The image types used in Windows Deployment Services are install images and boot images.
- Install image. The operating system
image that you deploy to the client computer. You can use the
default install image (Install.wim) located in the \Sources
directory on the Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2
DVDs. You can also modify the default images or create your own
images.
- Boot image. The Windows
Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) image that you boot a
client into before you install the install image. In most cases,
you should use the default boot image (Boot.wim) that is included
in the \Sources directory of the Windows Server 2008 R2
installation DVD. Except in advanced scenarios, you will not need
to modify this file unless you want to add drivers to the image
(see Add Driver
Packages to a Boot Image). To install an operating system, you
first boot the computer into the boot image, and then you select
the install image to install.
You can also create two additional types of boot images:
- Capture image. A type of boot image
that you boot a client computer into to capture the operating
system as a .wim file. You must first create a capture image in
order to create a custom install image.
- Discover image. A type of boot image
that you can use to install an operating system on a computer that
is not Pre-Boot Execution Environment (PXE)–enabled. When you boot
a computer into a discover image, the Windows Deployment Services
client will locate a valid Windows Deployment Services server, and
then you can choose the install image you want to install.
- Capture image. A type of boot image
that you boot a client computer into to capture the operating
system as a .wim file. You must first create a capture image in
order to create a custom install image.