Custom OS Template (Windows)

An organisation administrator can build a Customized OS Template to serve as the foundation for rolling out remote desktops. This approach also lets you activate your own licence on the operating system.

Follow these essential steps carefully to produce a working image. 

Important:

About Disk Partition
1. A customised template needs only one disk partition, or two at most: an EFI/Boot partition and a system/data partition.
2. LVM partitions are not supported; avoid using them.
3. An incorrect partition layout will break the automatic disk resize and machine naming features.

 

Windows

1. Install "Red Hat VirtIO SCSI pass-through controller

   When the installer asks "Where do you want to install Windows?", click "Load drivers" and pick the correct driver. The storage drive will then appear.

2. Initial Setup

     On the "Let's connect you to a network" screen, click I don't have internet.

     On the "There's more to discover..." screen, click Continue with limited setup.

     Pick any username and leave the password blank.

3. Install Virtio-win drivers and guest agents

    Once the machine boots and you have logged in, open the CD Drive E and run Virtio-win-guest-tools to set up the virtio drivers along with spice vdagent and qemu guest agent. Work through the wizard by clicking next, then OK to complete the installation.

4. Disable Hibernate 

    Right-click "Command Prompt" and choose "Run as administrator". Type "powercfg.exe /hibernate off" and press Enter.

5. Enable Shutdown/Restart Windows 10 without Any Prompts

     Inside the registry editor, go to this key: HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop.

     Add a new String Value called AutoEndTasks and set its data to 1.

      

 

6. Check if the required service exists and set to "Automatic Start"

• Spice-Vdagent : enables the qemu VNC clipboard
• BalloonSerivce:   provides guest memory usage statistics

    

        

7. Install and configure Tightvnc to allow proper VNC connection

    Head to https://www.tightvnc.com/download/ and grab the TightVNC installer for Windows.

    Run the installer and turn off authentication when the setup finishes.

    Open "TightVNC service configuration" and adjust its settings

 

8. Enable Shared-drive

    The shared-drive feature lets cloud desktops swap files during a training course or between a user’s personal computer and the cloud desktop. It relies on WebDAV file sharing technology, so you need to map the drive before you can use it. Check the screenshot below for guidance.

 

 

9. Shutdown your Windows properly

    Click the Windows icon in the bottom left corner, then Power -> Shutdown.

 

 

Please Note

To add extra optional features such as 

• DDWebdav – synchronises the trainer’s content folders to every participant’s machine,
• or DDUpload – makes it straightforward to upload files into a DaDesktop machine;

Please contact DaDesktop Tech Support.