I am very familiar with the preload process. We use pre-load DVD's to provide our image to Dell. Currently Our preload is on 2 DVD's. For anyone NOT familiar with the preload process, you boot to disk one, it does it's thing, it prompts for disk two which does its thing and shuts down the pc. Does anyone know how to do this via usb key and have the process just keep on trucking,(all the data on the usb key)at the point it asks for the 2nd DVD? the help is much appreciated!

how big is your total image size ? Step by Step ConfigMgr 2007 Guides | Step by Step ConfigMgr 2012 Guides | I'm on Twitter > ncbrady

6.27 GB sir........

*bump*

Hi MBroome, PC Preloads, do you mean creating Stand-alone media from a Task Sequence with USB instead of DVD's? Regards, Kenny

Thanks for the help Kenny, gmorning! Yes, that's what I mean. just using one usb key instead of having to swap DVD's in and out to preload a box.............

OK. One of my TS included image is approx 8 GB and it is no problem to create the Stand-alone media to one singe USB flash pen. But, as always, there are some common things you should be aware of before you start: 1. Use a USB stick from 8-16 GB (USB external drive do not work) 2. Format the USB stick from FAT32 to NTFS before you start the Stand-alone media 3. The USB stick must psysical be inserted to the SCCM server, or you can install the ConfigMgr Console on your machine (works great with Windows 7) Regards Kenny

Server farm is across town so my only viable option is to do it at my desk. Im running win 7 and always get the ol "disk is not ready" error when I try to make one.......

From the ConfigMgr Console -> OSD -> Task Sequences -> Create Task Sequence Media Wizard: You never get "disk is not ready", a drive letter will be available (see figure) or the USB Flash Drive will be blank. Kenny

Happens every time! all the log tells me is that the drive isnt "ready"..........

You need to create partition and activate USB Flash Drive: Open CMD as Administrator (from a Windows 7 Client!) 1) Run DISKPART 2) DISKPART > list disk 3) Determine which disk number corresponds to the USB flash drive (make sure you correctly make this determination!), then at the DISKPART> prompt, type 'Select disk <x>' where <x> is the disk number that the USB flash drive corresponds to 4) DISKPART > clean 5) DISKPART > cre par pri 6) DISKPART > sel par 1 7) DISKPART > active 8) DISKPART > format fs=ntfs quick 9) exit Kenny

same thing still :( . I heard that there was a bug that a win 7 machine with any mapped drives has this prob :(

OK, try: 1) Another USB stick 2) DISKPART the USB stick from another clean Windows 7 client without mapped drives You are very close now MBroome... Kenny

Done :) ty VERY much!