Right well from what you are saying if you do not want to have to jump through many hoops I was utilise the free tools Microsoft have given us to be able to not only deploy Images but also to deploy Applications.
If it was me I would inside of my domain deploy a Windows Deployment Server, this will give you your central point of deployment integrating with Win PXE to be able to give you the capabilities to install the Images and applications over the network.
If you desire you can read more about the WDS server here:
Windows Deployment Services - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Once you have WDS integrated in to your environment you will want to look a Microsoft Deployment Toolkit(MDT). This is going to give you a vast amount of customisation over what you could do with just the WDS server.
The Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) provides a unified collection of tools, processes, and guidance for automating desktop and server deployments. In addition to reducing deployment time and standardizing desktop and server images, MDT offers improved security and ongoing configuration management.
Find more information:
Microsoft Deployment Toolkit - MDT, Free Tool, Windows, Server
A website call Microsoft Virtual Academy has some great information on how to use some of these tools. Although the information is based on Windows 7 the skills are very valuable.
Note: Microsoft Virtual Academy is free training all you will you our your customer would need to do is login with a Microsoft account.
MVA Courses:
Deploying Windows 7:
http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/training-courses/deploying-windows-7#?fbid=n2Q-ohJpMvJ
Course Content:
· Windows 7 deployment methods and Technologies
· Prepare the environment for a windows 7 deployment
· Create a Windows 7 image
· Update a windows 7 image
· Deploy a windows 7 image
· Migrate Computers to Windows 7
· Configure and Manage Application Compatibility
· Light touch Installation using Windows Deployment Services
· Deploy using System Center Configuration Manager
· Create and Manage Windows PE environment
· Manage Deployments with Microsoft Deployment Toolkit
· IE9
Migrating To Windows XP to Windows 7
http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/training-courses/automating-migration-from-windows-xp-to-windows-7#?fbid=n2Q-ohJpMvJ
· Automating Migration from Windows XP to Windows 7
· Migrating User Files and Settings
· Hard Link Migration of User Files and Settings
· Installing Windows 7 on a Windows XP PC
· Using the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit
· Deployment Using System Center
· Configuration Manger
· Creating a Windows 7 Image
You will find information how to use the Microsoft tools to achieve this, Microsoft imaging tools are as follows:
• Microsoft Deployment Toolkit
• Assessment and Deployment Kit
• Windows Deployment Services
• System Center Configuration Manager
• Windows Automated Installation Kit
On creating an image you will be ran through all the steps you need to be able to create images manually as well for example:
• Install WAIK
• Create a bootable disk
• Install and configure Windows 7 on a reference machine
• Sysprep (audit mode then generalize)
• Capture the image
The great thing about this approach is assuming you have some Windows Server you will be ready to run this kind of environment.
I know this is going to be a mind feild of information but i honestly think if you can set something like in to your infrastructure is going to make your life a lot easier.
Please feel free to ask questions.
Cheers,
Harry