ImageAssist Virtual Machine Tutorials

One of ImageAssist best practices is to use a virtual environment to create our golden image. We can leverage ImageAssist with a Virtual Machine to create and maintain a cross-platform deployable Windows image. Using a virtual environment  provides an advantage with keeping up with operating system changes and upgrades, as well as, avoiding issues with system drivers. 

This is why, though we can create our image using a physical Dell system, we still recommend the use of a virtual machine. Below are some video tutorials for three different virtual machine solutions. The tutorials were made using an OEM download copy of Windows 10. In the videos  we  demonstrate how to create our Reference image that will later progress to your maintenance image then finally your Golden image for deployment. The virtual machine solutions used are:

• VMWare Workstation 12
• VirtualBox
• Microsoft Hyper-V

Microsoft Hyper-V can be added as a feature in Windows 10 with no additional cost. VirtualBox is also a free solution download as to VMWare Workstation is not. Below are the Tutorial video for each platform. We don't recommend using the VM to create the USB Drive for our Dell PE Key. It's best to use the host to create the USB Drive. Please see the link ImageAssist - Create USB Drive  for more information.

NOTE: Depending on your VM host, in regards to VM resources, 2GB of Memory and 2 Processors is acceptable as a bare minimum. However, the process may take longer. All videos listed were trimmed to save time for the purpose of the tutorial.

ImageAssist - Hyper-V Tutorial

• ImageAssist Hyper-V Part 1 - Hyper-V_Build
• ImageAssist Hyper-V Part 2 - Installing Windows
• ImageAssist Hyper-V Part 3 - Reference Image_Capture

ImageAssist - VirtualBox Tutorial

• ImageAssist VirtualBox Tutorial Part -1
• ImageAssist VirtualBox Tutorial Part -2

ImageAssist - VMWare Tutorial

• ImageAssist VMWare Tutorial Part 1
• ImageAssist VMWare Tutorial Part 2

The links below provide a more comprehensive understanding to each process of the Dell ImageAssist tool:

• ImageAssist - Introduction
• ImageAssist - Best Practices
• ImageAssist - Installation
• ImageAssist - Guide Me
• ImageAssist - Create USB Drive
• ImageAssist - Create Unattend XML
• ImageAssist - Auto Capture Image
• ImageAssist - Capture Backup Image
• ImageAssist - Restore Image

Feel free to either call or email us with any additional assistance needed or questions you may have. Here's how to contact our ImageAssist Help Desk:

Phone: 866-340-0541
Email: US_OSImaging@dell.com