Laptop to custom ISO (slimmolG, v1)

Laptop to custom.ISO (slimmolG, v1)
2018-0113
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What if you wanted to capture your brand new laptop as a custom bootable Windows 10 ISO already preset with your user settings and pre-installed software?

I performed this capture as an experiment while writing crib notes for accuracy, then fleshed them out further so a computer novice friend (and nearly anybody who can type and click) could follow along. The guide was validated using Windows 10 Pro v1703 on my EVOC Clevo P650HS-G, and some steps include USB-->USB transfers since my laptop is an offline machine. The ISO creation protocol works for Pro and Home, but Hyper-V is not included and can't be installed in Win10-Home; free alternative hypervisors exist.

You can go from a power up, to a custom.ISO, to validating your custom.ISO on your laptop in a virtual machine in less than an hour, not including download times. All without allowing your new laptop on the internet... as long as you have a second computer and USB drive :)

Dowload this guide as a text file:
https://pastebin.com/edit/9SPSRBRU

Phase 1
Get your laptop out of the shipping box, power it up, and install Macrium Reflect free edition; no, seriously, do this. Follow the guide by @Phoenix (but don't move any libraries, folders, etc.) and save an MRIMG or two on an external device or two.

Phase 2
Create a custom ISO with your user settings and pre-installed software.
** It's nowhere near as long or complicated as it looks **

Build Process:
A) Setup drive(s), apply labels, make folders  (line 58)
B) Download/extract Windows ISO template
C) Create bootable WinPE flash drive           (line 135)
D) Download/install ADK Deployment Tool
E) Clean partition                             (line 182)
F) Create custom install.wim
G) Replace downloaded ISO install.wim          (line 248)
H) Create new bootable custom.ISO

Test Process:
I) Enable/setup Hyper-V                        (line 286)
J) Install/run custom.ISO in the VM
K) Boot/install custom.ISO on your SSD         (line 385)

Phase 3
L) Teleport back to the start using the initial Macrium MRIMG files

============================================================
Capture your system as a custom.ISO

Requirements:
Your laptop and a flash drive
An Official Windows 10 v1703+ ISO
The Windows Deployment tools (free from MS).

NOTE:
Your complete Windows installation must
be 100% on a single partition or it fails.

Phase 1
*) Save a couple Macrium Reflect MRIMG backups
	-Follow the guide by @Phoenix (but don't move any libraries, folders, etc.)
	http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/macrium-reflect-installation-usage-guide.804746/
	-Just setup MR and save the MRIMGs.

Phase 2
A-### Setup or partition source machine drives
	- partition your primary SSD
	- and keep your 2nd SSD as a safe storage reserve
1) Press Win + R
2) type "diskmgmt.msc", hit enter
	Right-click D: (your 2nd drive)
		select "Change Drive Letter..."
		select "Change"
		assign letter "E" or higher, OK.
	Right click E:, select properties,
		label E: as Drive2, Storage, or whatever
	Right-click on C:, select "Shrink Volume"
	Reduce the volume of C: by >=65GB
		ideally ~split volume, e.g. 500-->200/300
	Right-click new Unallocated box graphic
		select New Simple Volume
		specify size >=65GB = shrink amount
		assign drive letter D:
		Label volume as "Data", finish wizard.
	Right-click C:, select properties
		Label C: as "Windows"
	Label all other drives at this point for clarity.
3) Exit disk manager
4) On Data(D:)
	Create a folder named "Scratch"
	Create a folder named "Iso_files"
	Create a folder named "Hyper-V"
5) Restart your laptop.

	* Alternatively, use two drives for the setup
		- It's a little faster. That's it.
	1) Letter and label SSDs as Windows(C:) and Data(D:)
		Right-click drives in Windows Explorer
		click properties, type in the names
	2) Label other drives now for clarity
	3) On Data(D:)
		Create a folder named "Scratch"
		Create a folder named "Iso_files"
		Create a folder named "Hyper-V"


B-### Download/extract Win10 ISO for the custom build template
	-Match your download to your installed OS version
1) Download ISO from windowsiso.net
		(alternatively, use the download tool at Heidoc.net)
	Select Win10 version from drop-down list
		e.g. Win10 1703 CU Download>Standard
	Scroll down, select language/version:
		select the English, x64 link on farthest right
		=Win10_1703_English_x64.iso (4,232,730 kb)
	You can verify this download via MD5, SHA1, SHA256 checksums:
		Download>install HashCalc (or use no-install HashMyFiles, etc.)
		Browse to Win10 ISO in Data box
		Click Calculate, wait 1.5-2 min for sums

	MD5=effccfda8a8dcf0b91bb3878702ae2d8
	SHA1=ce8005a659e8df7fe9b080352cb1c313c3e9adce
	SHA256=b842a801bf1dedf3acbfd909f91fb2a741eef20fda133daa1878e46a07ec9237

	Note:
	Win10 ISO CRC/MD5/SHA1/256 checksum dump:
	use browser search to easily find all three calculated sums.
	https://pastebin.com/fgqtG3mJ

	Microsoft SHA1 Hash Archive:
	you can query using the calculated SHA1 sum
	http://www.heidoc.net/php/myvsdump.php

2) Save downloaded ISO to USB, move to the source laptop
	Copy ISO to Data(D:)
3) Mount the moved ISO by double clicking
4) Copy all of the files to D:\Iso_files
	note that the folder D:\Iso_files\Sources now exists
5) Unmount the ISO by Right-click>Eject
	The official ISO file isn't used later, but keep it handy.


C-### Create bootable Win10PE from the Win10 1703+ ISO
1) Quick-format a small flash drive (even 0.5 GB is fine)
	Right-click, select format>Quick-format>start
2) Browse to D:\Iso_files
3) Copy all of the contents EXCEPT the "sources" folder to the USB drive
4) Create a folder named "sources" on the USB drive
5) Browse to D:\Iso-files\sources and find "boot.wim"
6) Copy "boot.wim" to your empty USB "sources" folder
	= Finished!
	= drive has 0.32 GB of files
7) Label the USB WinPE drive
	Right-click, select Rename, = DISM-W10PE
		- serves as reminder of the build method.
		- DISKPART and DISM work, that's all you need.

	* Nothing stops you from using the remainder of your flash drive.
	* Make a folder called "Other files" and use it!


D-### Install Windows Deployment Tools feature
1) Download Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) for Windows 10
	- URL is in my downloads section
	- direct install is more time/data efficient (see note below)
2) Match the ADK version to your Windows version, e.g. use ADK 1703 for a Win 1703
	Perhaps unnecessary, but logical
3) Download and run the installer file
	Select download for use on another machine
	Opt out of Microsoft data collection
	Save toolkit (3.05 GB) to USB drive
4) Move USB drive to source computer
5) Run ADK setup file
	Click through screens, Opt out of data collection
	Select ONLY the necessary Deployment Tools feature (67.5 MB)
	Click Install
		- Windows may not find the .msi file:
		- Browse to /Windows Kits/10/ADK/Installers if asked
6) Restart laptop
	-Finalizes all of the changes made so far.

** Direct Install Note:
	If your custom.ISO source machine is allowed on the internet:
	a) Run the installer
	b) Unselect everything except for the Deployment Tools
	c) Directly install only the Deployment Tools feature
	d) Restart


E-### Clean source machine partition using Extended Disk Cleanup
	-Clean up a little, a lot, or everything as you prefer.
	-follow below for the "new laptop ISO"
1) Open an elevated command prompt
	Press Win+X > Powershell (Admin)
	type "cmd", hit enter
2) Run the following command:
	"cmd.exe /c cleanmgr /sageset:1 & cleanmgr /sagerun:1"
		- the exact sage# isn't important as long as they match
3) Don't close the command window yet
4) Select everything in the cleanup options popup window EXCEPT:
	:the 'green arrow' Windows update/upgrade files
	(the 'green arrow' files should go into the custom.ISO)
	* Note: "sagesets" won't cleanup Windows setup files (e.g. ~BT, etc.)
		If you want to fully clean up after you upgrade, or install in the VM:
		type "cleanmgr /autoclean", hit enter
5) Clean recent files history
	In File Explorer:
		click File tab > select "Change folder and search options"
		click the "Clear" button under Privacy
		close File Explorer

	* STOP clicking things! Your system is ready for imaging!
	* Turn off your laptop.


F-### Create custom install.wim file
1) Boot source machine using DISM-W10PE from step-B (or other WinPE)
	Plug in USB stick, reboot while hitting F7
	Choose USB drive from the options
2) Press Shift+F10 at Language/Time/Currency Screen to open command prompt
	type "diskpart", hit enter
	type "list vol", hit enter
		Inspect the list and note volume letters:
		-letters ~may vary, but labels are static
		-use the volume letters showing labels for:
		Windows = source drive to copy from
		Data = drive location to save .wim file
	type "exit", hit enter to exit diskpart (but not cmd)
3) Enter the following command to create the .wim file:
	Exact characters and spacing! no brackets!

[dism /capture-image /imagefile:D:\install.wim /CaptureDir:C:\ /ScratchDir:D:\scratch /name:"W10Pro-slimmolG" /Description:"EVOCp650,W10P plus user, noMods" /compress:maximum /checkintegrity /verify /bootable]

	-The Deployment Tool information displays
	-The cursor blinks for 30 seconds
	-The Saving Image information displays

	**custom install.wim (~10GB) is created in 9.5-10.0 minutes

4) After .wim file creation, exit cmd window
5) Close Install Media window
	click Yes to cancel install and allow reboot
6) Verify your captured source system info:
	Press Win+X > Powershell (Admin)
	Enter the below command, no brackets!
[dism /get-wiminfo /wimfile:"d:\install.wim" /Index:1]


Capture Command Notes:
/imagefile:D:\install.wim = save location drive letter and file info
/capturedir:C:\ = Windows source drive letter info
/ScratchDir:D:\Scratch = drive\folder location to let dism find Scratch space
/name:"Anyname" = Necessary argument, but the actual name isn't important. It labels the image created in .wim
/Description:"YourChoice" = Optional argument; can omit whole segment, but adding a descriptive comment helps identify the final ISO.

G-### Replace downloaded ISO install.wim with custom version
1) Browse to your custom install.wim on Data(D:)
2) Copy your custom install.wim to the Sources folder in ISO_files (D:\Iso_files\Sources)
	- This will replace the original install.wim from the downloaded ISO
3) Rename your backup copy of D:\install.wim to "FactoryFresh-install.wim"
	- Note that it must be changed back to install.wim to reuse


H-### Create the bootable custom.ISO
1) Run Deployment and Imaging Tools from ADK as an administrator
	On the start menu, find Windows Kits/Deployment and Imaging Tools
	Right-click>More>Run as Administrator
2) Type "cd\" and hit enter to shorten the long path
3) Run the following command:
	Exact characters and spacing! no brackets!

[oscdimg.exe -m -o -u2 -udfver102 -bootdata:2#p0,e,bd:\iso_files\boot\etfsboot.com#pEF,e,bd:\iso_files\efi\microsoft\boot\efisys.bin d:\iso_files d:\sweetnewfile.iso]

*sweetnewfile.ISO is made in ~1 minute
	-BIOS bootable via the [etfsboot.com] bootdata.
	-UEFI bootable via the [efisys.bin] bootdata.

Note:
d:\iso_files = REPLACE all three instances if your copied official ISO files are elsewhere.
d:\sweetnewfile.iso = REPLACE this with your preferred save location+name


You now have:
A) custom.ISO file on D:\
B) custom.wim file on D:\
C) extracted official ISO files in D:\Iso_files
D) an empty folder at D:\Scratch
E) a still empty folder at D:\Hyper-V


Check your custom.ISO in a virtual machine

Test your custom.ISO for functionality
I-### Enable Hyper-V virtual machine manager
	-perform after step-B to include Hyper-V in your ISO
1) Run Powershell as administrator
	Press Win+X, click on the admin link
2) Type the following command at the prompt:
	"Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName:Microsoft-Hyper-V -All"
	A few, then more circles appear, then it finishes
3) Enter Y to allow reboot
	Windows integrates Hyper-V, updates settings, auto-reboots

	*Note: Win10-Home does not include Hyper-V. Use 3rd-party hypervisor.

J-### Create/start virtual machine running custom.ISO
1) Open Hyper-V Manager via start menu
2) Adjust Server settings:
	Select 'desktop' under Manager in left panel
	Click Hyper-V Settings in upper right Actions panel
	Ensure Enhanced Session Modes are enabled:
		:in the new upper Server panel
		:in the new lower User panel
3) Add new virtual machine
	Right-click the server node (the little 'desktop' again)
	Select New>Virtual Machine
	Name=VirtMach1,
	Store location change to D:\Hyper-V
	Generation=2
	Assign startup memory= 4,096 MB (8,192 MB is better, if laptop has 16GB)
		**Unselect Dynamic memory option**
	Networking=not connected
	Create VHDx, size=45 GB
		*~10 GB ISO expands to ~27 GB in VHDx
		* WinSetup balks at 35 GB and recommends 44 GB
		  (Enhanced Sessions Mode has some virtual bulk)
	Install OS from ISO:
		Browse to your sweetnewfile.ISO
	Click Finish.
4) Adjust VM settings
	Right-click VirtMach01, select Settings
		In Security panel, uncheck Secure Boot option
		In Integration Services panel, add check to Guest Services
		In Checkpoints panel, set to Standard
	click Apply, and OK to close window
5) Run virtual machine
	Double-click VirtMach01 to open VMconnect window
	click "Start" within window
	When asked, press a KEY to boot.
	If text is a little fuzzy, adjust VMconnect View>Zoom
6) Install Windows (this will install your custom version)
	Select languages, etc., hit next, hit Install Now
	Select "I don't have a product key"
	Select CustomInstall, Next, etc.
		~5 minutes of installation until restart notice appears
		customized Win10 starts in a 4:3 VMconnect window
		The VMconnect resolution+resources dialogue box now appears...

	DO NOT immediately click the Connect button.
		Let installation initialize devices>get ready>Login screen.
		or simply let the installation auto-signin>desktop.
	NOW select Show Options at the bottom of the connect dialogue
		check "Save my settings..."
	click CONNECT
		VMconnect flashes>resizes>restarts>login screen.
		Sign-in to your new prepared virtual machine

	VM install notes:
	* If you forgot to uncheck Dynamic memory, auto-restart will fail.
		If you allocated a tiny amount of memory, the same...
		but, you can manually Turn off VMconnect at blue screen and Restart VM.

	* If you immediately Connect when you see the 'resolution' dialogue
		you will have blue screen Remote Desktop Services problems

	* After ~0-1.5 minutes a Control Center Application dialogue pops up
		Just okay it, and ignore. It's an irrelevant "HotKey in VM" issue.

7) Create a checkpoint for your virtual machine
	Click Action>Checkpoint on the VMconnect toolbar
		- a checkpoint will appear in the Hyper-V manager
	Why are checkpoints useful?
		1st:  Checkpoint>make changes>install programs>etc.>Checkpoint2
		2nd:  Now Right-click>Apply to switch between two checkpoints in seconds (yes, seconds)

	Notes:
	* If you StartMenu>Restart your guest OS (i.e "in the window"), you will see RDS error upon restart
	* If you Shut Down via the VMconnect menu it will be fine:
		The initial "good resolution" VMconnect shuts down.
		VMconnect flashes.
		4:3 VMconnect window shuts down OS, goes to black.


You now have:
A version of your new laptop, running on your new laptop!

[img]https://i.imgur.com/nihjkeu.jpg[/img]

Feel free to poke around in the guest OS (i.e. the custom.ISO installed in Hyper-V), your physical laptop system is safe from all your poking. The worst that can happen is you revert to an earlier checkpoint or reinstall in a new VM. Enable/disable whatever you like, surf the registry, finally get around to deleting that pesky system32 folder...


Check your ISO directly on a physical drive
K-### Install your custom.ISO on your source machine SSD
	* Warning for partitioned drives:
	* If you imaged C=full disk, and then decided to partition, reinstall still restores C=full disk.
	* Therefore, ensure novel partitions are backed up externally.

1) Your custom.ISO is already bootable!
	Grab and quick-format a flash drive
		Right-click, select format
		default=NTFS, 4,096 bytes, Quick Format
	Double-click sweetnewfile.ISO on (D:) to mount it
	Copy all of the contents to the USB drive
		= Finished.
	Reboot while hitting F7
	Install your custom Windows10 with preset users/software

	* Alternate method using Rufus:
	Download Rufus onto a flash drive, transfer it to Data(D:)
	Open Rufus, point it to your sweetnewfile.ISO
	-See the Rufus guide by @Phoenix for more info


Teleport back to factory fresh with Macrium Reflect
Phase 3:
L-### Use your MR rescue disk to run MR in WinPE
	* Warning for partitioned drives,
	* your pre-partioning MRIMG of C=full disk, will restore C=full disk
	* therefore, ensure any novel partitions are backed up externally

1) Pop in your Macrium Reflect rescue disk from Phase 1
	Follow the guide by @Phoenix to refresh your memory
2) Browse to your MRIMG file
3) Bam! Experiment over! Back to the start!


Lather, rinse, repeat as desired...

============================================================

Additional notes/info/links for some steps:
	The Info and Download links are at the end (line 540), following the guide notes.


* Skip these notes if you can partition without trouble, and already have a Win10 ISO and WinPE USB drive.
Notes.A-###
My primary drive initially couldn't be split due to a system restore file sitting right in the middle of C:
	-Resolved by disabling Restore
	-Remove hibernation now too if you don't use it.
	1) Disable System Restore:
		Control Panel>System>System Protection
		click "Configure" button
		click radio button to Disable sys prot.
	2) Disable Hibernation
		Press Win+R for command prompt
		type "powercfg /h OFF", hit enter
		Note: no confirmation is given.
	3) Trim SSD
		Press Win+X > PowerShell (Admin)
		type "Optimize-Volume -DriveLetter C -ReTrim -Verbose"

Notes.B-###
There are a couple ways to get your Win10 ISO from Microsoft:
The user agent change method stopped working (at least for me, on the Windows site);
I didn't investigate further, but I'll leave the method here anyway.

1) Option 1- Use the ISO downloading tool from HeiDoc.net
	Download the tool and run the .exe, install isn't needed.
	Select your ISO from many download options.

2) Option 2- Download directly from Microsoft
	Your download choice will be selected by Microsoft
	Go to the Windows ISO download page
	Download what Microsoft lets you, i.e. 1709 right now

3) Option 3- Download preferred ISO from a list of choices
	Go to the Windows ISO download page
	*Change the User Agent String in Chrome/Opera by:
	opening developer tools = ctrl+shift+i
	click "3-dot" drop down box within developer tools
		select More Tools>Network Conditions
		uncheck Select Automatically
		Select a "custom" non-windows choice like Linux, Mac
	refresh browser to reload current webpage
		Current page reloads as a Linux/Mac/etc machine page
		Choose from new options on webpage and download
	*Closing the webpage restores automatic detection.
	*Calculate/record/check the hashes if you like
4) Save downloaded ISO to USB, move to the source laptop
	Copy to Data(D:)
5) Mount the downloaded ISO by double clicking
6) Copy all of the files to D:\Iso_files
7) Unmount the ISO by Right-click>Eject
	The official ISO isn't used later, but keep it handy.

Notes.C-###
There are several alternative methods to obtain an "official" WinPE via:
	-Use your full ADK download from step-D
	-Direct download of Windows Install Media
	-Use WinPE implemented in a Macrium Reflect rescue disk

>If you download the full ADK suite you can make an "official" WinPE10"
1) Open ADK setup as in step-D and install WinPE feature
2) Quick-format a USB drive
	Right-click, select format>Quick-format>start
3) Run Deployment and Imaging Tools from ADK as an administrator
	On the start menu, find Windows Kits/Deployment and Imaging Tools
	Right-click>More>Run as Administrator
	type "copype amd64 D:\WinPE_amd64", hit enter
4) Identify your USB drive letter
	type "diskpart", hit enter
	type "list vol", hit enter
	-note the letter of your USB drive
	type exit
5) Create the WinPE USB drive
	* Replace "F:" with your USB drive volume letter if different!
	type "MakeWinPEMedia /UFD D:\WinPE_amd64 F:"
	hit enter
	Type "Y" to proceed with format.
	Program displays:
		Setting the boot code on F:
		Copying files to F:...
		Success
6) Your flash drive is now:
	:labeled as WinPE
	:populated with 266 MB of files

>Re-download the entire WinPE dataset from Microsoft:
1) Download the Windows 10 media creation tool
2) Right-click, Run As Administrator
	Choose 64-bit
	Create installation media for another PC
3) Insert USB flash drive
4) Select media choice of "USB Flash Drive"
	Flash drive now has lots of files (3.55 GB)...


>Make and use a Macrium Reflect rescue disk
1) Click "Other Tasks" on the file menu
	select "Rescue Disk"
	follow wizard...
2) While booting to the MR rescue disk you MUST:
	- NOT CLOSE the MR application, or your computer restarts!
	- minimize the MR application
	- use the command prompt for DISKPART/DISM


Download links, further info/refs:
	Links current as of 01/2018
(*) This guide:
	https://pastebin.com/edit/9SPSRBRU
(*) Download the free version of Macrium Reflect 7
	https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree
(B) Download Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) for Windows 10
	https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/windows-assessment-deployment-kit
(C) Download Win10 1703
	http://windowsiso.net/windows-10-iso/windows-10-creators-update-1703-download-build-15063/windows-10-creators-update-1703-iso-download-standard/
(C) Download HashCalc
	http://www.slavasoft.com/hashcalc/
(C) Win10 ISO CRC/MD5/SHA1/256 checksum dump:
	https://pastebin.com/fgqtG3mJ
(D) Download Windows 10 Media Creation tool
	https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Microsoft's DISM command-line options/explanations
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/dism-image-management-command-line-options-s14#capture-image

Microsoft's Oscdimg command-line options/explanations
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/oscdimg-command-line-options

The following two tutorials provide in-depth coverage of specific aspects of this guide, with additional info for actually building the ISO within a VM. Both tutorials contain DISM/Ocsdimg command line examples for comparison.

EchoRelay's Final Thoughts from IT tutorial:
https://finalthought.org/2017/04/12/creating-customized-windows-10-version-1703-media-iso-wim-flash-drive/

Kari Finn's TenForums tutorial:
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/72031-create-windows-10-iso-image-existing-installation.html