The Universal Imaging Utility (UIU) Version 4.7 from developer Big Bang LLC, 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, SCCM, etc.), the UIU creates 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. The UIU contains a continuously vetted and updated driver database of over 32,000 Plug and Play IDs which eliminates the need to search for, and install drivers. Maintaining multiple individual images for PCs from Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc. is no longer necessary.
The UIU 4.7 is designed for Microsoft Windows XP (SP2 & SP3), Vista, Windows 7 (32 and 64-bit), and Windows Thin PC systems specifically, with full support for Mac Intel-based hardware.
Your PC cloning process begins just like it would for any base image setup. First, you 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.
Second, 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 Blue Screens Of Death.
The UIU then runs MIMIC (Master Image Machine Integrity Check) for base image best practices and 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 .inf and Vista and Windows 7 .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 proceed with normal PC cloning using your existing disk imaging software. The UIU works with any existing disk imaging application including Symantec Ghost, Altiris, Acronis, Zenworks, Clonezilla, Microsoft ImageX, MDT, SCCM and more.
- U.S. Patent #7,512,833 B1