I've just spent some time creating a new Virtual PC image running Windows Vista Business Edition. The reason for it is I want a base image that I can use for installing beta software, development tools and the like. Whenever a new beta release of a product comes out (e.g. SQL Server 2008) I can just take a copy of my base image from backing store rather than having to go through the rigmarole of uninstalling and reinstalling the software or, worse, platforming a new image.
One thing you want to do when you build a new image for these purposes is prepare it with all software and configuration that you are going to want each time you take a fresh copy of the image. Set it all up once rather than every single time - that's what I say. I've kept a list of everything I did to this image so that I can refer to it later when I next have to go through this process. I thought it would be useful to share the list so as to give others some ideas of what they might want to do when they setup an image (and so I don't lose the list). Here it is:
- Control Panel set to classic view
- Turn off running of Welcome Center at startup
- Set optimum screen resolution (1600*1200)
- Change regional and language settings
- Setup Quick Launch bar
- Add Desktop toolbar to Taskbar
- Installed all necassary Windows Updates
- Install antivirus and malware protection
- Change screen saver, desktop background
- Turn off Sidebar
- Set preferred home page in web browser
- Associate my Windows Live ID with this O/S
- Install Windows Live toolbar
- Sync Live Favo(u)rites
- Install Virtual Earth 3D ActiveX Control at http://maps.live.com
- Install Live Skydrive uploading tool at http://skydrive.live.com
- Copy a shortcut to the Services Panel (services.msc) to my desktop (I hate it being hidden down in Control Panel\Administrative Tools)
- Stop the 'Offline Files' service and set it to manual startup
- Stop the 'Print Spooler' service and set it to manual startup
- Stop the 'Tablet PC Input Service' service and set it to manual startup
- Install Silverlight
- Install Adobe Reader
- Install Adobe Flash Player
- Install Virtual Machine Additions
- Set 'Show hidden files and folders' and uncheck 'Hide protected operating system files' in Folder Options. Apply to all folders
- Reboot so that auto updates get installed
- Sign-in to http://blogs.conchango.com to get login cookie stored
- Sign-in to http://reader.google.com to get the login cookie stored
Of course, your list will be different but this might give you some ideas. Did I miss anything?
-Jamie