A: In my FAQ "Is it possible to remove components in Windows Server 2012?" I showed how roles and features could be removed from an OS, reducing the disk footprint.
If a role or feature is enabled that was removed from the OS, then by default Windows Update will be used to pull down missing files.
However, it's possible to specify a location such as a network share that contains the Windows Server 2012 (formerly code-named Windows Server 8) installation files (from the WIM file). To set the default location, perform the following:
- Start the registry editor (regedit.exe).
- Move to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Servicing.
- Create a new String value called LocalSourcePath.
- Set the location of the share with the Windows Server 2012 installation files.
- Click OK and close the registry editor.
It is also possible to pass a path to a specific location when roles and features are added, by using the -Source <source path> for Windows PowerShell, or use /source:<source> with DISM. For example, respectively:
Install-WindowsFeature <FeatureName> -Source <Source>\Windows\winsxs
Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:<FeatureName> /source:<Source>\Windows\winsxs
To see more answers about Windows Server 2012, Windows 8, virtualization, and all things IT, click over to our FAQs page.