Imaging the Hard Drive for AMD and Intel

[overclockingoodness]

I just bought Norton Ghost and since I build quite a few systems for companies, we benchmark them for 24 hours before shipping them out. If I install all the benchmarks and OS from scratch, it takes far longer to do everything and wastes a lot of time. Not to mention it gets really annoying when you are dealing a 50 or so PCs per day.

Here's what I am planning to put on the image: all the benchmarks, DirectX 9.0c, SP1 and possibly video drivers. All mobo drivers and chipsets drivers will not be on the hard drive to avoid incompatibilities with other boards. This will work, right?

Also, since we deal with both AMD and Intel platform, should I make a seperate DVD image for AMD and seperate one for Intel or not?

Please answer...thx.

 

[imported_Kensai]

That's not too bad, once I had to build 100 systems. Made an image of a fully loaded systems onto a DVD, just poped the DVD into each system, load it up and away I go.

I'd only have one. Also, don't forget to change the keys.

 

[FlyingPenguin]

That doesn't help you unless the motherboards are the same in all your installs. If the mobos are different then you'll have to do a repair install after restoring the image, which takes almost as long as a regular install.

You're better off creating an Unattended Windows installation disc. You can include any drivers (Windows will only install a driver if it needs it), updates and software. You can set it up so it's completely unattended (boot the CD and walk away - 45 minutes later it's all done) or you can have it prompt selectively for things like the CD key. It's pretty strait forward to make one. Many of the companies that I work with that have large numbers of deployed systems use this.

If you have a Corporate XP license you don't even need to change the CD key for each install.

http://unattended.msfn.org/

 

[imported_Kensai]

Niec! I think I'll go with your idea instead of doing what I've been doing. I've got to build another 80 computer.

 

[overclockingoodness]

Yeah, we usually build using various boards, so I think FlyingPenguin's suggestion may be right. But I have heard that you can get away with a general image as long as you don't put any drivers on it...

 

[V00D00]

Just a not to anyone who reads this, you should ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS run the microsoft sysprep utility to change the SID (security identifier) within the machine, or else it will mess up domain environments.

 

[Vegito]

You may be better off using Windows RIP to install the based os and load all the drivers on to RIS.

Did you get ghost or ghost enterprise ? if you got enterprise, you can package up direct x & other stuff and deploy them after each PC got the RIS install