The Universal Imaging Utility (UIU) Version 4.5 is the
only software application able to create a true
hardware-independent hard drive image. Used in conjunction with
your existing cloning application (Symantec Ghost, Altiris,
ZenWorks, etc.), the UIU can create a single Windows PC image that
can be easily deployed to any business class laptop or desktop in
your environment regardless of manufacturer or model. You can now
create and maintain only ONE master image that will work on all
existing and future hardware regardless of HAL type, processor, PC
make or model. Maintaining multiple individual images for PCs from
Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc. is no longer necessary.
The UIU 4.5 is designed for Microsoft Windows XP (SP2 &
SP3), Vista (SP1), Windows 7 systems specifically (Windows 2000 is
still serviced by UIU v3.7) with full support for Mac Intel-based
hardware.
How the UIU Works
Your cloning process begins just like it would for any base
image setup. You first prepare your master machine with any
applications, setting, programs etc. that you want to deploy to
other workstations. After base image configuration, the UIU is
run.
The UIU begins by resetting your existing Windows operating
system to a simple "pre-installation" state, allowing for correct
detection of different hardware platforms upon image deployment
without crashing the systems. No more BSsOD.
UIU then runs MIMIC (Master Image Machine Integrity Check) for
base image best practices and, new to v4.5, a pre-deployment
Discovery Tool allowing you to access your environment and make any
necessary adjustments before continuing the process.
Next, a regularly updated driver database is installed, assuring
greater compatibility with new hardware components. As you acquire
new hardware, with new video, network and audio components, you
need not maintain the necessary drivers; Big Bang does the work for
you. Big Bang's driver database contains drivers and Plug and
Play IDs for all the latest hardware and chipsets.
Then, Microsoft Sysprep is launched. Running Sysprep helps keep
you in compliance with Microsoft's standards for disk imaging, and
the UIU uses it to help detect the hardware components on a machine
receiving a Universal Image. Additionally, Sysprep will change the
Security ID (SID) on your recipient PCs, allowing for consistent
interaction with any Active Directory domain structure. The UIU
handles Sysprep answer files for you, (both XP and the new Vista
XML format), so there is no need to build a custom Sysprep answer
file.
Finally, during Windows mini-setup, UIU detects and installs the
correct HAL (ACPI, UniProcessor or MultiProcessor), and handles all
hardware driver installations, now including High Definition Audio
devices.
The UIU generally installs in ten minutes or less, and then you
simply clone the PC using your disk imaging software.
- U.S. Patent #7,512,833 B1
PRODUCT REQUIREMENTS
- Windows XP SP2 or SP3, Windows Vista Business or
Enterprise (32-bit only for XP and Vista) incl. SP1*, or
Windows 7
- 3 GB of free space on the drive where Windows is installed
(Includes temporary files)
- DVD-ROM if not downloading software
- UIU 4.5 will install Microsoft .Net 3.5, or it can be manually
installed
- A disk imaging application (Symantec Ghost, Altiris, Acronis,
etc.)
- Internet connectivity is suggested in order to obtain UIU
Online Updates
*The system requirements for installation of the UIU are the
same as the system requirements for installation of your Windows
operating System.
PRODUCT LIMITATIONS
- The UIU is not designed to function with Windows 2000 Server or
Windows 2003/2008 Server versions.
- The UIU does not support RAID based systems.
- A UIU image created on a fully ACPI compliant system will not
be compatible with older, non-ACPI compliant (Standard PC)
systems.
- Deployment from a SCSI based system to an IDE/ATA/PATA/SATA
system may fail. The UIU supports imaging to a non-RAID
SCSI system, but not from a SCSI system.