Lenovo ThinkVantage ImageUltra Builder Version 5.0 - Manual (Page 18)

modules. The hardware configuration of the target computer must be the same
as the hardware configuration of the source computer used to create the image.
Additional detail about these image types are discussed later in this publication.
The use and importance of Sysprep
If you intend to use Portable-Sysprep Images or Hardware-Specific Images, you
must have a thorough knowledge of the Microsoft Sysprep tool. Unlike
Ultra-Portable Images, Portable-Sysprep Images and Hardware-Specific Images are
based on images extracted from a source computer that have gone through a
Windows setup operation. Therefore, specific user and hardware information must
be removed from the source computer using the Sysprep tool before the image can
be deployed to other computers.
Which image types are best for you?
The types of images you choose to deploy using the ImageUltra Builder program
depend on the mix of PCs used by your company, the investment you have in
images created by third-party image-cloning software, and the willingness of your
IT staff to learn new methods for creating and modifying images.
For example:
v To maintain existing PCs for which you already have images, you might choose
to convert existing Hardware-Specific Images into modules that can be stored
and deployed using the ImageUltra Builder program.
v If you are planning to install assorted models of Lenovo branded PCs only, you
might consider developing Ultra-Portable Images using imported
ImageUltra-developed operating-system modules that can be used across the
Lenovo branded product line regardless of hardware variations.
v If you plan to install a mix of PCs from various manufacturers and want to
minimize the number of images you want to maintain and have the maximum
portability across various PC manufacturers’ platforms, your best bet is to
develop Ultra-Portable Images using operating-system modules that you create
using the ImageUltra Builder program.
v If you plan to install a mix of PCs from various manufacturers, and you are not
ready to make the jump to developing Ultra-Portable Images, consider using the
ImageUltra Builder program in conjunction with third-party image-cloning
software to create Portable-Sysprep Images that enable the installation of
application or device-driver modules so that the image can be deployed across a
wider range of PCs.
Because Smart Images support all three types of images, you can use combinations
of images within a single base map.
Each image type has its own characteristics. The following sections provide a brief
overview of the function, advantages, and disadvantages of each type of image
that can be deployed as part of a Smart Image.
Ultra-Portable Image
The Ultra-Portable Image is the most portable of the three types of supported
images. Because an Ultra-Portable Image is deployed in an uninstalled state and
uses the full Windows setup for hardware detection during installation, the image
is virtually hardware independent. However, the high portability of an
4 ImageUltra Builder Version 5.0: User Guide