It is possible to use a prepared USB Key to clone a Windows Embedded device. In this way you can extract a thin client image and save it on a USB Key, then it is possible to use this USB Key to write the previously saved image on new thin clients of the same model.
¶ Prepare the key in the cloning mode
The first step is to prepare the key in the cloning mode.
Connect an empty USB Storage Key to the Windows PC. Whether the USB Storage Key is not empty you will lose all the data inside it.
Run "Windows USB Recovery" software.
Select from the list the inserted USB Storage Key.
Click on "Format USB for Cloning/Backup".
Select the option according to the model you want to clon.
Confirm the operation clicking on "Yes".
The window will show the operation in progress.
Wait until it finished and click "OK".
Click on "Finish" to close the software. Detach the USB Key from the PC (use the Windows procedure to safely remove the USB Key).
¶ Extract and Save a Thin Client DOM image
The USB Key is now ready to extract and save on itself the thin client DOM (Disk On Module) image.
Use the USB Key as explained in the Booting from USB Key on generic Thin Client model on the master configured thin client to extract its DOM (Disk On Module) image.
Warning for all Windows Embedded Devices
Before using a Windows Embedded device for extracting its image and use it for cloning be sure to enable the write filter on the device (e.g. see documentation Agile: Using the Write Filter and WES8: Using the Write Filter . Restore a device using a cloned image without write filter protection enabled conduct to failure and problems when the new devices are restored using that image.
¶ Write the image on other Thin Clients
Once the USB Key has read the thin client DOM image (and the image has been saved on the USB Key) you can use the USB Key on other thin clients to write the saved image as explained below.
¶ Saving the destination thin client license
Depending on the version of the Windows Embedded firmware you may have to save the license present on the destination thin client before to use the USB Key on it.
The table below summarize when the license has to be saved manually (or by the ThinMan Server) and when the license is saved automatically from the Toolkit.
| Firmware version in the destination thin client → Firmware version in the master thin client ↓ |
WES7 version 2.1.x and newest | WES7 version 1.5.x and oldest |
|---|---|---|
| WES7 version 2.1.x and newest | License is automatically saved | License has to be by ThinMan or manually saved |
| WES7 version 1.5.x and oldest | License has to be by ThinMan or manually saved | License has to be by ThinMan or manually saved |
¶ How to manually save and restore the license on a thin client
To save manually the license power on the thin client without the USB Key inserted.
Insert the USB Key in the powered-on destination thin client, open the file browser and locate the USB Key.
Execute the "PraimWELicenseBackup" by double clicking on it.
On the window click on "Save TC License".
A dialog will confirm the success of the operation. A file named "license.flc" is saved in the USB Key.
To restore the previuosly saved license on the thin client (e.g. after you clone an image from other thin client) simply insert the USB Key in the powered-on thin client, open the file browser and locate the USB Key; execute the "PraimWELicenseBackup" by double clicking on it and click on "Restore TC License". A dialog will confirm the success of the operation.
¶ How to save the license with ThinMan Server
The ThinMan Server save automatically the license of a Windows Embedded thin client when the thin client is visible in the ThinMan Console. If the device is visible on ThinMan its license is saved, so when the recovery phase is terminated the device will restore its license correctly. If the thin client is not shown on the ThinMan Console its license is not saved and after the recover it has to be entered manually (see previous chapter to save the license manually).
¶ Copying the saved image on the destination thin client
Now you can use the USB Key to restore the previously saved image on the destination thin client. The procedure is the same as explained in Booting from USB Key on generic Thin Client model with the only exception that a confirmation is required to proceed with the writing. Depending on the thin client model and on the firmware version you will be requested to press "y" and "Enter" on the keyboard or to click on the "OK" button.
NOTE
At the end of writing the thin client will reboot. Leave the thin client untouched and wail. It will execute a recovery phase and it will reboot once or twice.