The trick lies in using a differencing disk (not the snapshot ones).
1. Make up a new Win 2008r2 Install install all the patched & apps who can survive a sysprep.
2. Add an additional disk (diff disk) & sysprep now.
3. Export the machine after shutdown lets call the folder as ExpWin8.
4. Copy folder ExpWin8 as ExpWin8fast, delete the big VHD file that's in there & relink the diff HDD to the base VHD in ExpWin8.
5. In folder ExpWin8fast create a dummy text file & rename it as the bigVHD you deleted.
6. Now import the VM from ExpWin8fast.
In this way all the machines that you create will be using the same base VHD with their separate DIFF disk. The method doesn't works on HyperV in Win2012 as it verifies the link while importing.
Let me know your thoughts on this trick.
1. Make up a new Win 2008r2 Install install all the patched & apps who can survive a sysprep.
2. Add an additional disk (diff disk) & sysprep now.
3. Export the machine after shutdown lets call the folder as ExpWin8.
4. Copy folder ExpWin8 as ExpWin8fast, delete the big VHD file that's in there & relink the diff HDD to the base VHD in ExpWin8.
5. In folder ExpWin8fast create a dummy text file & rename it as the bigVHD you deleted.
6. Now import the VM from ExpWin8fast.
In this way all the machines that you create will be using the same base VHD with their separate DIFF disk. The method doesn't works on HyperV in Win2012 as it verifies the link while importing.
Let me know your thoughts on this trick.
yup