Reasons to re-image a computer

• For more information please review the Reimaging Guide
• The computer is booting to the bios splash screen then restarting without booting into Windows
• Blue screen error that is NOT “INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE”.  If the error is “INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE”, try the Pre-configuration steps below.  If there is an option to repair the OS, try that.
• If the computers have been thawed for a long time and have a bunch of apps/programs installed that need to be removed.

First you will need to make sure you have the working backup image. If you don't already have it on one of the USB sticks or External HDD already, it can be pulled off the Server by opening File Explorer and going to “This PC” in the lefthand list box of File Explorer. Under the F: drive named “Utility” > inside Utility there should be “$image” folder. In here, there should be the Server base image, Einstein Base, and Learner Base. Alternatively, these images can be pulled off the external HDD we provided in your recovery kit.  The kit should be located in the locked cabinet locked with code 123, 1234, or 257 and will be either a lock box or a red case.

This guide was created using "clonezilla-live-3.1.2-22-amd64.iso" and steps may be out of order or different depending on the version of Clonezilla you are using. You can build a bootable Clonezilla USB on one of our SmartLab provided USB sticks found in the SCRS Recovery Kit by following the guide on creating a Clonezilla Live USB (Creating Clonezilla USB). Additionally, linked here (Clonezilla 3.1.2-22) is the Clonezilla version used when creating this guide for you to download.

The previous step may be bypassed if the Clonezilla version is close enough to that version and you can use the Clonezilla image already burned onto one of our SmartLab USB's in the recovery kit.

Use a secondary USB, separate from the Clonezilla one we are booting from to store the image. The backup images can be found on the External Hard Drive we sent as part of the SmartLab Recovery Kit or on the Server in the classroom in the "Utility" Drive. Copy the image based on the name, ex. "Learner Base", folder in the root directory of that secondary USB that will be holding the image and set it aside, during the installation process, we will plug in this USB in a later step.

Lets get started!

Reminder if the school has a wireless keyboard, they will need to hold down the Fn key while pressing the F2 key.

Pre-Configuration Steps for Dell 5490 AIO 

The first step is to ensure all the BIOS settings match, otherwise Clonezilla will not work 

Turn on or restart the Dell Computer and repeatedly press the F2 key 

• Four settings must change to match our image
• Boot Configuration > Turn off secure boot
• Storage > AHCI
• Power > Disable Deep Sleep
• System Management > LAN or WAN
• Apply 

Pre-Configuration Steps for Dell 7440, 7450, 7460, 7470, 7480, 7780 AIO 

The first step is to ensure all the BIOS settings match, otherwise Clonezilla will not work 

Turn on the computer and continually press F2 to enter the BIOS settings 

• Under System Configuration > Ensure it is on AHCI
• Power Management > Ensure Deep Sleep Control is Disabled
• Power Management > Wake on LAN/WAN is set to LAN or WLAN
• Apply and Exit

Reimaging Lab Computers with Clonezilla

Power the computer we are reimaging down by shutting it down properly through the Windows start menu.

Plug in the USB that has bootable Clonezilla on it

Start the computer and keep rapidly pressing the F12 key to bring up the boot menu.

Use the arrow keys to highlight USB with Clonezilla Live on it and press enter while it is highlighted to boot into the Clonezilla Boot menu. In our case it is the Sandisk USB (The manufacturer of the USB drive should clue us in to the correct USB to boot from with Clonezilla Live on it).

Now you will see the first screen, leave the first option highlighted and press enter to continue.

Next leave English selected and press enter to continue.

Keep the default Keyboard Layout and press enter.

Highlight “Start_Clonezilla” and press enter.

Select “device-image” with arrow keys and press enter.

Select local_dev and press enter.

Press enter to continue.

Plug the USB that is holding the backup image and wait until it shows up as /dev/sdb, in our case it is the Sandisk Cruzer Glide USB. CLS's USBs might be Sandisk, Mushkin, or whatever brand name is listed on the USB itself that shows up a few seconds after being plugged in. Once detected press Ctrl-C.

Now we want to select the device we are pulling the backup image from. It should be the USB we just detected in the previous step. CLS's USBs are 64-128GB or larger in size usually, while in this example it is a 32 GB USB Drive for demonstration purposes.

Select "Skip checking/repairing the file system before mounting” and press enter.

Here we want to use the "Tab" key twice to highlight the "Done" button in red while leaving the LearnerBase highlighted in the list in blue.  And then press "Enter" to continue.

Select Beginner Mode and press enter.

Use the arrow keys to highlight “restoredisk” and press enter.

Use the arrow keys to highlight the LearnerBase image and press Enter to use it for the reimage.

Highlight the Hard Drive of the computer that we will be imaging to in this step and press enter (usually an NVMe drive and 256GB in size or more, however in this demonstration, this is much smaller since it is just the base operating system and not all our apps and configurations are in this practice image).

Choose the default option highlighted first here “-k0” and press enter.

Highlight “Skip checking the image” and press enter to continue.

Choose the -p choose option so we can either restart it or shut it down after the reimaging is done.

Press Enter to continue.

Type y and enter to continue.

Type y again and press enter.

The reimaging process will now commence, this will take 20-30 minutes depending on the speed of the USB.

After it is done reimaging, press Enter to continue.

Choose the Reboot option.

It will now begin the countdown to reboot, just let it boot directly in to the new operating system.

IF WINDOWS 10 (Windows 11 further down the article):

Post-Configuration Settings

When the computer powers on, it will automatically log into the Administrator account. You will see the SmartLab background and a dialog box in the middle. This is completely normal. The computer is in a state known as “System Preparation.” When CLS images your lab, it is done with this turned on. Now, we must get it out of System Preparation. 

If necessary, Adobe will have to be relicensed. You can find the license appropriate to this machine, by looking for the Adobe box in the locking cabinet. The serial number is noted on the disk inside the box. 

On the dialog box, put a checkmark in “Generalize”, leave the option on “Reboot”, and choose OK.

*IMPORTANT* If SysPrep tool does not work and gives you an error, see this guide on how to remove Store Apps that installed themselves before starting the OOBE: Sometimes the sysprep tool will fail to enter OOBE (Out-Of-Box-Experience) because it installs or updates Microsoft Store Apps. It should tell you which app it is in the error message. See this guide on how to find the app and remove it before trying SysPrep again: Sysprep fails with Microsoft Store apps - Windows Client | Microsoft Learn *IMPORTANT*

Once System Preparation is initialized, the computer will power cycle. It will shut off and restart a few times while displaying loading screens.

Finally, it will turn back on and enter into the “Out of Box Experience (OOBE)"

It will present you with a series of questions to set up the computer.  The options to select (in order):

• English
• United States
• US
• “Skip” adding another keyboard
• “Accept” the Agreement
• Set up for “Personal Use”
• Choose “Offline Account”
• Choose “Limited Experience”
• "Who is using this PC?" Type in, Learner
• Password is left blank
• Uncheck every option for Privacy Settings
• If applicable, hit next without filling in any information
  • If wanting to personalize the experience, choose Skip
  • If asked to upgrade to Windows 11, choose Skip or Not Right Now
• Uncheck the two boxes left and hit next
• It will then begin booting into Windows

Final Steps

There are final steps that still need to be completed. The computers must be added back to the domain (if applicable to your SmartLab Adding Computers to Domain), and LanSchool and Deep Freeze will need to be reinstalled (if applicable). Contact the CLS Support team if you need help. 

If Windows 11:

When the computer powers on, it will automatically log into the Administrator account. You will see the SmartLab background and a dialog box in the middle. This is completely normal. The computer is in a state known as “System Preparation.” When CLS images your lab, it is done with this turned on. Now, we must get it out of System Preparation. 

On SysPrep on the dialog box, put a checkmark in “Generalize”, leave the option on “Reboot”, and choose OK and the computer will reboot to OOBE (Out-of-Box-Experience).

If SysPrep tool does not work and gives you an error, try to run the Power Shell script “RemoveXboxAndSpotify.ps1” located here: RemoveXboxAndSpotify.ps1, then try to run SysPrep again and it should work.

Upon reboot you will enter the OOBE or Out-Of-Box-Experience, select United States.

US Keyboard and click “Yes”

Skip Adding another keyboard layout

Accept the License Agreement

"Skip for now" on naming the computer

Select "Setup for Work or School" and click “Next”

Click "Sign in options" circled in red

Select “Domain join instead”

Enter name “Learner” for “Who's going to use this device?”

Leave password blank and click “Next”

Toggle off all privacy settings and click “Accept”

Wait for it to go through the setup process

Computer will boot now to Desktop

There are final steps that still need to be completed. The computers must be added back to the domain (if applicable to your SmartLab Adding Computers to Domain), and LanSchool and Deep Freeze will need to be reinstalled (if applicable).

If this does not resolve the issue, please contact SmartLab Technical Support at support@clsonline.com