Table 2. Actions to be taken to optimize system performance, with links to the appropriate downloads

Scenario

Actions

 

 

All involving

To optimize performance with Windows 7, either apply Microsoft Knowledge Base article 982018

Windows 7

or update to Windows 7 SP1 or later.

 

For Intel® platforms, upgrade to Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST) 9.6 or later.

 

For AMD platforms, upgrade to the latest version of the AMD Serial ATA (SATA) Advanced Host

 

Controller Interface (AHCI) Driver.

 

Note: The Intel and AMD drivers are supported on Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.

 

 

All involving

With Windows Vista, you should apply the appropriate fix-on-failure patch (Microsoft Knowledge

Windows

Base article 2470478) if, for example, you receive the following error message during Windows

Vista

Update:

 

FATAL: Failed to initialize datastore, error = 0xC8000222

 

 

All involving

Even with non-Advanced Format drives, specifying the incorrect combination of partition size (for

Windows XP

example, when using DiskPart or the Ghost –sze switch) and the ExtendOemPartition line2 in

 

SYSPREP.INF (or other Windows unattended installation files) will cause the blue screen of death

 

(BSOD).

 

The recommended solution is as follows:

 

∙ Remove the ExtendOemPartition line from SYSPREP.INF and UNATTENDED.TXT.

 

Ensure that partition size is not manipulated by template SIF files.

 

You must use Filesystem=LeaveAlone and you must NOT use ExtendOemPartition.

 

∙ Allow disk cloning tools such as DiskPart or Ghost to align and extend the partition.

AYour Advanced Format drive is aligned.

Note: If you are upgrading your PC to Windows Vista SP1 or later or Windows 7, no realignment is required since these OSs are Advanced Format-aware.

BThis scenario is not supported by HP.

CInstallations using versions of WinPE as early as version 1.63 (from Windows Server 2003) can be used to create aligned partitions. Although not required for imaging, the following environments provide some additional capabilities for Advanced Format drives:

∙WinPE 3.0 plus Microsoft Knowledge Base article 9820184

∙WinPE 3.1

DEnsure that your imaging tools are Advanced Format-aware so that you can validate your infrastructure for Advanced Format readiness.

EHP recommends creating an aligned partition (using a tool like DiskPart) to be used during the OS installation.

Alternatively, you could first install the image and then interactively run the Paragon Partition Alignment Tool to ensure the partition is aligned. HP does not recommend this option for large-scale deployments and does not provide a scriptable version of the Paragon Partition Alignment Tool. Important: Do not create new partitions with an OS that is not Advanced Format-aware.

Note: If you are downgrading your PC to Windows XP or Windows Vista, note that these OSs are not Advanced Format-aware.

2The ExtendOemPartition line specifies whether or not to extend the partition on which you are installing the Windows operating system.

3Versions of WinPE prior to 2.1 do not provide support for Advanced Format drives. However, you can use an earlier version to create a partition if you supply the align=1024 parameter to DiskPart’s Create command.

4The functionality provided by KB982018 is included in Windows 7 SP1 and WinPE3.1

5