Customised Windows OS Template
Administrators can build a custom OS template to spin up remote desktops, which also lets you apply your own licence.
Follow these steps carefully to create the image correctly.
Important Tips:
About Disk Partition
1. Use a single disk partition, or at most two: one EFI/Boot partition and a separate system/data partition.
2. LVM partitions are not supported—avoid them entirely.
3. An incorrect partition layout will break automatic disk resizing and machine naming.
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
When you see 'There's more to discover...', click Continue with limited setup
Pick any username and leave the password blank.
3. Install Virtio-win drivers and guest agents
After logging in, open CD drive E and run Virtio-win-guest-tools to install the virtio drivers, spice vdagent and qemu guest agent. Click Next and OK to finish.
4. Disable Hibernate
Right-click Command Prompt and choose 'Run as administrator', then type 'powercfg.exe /hibernate off' and press Enter.
5. Enable Shutdown/Restart Windows 10 without Any Prompts
Open Registry Editor and go to this key: HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop
Create a new String Value called AutoEndTasks and set it to 1.
6. Check if the required service exists and set to "Automatic Start"
- Spice-Vdagent : for support of qemu vnc clipboard
- BalloonSerivce: for guest memory usage stats
7. Install and configure Tightvnc to allow proper VNC connection
Go to https://www.tightvnc.com/download.php and download the TightVNC Windows installer.
Run the installer, and when it finishes, disable authentication.
Open 'TightVNC service configuration' and set it up.
8. Enable Shared-drive
Shared-drive lets cloud desktops share files during training sessions or between your local PC and the cloud desktop. It uses WebDAV technology. You must map the drive before using it. See the screenshot for instructions.
9. Shutdown your Windows properly
Click the Start button in the bottom-left corner, then Power, then Shut down.
Please Note
For extra optional features such as
- DDWebdav – to sync the trainer's content folders to each participant's machine,
- or DDUpload – for easily uploading files to a DaDesktop machine;
Please contact DaDesktop Tech Support.