Deploy Windows 7 from Linux live cd possible?

Discussion in 'Windows 7' started by Dsvgz8GB, Jan 24, 2013.

  1. Dsvgz8GB

    Dsvgz8GB MDL Novice

    Jan 24, 2013
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    Is it possible to use a linux boot cd, delete all partitions on hard drive, place windows 7 installation files on the local hard drive, reboot and have it install windows 7 from and to the same drive?

    Windows image is more than 10GB so DVD not possible. Reason for reinstall is often virus on client. Therefor I don't want to use USB-devices.

    Computer is often on other side of the world. I possibly also want to do recovery of files or copying stuff in order to do forensics.
     
  2. PhaseDoubt

    PhaseDoubt MDL Expert

    Dec 24, 2011
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    #2 PhaseDoubt, Jan 26, 2013
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2013
    If you already have a 10GB image, you don't have an installation disk. I'm uncertain what you're saying you actually have. When you say "image" do you mean the actual installation of Windows 7 on the hard drive has a 10GB footprint? i.e. takes up 10GB of disk space on C: drive?

    If you have an image, you restore that image by following the instructions given with the program that created the image. The two I'm most familiar with are Windows 7 and Acronis. Both of these use a bootable CD that restores the image from an external hard drive. Not sure about Acronis, but Windows 7 has the capability to create an image on a series of DVDs.

    If you want to "reinstall" Windows 7, you're going to have to use some sort of Windows 7 installation media such as a DVD or flash drive. But the size of either of those will not be 10GB unless you've done a massive amount of modifications to the OS prior to attempting to create installation media.

    Again, what exactly do you have on disks and what exactly do you want to accomplish?