A systems administrator is configuring a reference workstation to create a golden master image that will be deployed to dozens of new computers across an enterprise network. Before capturing the OS image, the administrator needs to ensure that hardware-specific information and unique system identifiers are removed and that the image can be captured cleanly without file lock conflicts. Which of the following procedures should the administrator perform to achieve this? (Select TWO.)
- Run the System Preparation tool (sysprep.exe) with the /generalize switch to remove computer-specific details like the Security Identifier (SID).Answer
- Boot the reference computer into Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE) to run the disk imaging capture utility.Answer
- CPerform an in-place upgrade from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows on the reference computer prior to image capture.
- DInstall Windows Home edition on the reference machine to ensure native support for Active Directory domain join and BitLocker drive encryption.
Answer
To prepare and capture a golden master image for network deployment, the administrator must run `sysprep.exe /generalize` to strip unique system identifiers (SIDs) and boot into a WinPE environment to capture the offline system drive cleanly.
Executing the System Preparation tool (`sysprep.exe`) with the `/generalize` parameter removes system-unique information such as the computer security identifier (SID) and hardware profile details, allowing the OS image to be deployed across diverse hardware configurations. Booting into WinPE places the target system drive in an offline, unmounted state, allowing imaging tools to capture an exact image of the volume without file lock interference from active system processes.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Windows OS Image Generalization and Capture Procedures
Estimated Time:1m 30s