How to create a system image file of an OS with some software programs already installed?

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Is it possible to create an install-able system image of an operating system (like Ubuntu, Windows 10) such that it has a bunch of programs already installed when the OS is installed?

Whenever I choose to reinstall my OS, the biggest problem I face is the time and effort it takes to install my required software programs after installing the actual OS. So I am looking for a solution for that.

The required software not only includes the common programs like Google Chrome and Skype, but also others like database servers, XAMPP and IDEs.

Shy

Posted 2017-05-28T05:21:27.960

Reputation: 153

Question was closed 2017-06-06T20:28:17.503

Yes; You can use DISM to create a .wim image which can be applied to any partition. – Ramhound – 2017-05-28T06:11:26.633

boot to audit mode during install, install all programs, sysprep generalize the image, capture a new WIM – magicandre1981 – 2017-05-28T06:30:19.547

2Why is this question has so many downvotes? I don't think this is inappropriate for the superuser forum. – PenPoint – 2017-05-28T06:41:39.893

1The problem with the question is that it's overly general, including both Windows and Ubuntu Linux (completely different procedures) – Paul Stelian – 2017-05-28T09:07:45.727

Answers

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The question is of course why you think you need to reinstall your OS in the first place -- I've upgraded my Debian Linux installation over the last 20 years or so, but I never reinstalled it.

Making installation CDs is probably impractical, because you'll need too many CDs too install a reasonable amount of software. It's much better to just pick a configuration and automate the installation of the necessary packages.

There are tools like FAI (Fully Automatic Installation) aimed at installing indentical images on many machines that do that for a wide range of Linux distributions. But of course it will also work for a single machine.

dirkt

Posted 2017-05-28T05:21:27.960

Reputation: 11 627

This doesn't give you your applicatons configurations and data back. They are largely preserved separately from the software (in /home on Linux and in your profile on Windows) but there will be exceptions. – reinierpost – 2017-05-28T09:28:38.990

Asked: 2017-05-28T05:21:27.960

Viewed: 693 times

Active: 2017-06-04T16:56:40.207