Lenovo ThinkVantage ImageUltra Builder Version 5.0 - Manual (Page 22)

mini-setup. The mini-setup prompts for specific user information and performs a
limited hardware query. Although the mini-setup makes allowances for minor
variations in the hardware (such as audio, video, and so on), it does not deal
effectively with different core chipsets. Because a Portable-Sysprep Image does not
have to go through a complete Windows setup, the Windows setup time is
typically reduced to 10 minutes or less. The ImageUltra Builder program enables
you to predefine default user settings or implement a process that prompts the
person installing the image to provide all necessary user settings near the
beginning of the installation process. These settings are stored and provided to the
mini-setup program when needed.
Upon the successful completion of the mini-setup, any additional applications
defined by the base map are installed. The actual setup time for a complete image
installation varies depending on the size and number of application modules
defined in your base map.
Portability of a Portable-Sysprep Image
Although Portable-Sysprep Images can be used with Lenovo branded and
non-Lenovo branded computers and provide increased portability by enabling
additional device drivers and applications to be installed, there are still hardware
limitations. As a general rule, a Portable-Sysprep Image is for use on identical or
similar computers, and in many cases, the Portable-Sysprep Image is manufacturer
unique.
There are various factors in determining what constitutes a similar computer:
v If you are deploying a Portable-Sysprep Image to a target computer that has the
identical system board (motherboard) as the source computer, the image will
install and work successfully.
v If you are deploying a Portable-Sysprep Image to a target computer that has a
different system board, but the same core chip set as the source computer, there
is a high probability that the image will install and work successfully.
v If you are deploying a Portable-Sysprep Image to a target computer that has a
different system board and a different core chip set from the source computer,
there is a low probability that the image will install and work successfully.
Hardware-Specific Image
The least portable image is the Hardware-Specific Image. Hardware-Specific
Images can be developed for, deployed to, and installed on Lenovo branded and
non-Lenovo branded computers, but each image must be unique to a specific
hardware and software configuration.
Anatomy of a Hardware-Specific Image
A Hardware-Specific Image is similar to a Portable-Sysprep Image, but it does not
have the ability to append itself with additional modules. It is essentially a
“snapshot” of a source computer hard disk after the Microsoft Sysprep program
has been run. When deployed to a target computer, the Hardware-Specific Image
performs a limited hardware query, but the hardware it can support is limited to
the device drivers that were provided by the source computer. A
Hardware-Specific Image requires that the source and target computers contain the
exact same hardware with little or no variations. It also requires that any variation
in applications be handled separately from the image-deployment process and
image-installation process.
8 ImageUltra Builder Version 5.0: User Guide