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Thread: making an image to use on identical laptops

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    making an image to use on identical laptops

    just took ownership of 35 identical dell laptops, i want to build one up and install AV software and windows updates then make an image and burn to DVD to install on the remaining 34.... sounds simple but is it? any software recommendation? i don't mind buying something but would prefer shareware. i will be selling all 35 so none have to be syspreped for 'same network' use.

    ideas welcome guys?
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    Re: making an image to use on identical laptops

    image for windows would do the task nicely.
    there is two restore environments image for dos and image for linux.
    linux environment loads slower but has better hardware support.

    the restore environment may look like its old but its easy to use and fast.

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    Re: making an image to use on identical laptops

    how will you put the Window's Serial Numbers in on 35 different machines from one Image?

    Quote Originally Posted by Advice Trinity by Knoxville
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    Re: making an image to use on identical laptops

    Quote Originally Posted by Zak33 View Post
    how will you put the Window's Serial Numbers in on 35 different machines from one Image?
    same serial
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    Re: making an image to use on identical laptops

    35 times over? And you're going to sell these on?

    Quote Originally Posted by Advice Trinity by Knoxville
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    Re: making an image to use on identical laptops

    Quote Originally Posted by Zak33 View Post
    35 times over? And you're going to sell these on?
    yes that's the plan, each laptop comes with a licence,
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    Re: making an image to use on identical laptops

    35 laptops!! Blimey, how much did that set you back?

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    Re: making an image to use on identical laptops

    Quote Originally Posted by golwg View Post
    35 laptops!! Blimey, how much did that set you back?
    nothing! they were gonna be binned!

    they are dell d600, but on ebay they go for £125 mark
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    Re: making an image to use on identical laptops

    wow got yourself a deal then, might eb intrested in one if you dont want to much for it seems as you ddi get it free and we are both members here lol
    Quote Originally Posted by TAKTAK View Post
    It was so small that mine wouldn't fit into it

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    Re: making an image to use on identical laptops

    I use clonezilla at work for imaging, seems to work well. Also has a multicast mode but prolly more hassle than its worth to setup. The D600's come with onboard gigabit though, so should be pretty fast once you have all the updates etc on.

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    Re: making an image to use on identical laptops

    Personally,

    Master image with what ever you want installed. Then use the deploy.cab tools to strip out serial as they presumably have CoA's on the bottom of them. That way your end user gets a completely clean machine.

    I was looking into some cloning options for work and I looked into image, you will need a license for each pc you clone onto as wells as lic for the actual software.

    Norton ghost is the same.

    The easiest and cheapest way i found (read free), is to install a windows server trial onto a machine and use WDS to push out the images. Takes a little fiddling to get it working with win xp, but once its up works great. With remote network booting and multicast its a doddle.

    Another option is linus boot disk, i believe they come with some disk tools. that was rather a pain for me so I never bothered.
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    Re: making an image to use on identical laptops

    so with clonezilla, i install everything on one and then install clonezilla and i presume there is walkthrough?
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    Re: making an image to use on identical laptops

    Dell oem discs don't need serials to be put in anyway on dell machines (even if the license is for home and you use a pro disc, stupid I know) so if you can get a hold of one of those then alter the image file it would be the easiest way.

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    Re: making an image to use on identical laptops

    Quote Originally Posted by Crazy Fool View Post
    i will be selling all 35 so none have to be syspreped for 'same network' use.
    Sysprep doesn't just create new SIDs, it also allows you to enter a new serial number (among other things of course). There's NewSID if SIDs where the only concern to network admins.

    The quickest way would be to add the drivers to a Windows CD image using nLite (or you can do it in sysprep itself, but it's more of a manual task), then install and set up Windows on 1 dummy image, or in virtual machine, make a backup (in case sysprep isn't set up correctly), then run sysprep, make a backup image of that, then restore the backup on each laptop. So long as you configure the sysprep.inf file to ignore the serial number section, it will prompt you during after the restore.

    The only thing you'll have to do after the restore will be to delete the IE and WMP shortcuts it recreates on the desktop.

    I might as well add a basic sysprep.inf for you that you could use. I've remarked out the network settings and serial number sections. If they've got modems you can either set up the area code (01665 in mine). If it's identical hardware and you use one of the laptops as a base, you'll be able to remark out the top section too - if you use a VM you may need to keep it in, or the mouse or keyboard may not work when sysprep runs after the restore.

    To run sysprep, extract all the files from the deploy.cab on an XP SP3 CD into C:\sysprep, copy the sysprep.inf file in too, and also copy the contents of the I386 folder from you XP CD to C:\sysprep\I386 subfolder.
    Last edited by this_is_gav; 31-01-2010 at 11:14 AM. Reason: adding a dummy sysprep.inf

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    Re: making an image to use on identical laptops

    Wish I could get my hands on 35 laptops like that to sell.

    I was about to Arcronis True Image would do the job also

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