Custom Operating System Template (Windows)
An organization admin can create a custom OS template for spinning up remote desktops. This also makes it easy to activate your own operating system license.
Follow these steps carefully to build the image correctly.
Important:
About Disk Partition
1. The custom template needs either a single disk partition, or two: an EFI/Boot partition and a separate system and data partition.
2. LVM partitions aren’t supported—avoid using them.
3. Using an incorrect partition layout can break disk auto-resizing and machine naming.
Windows
1. Install "Red Hat VirtIO SCSI pass-through controller
When you see the screen asking “Where do you want to install Windows?” click “Load drivers,” then pick the correct driver. The storage drive will then appear.
2. Initial Setup
On the ‘Let’s connect you to a network’ screen, select I don't have internet.
On the ‘There’s more to discover...’ screen, choose Continue with limited setup.
Pick any username and leave the password blank.
3. Install Virtio-win drivers and guest agents
Once the machine starts and you’ve logged in, open the 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 the installation.
4. Disable Hibernate
Open Command Prompt as administrator (right-click → Run as administrator), then type powercfg.exe /hibernate off and press Enter.
5. Enable Shutdown/Restart Windows 10 without Any Prompts
In the registry editor, navigate to HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop.
Create a new String Value named AutoEndTasks and set its value 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
Visit https://www.tightvnc.com/download.php and download the TightVNC Windows installer. Run it, and disable authentication when the installation completes.
Launch the TightVNC service configuration and adjust the settings as needed.
8. Enable Shared-drive
The shared drive lets cloud desktops exchange files during a training course, or between a user’s own PC and the cloud desktop. It’s built on WebDAV technology, and you’ll need to map the drive before use. See the screenshot below for instructions.
9. Shutdown your Windows properly
Click the Windows icon in the bottom left, then go to Power → Shut down.
Please Note
For additional optional features, such as
- DDWebdav for syncing trainer content folders across participant machines,
- or DDUpload to quickly upload files to a DaDesktop machine;
please contact DaDesktop Tech Support.