps diagnostic file 5. Removed all my favorites, and added new favorites
Attached, find 'ss' of this mysterious Metro Travel app... (where did it even come from!) All other Metro apps are properly updating and displaying correct images...
Its my first time to create my first system image in my windows 8. Can I exclude a certain file if not how many blank cd's do I need I got 146GB used currently in my C drive and while creating a system image could it take the process an hour or more?
I just bought a Laptop with Windows 8.1 it does not come with an install disk and the supplier flat-out refused to provide one, pointing me to the recovery partition saying that was all I needed.
The recovery program just reinstalls, losing data and does not have Windows trouble shooting options as found on the Windows 8 install disk. How do I create a Windows 8.1 install disk.
I need creating a recovery image of my system. I would like to create an image recovery drive with just the barebones needed for Windows 8 to run. I all ready have a recovery partition created. I just don't know how to create a recovery image for usage whenever something happens to the system.
I have a laptop that runs Windows 8 (64 bit), and the hard drive is apparently a dynamic (as opposed to basic) disk. My problem comes when I try to make a backup image of my active drive. I know a lot of backup software has troubles making an image of a dynamic disk. Now after researching, I know that Windows 8 comes with its own imaging tool, "Windows 7 File Recovery". I tried to create a basic partition, and used the file recovery tool to create an image file, but the file would not be saved, maybe because the partition itself is on the same dynamic hard-drive (the error said something about the partition not being large enough etc... even though I made it 40GB).
My question is, is the native system imaging tool of Windows 8 unable to copy a dynamic drive, or is it because I need to save the image file to some place other than the hard drive (maybe a whole bunch of DVDs, since it is an option). The last computer that I own is as old as a dinosaur, so I really did not keep up with all these advancement- I just feel that dynamic format is a beast to work with.
I started to use the "Create System Image" of the "Windows 7 File Recovery" on my Windows 8 laptop. But after the screen which flashes the total size that would be required, when I ask it to start the process expecting it to prompt me for the 1st DVD, it flashes the message, - "The back-up failed. The system is not ready. (0x80070015) " . I am trying this on an out-of-the-box laptop with pre-installed Windows 8. Also tried it by disabling the anti-virus, but to no avail.
Then I tried to start the process with a 4.7 GB blank DVD already in place. Then it flashed the message "Insert a blank media bigger than 1 GB". Since I expected it take anywhere between 3-8 DVDs, I kept about 9 DVDs ready. I also inserted a USB pen-drive of 16 GB and tried to create the system image. Again it flashed the same message of insert a blank media greater than 1 GB in F: (same drive as USB) -??????? I mean the USB is already in place and has been assigned the drive letter as F:. How can I insert a blank media there ??
I am using Windows 8 Single Language. I was able create a repair disc without issues, though.
I couldn't repair/replace my laptop's corrupt files doing an sfc or dism scan and had to do a reset as I couldn't do a refresh. I thought my laptop was clean when I created my last system image, last month, but when it came to using the system image I realised there was corrupt files on there too so I had to do another reset. What checks should I do before creating a system image? so I know that as well as there being no viruses there are no corrupt files either. Check for errors in Event Viewer and do an sfc and dism scan?
I set up Windows 8 Consumer the way I like it -- had to create a custom inf for the screen of my Dell Mini 10 among other things.
I then created a system image on another computer on my network.
Next I wiped and reformatted the disk in the Mini.
But now, when I try to restore from the system image on the network, Windows 8 can't see or recognize the backup. I can browse to the location on my network perfectly well, but no matter what folder I browse to, from the drive letter of the backup drive to the folder named "Backup 2012-03-14 015251," I keep getting a message that there is no image there.
I installed Windows on my friends MacBook Air using Bootcamp a few months ago. At that time I made a Windows Image to an external hard drive, not really sure if it was even feasible to restore it. How to do a restore in a situation like this, or if it is possible?
I have two laptops, both Samsung, one mine and one my sisters. My one is Windows 8 and her one is a slightly older model so Windows 7. Now both are are very similar in spec, being 4GB and Intel Pentium 2.3GHz models. She recently asked me if i could sort out her laptop with Windows 8, so I said yep should be no problem.
I went and bought a Windows 8 Pro 64bit and was at first going to just do a plain install. But then had a bright idea and thought why not do an image of mine and recover it to hers, and then when started up just enter the key of the new one. that way she gets a full original Samsung install along with all the apps and everything.
At first I tried the samsung built in Recovery software but had no luck as it was just a complete nightmare. Not booting the USB I put it on for the first few times, then eventually after changing the BIOS setting to UEFI and formatting her Disk to GPT it started but then said no image found. In end I tried the old way by using the Windows built in File Recovery Image tool which made me a repair disc and 3 discs for the image itself.
This booted first go and went all way through the recovery, and then did the usual "restarting in X seconds ..." But after it rebooted to my horror the Samsung Logo screen appears and then after that it just stays blank.
It does every few seconds momentarily flicker on the screen but then just goes bank again. I cant even get into the BIOS anymore or boot from anything.
I bought a toshiba satellite with a preinstalled win 8.1. I formatted all that partitioned caos and installed my beloved well known Win 7. Now I have installed win 8.1 again via recovery discs, in order to have a dual boot. Is there a way to install the last image that I created of C:/Win 7 in a new partition? When I try to install it the only chance that seems to be is that of replacing C:/win 8.1. Software, change of Drive letters (how?).
I am sure I have recovery images. Factory, and refresh. Asus shipped no recovery media. I obtained a copy of windows 8. I found out what my product key is. I have attempted every which way i can think of to get my system to recognize my recovery images exist. If i try to use "reset your pc" option it tells me unable to reset your pc. A required drive partition is missing.
If i choose system image recovery, hit cancel because it thinks the partition that definitely exists, doesn't, choose select a system image. Gives me a blank list. Choose Advanced...install a driver (you don't need to install sata driver as it recognizes my hard drive and Is listing it to choose a driver from should need be) i get an error installation had failed.
Internal error occurred (0x8007054F). No matter which driver IM trying to install. Usb, sata, dvd etc... So can't get my system image from my 32 gig stick, or my hdd.Image won't fit on dvd's. Worried i won't be able to do a clean install, as Asus's backups seem do reliable in mysituation(sarcasm) that i will lose all functionality like DVD playback, smart gesture touchpad, and some driver related setbacks.
I have checked and rechecked, and i have three system images to choose from. Total of six partitions.
Ive used pirated bootables with preinstalled product keys in the past but am now on the straight and narrow, wanting to add my product key to my legitimate copy of windows 8. This way I wont have to worry about having it written down, losing it or entering it incorrectly, since it will be automatically entered for me. How I can add the product key to my bootable image?
I have 10 computers with identical hardware that all have their own oem license. What I want is to have the same setup on all 10 computers. What I remember from previous Windows versions is that you had to activate Windows individually with its own oem key for every computer you restored with a preferred disk image. From what I read the product key procedure is a bit different in Windows 8 and that the key is stored in the bios? The activation should also be handled automatically by Windows, is that correct?
So what I really wonder is: Do I still have to activate every restored pc manually or will Windos 8 do this for me?
A second related question: Are there any imaging/cloning software that can be set up to promt me for a new computer name in the restore process?
Although I have been able to make a full disk image using the built in "system image" option, I can not find any way to restore it. The recovery options only point to system restore and refresh PC. I'm navigating to <control panel> and then <file history> to access the recovery options. I can not find any restore from system image option anywhere.
Am I missing something, or is it deliberately missing in the Enterprise editions ? If so is there any way I can restore the backup image ?
Some time ago Installed Windows 7 on one of my Windows 8 computers. But during the install i had to delete all partitions and that was the recovery partition that had he recovery software on it. Well now I want to go back to Windows 8 and I don't really want to send my PC to Samsung for re imaging. But I have the image i made with the software before I installed Windows 8. All I need is to get the recover partition back with the software on it. I have 2 other Samsung computers that have the same software on it but I need to find a way to make a image of the recover partition so i can use my backup image for the computer.
I got two laptops today, one with Windows 7 and the other with Windows 8, both 64-bit machines.
I don't have a windows 8 dvd around and I don't have the internet to download a windows 8 .iso image.
All I have is a USB stick. I'm not sure how creating a system image works but from the last article I read, both computers must have equal disk size or larger and the destination disk of the laptop for the process is a tad smaller than the source partition.
I love Metro, but I think booting into it is worse for me than if the Start menu were hanging open everytime you booted 7. I have to say this is an additional step that makes it feel a bit forced, a bit in the user's face. How to go straight to the dekstop?
How would Microsoft suggest an Intel 3600/Atom 2800 user running 8.0 however incapable of running Metro apps or accessing the store update to 8.1?
Machine manufactures, Microsoft and Intel have not taken responsibility for creating video drivers capable of running Metro apps on these Intel 3600/Atom 2800 recent machines, they pass the 8.0 Windows compatibility check and were advertised by manufactures as being Windows 8.0 ready.
Having already purchased machines and Windows 8.0 we feel somewhat discriminated against, and cheated out of our investment once again?
