Making a Universal Ghost Image?

[Vini]

we use various machines in the office, Dell Desktops, Toshiba laptops etc... these almost always ship with their own restore/uninterrupted install discs.

is there a way to make one GENERIC disc, which will install windows in the same way the Tosh/Dell discs do, and then stick all my apps on after like office, antispyware, sophos etc?

im more interested in an image, than an uninterrupted install.

whats the best way?

[Splash]

With a set of hardware that's not particularly standard creating a standard build is pretty difficult. I'd look towards making a generic image for each set of hardware - basically install Windows on a target machine, update it, install whatever software you want on it and generally set it up as you want the image, then run Sysprep - once that's done shut down the machine, then take an image using Ghost/Acronis True Image/Whatever your preferred imaging program is and Robert is your Mother's brother.

That's what I do anyways.

[Vini]

problem is the laptops we buy are only around for one turn, the next set we buy are a newer model. royal PITA.

im probably just going to have to burn all the files to a CD, and look at setting up a batch file which unattends all the software on the CD, like sophos and orofice etc..

[tim_n]

Any recommendations on the easiest to use? I'm looking to make a standard install for my laptops too :- ) I don't mind if I have to create 5 seperate CDs - but it'd save me a hell of a lot of time!

Just needs to be bootable and contain all the apps I generally install first off - (antivirus, office, editpad pro etc)

[tim_n]

Looks like I missed out on the scan today offer on the 11th. Damn :- (

[Splash]

Provided the hardware is reasonably similar (we use one image for just about all of our HP laptops at work, and another for the HP desktops...) a standard image shoudl be fine - just keep a cd with the network drivers kicking around in case they don't get picked up and then Windows Update should fill in any other blanks drivers-wise.

As for ease of use I used to swear by Ghost, now I swear at it. Acronis True Image is quicker and easier. Only problem is you can't create a bootable image (that I'm aware) so you use the True Image software to create a bootable CD which will get you into the restore program (brings your network up too, so if you have a reasonable network you can dump your images on one machine and just point the boot cd at them - job's a good 'un!)

[Vini]

aye thats what ill do.

[Nox]

We have two systems, one for our 'internal' computers, and one for our clients. Our internal systems run Windows XP and have a load of stuff in addition, Office, Lotus Notes etc etc. This image is stored on about 6 CD's, and 'spans' them. It will work on any computer, Dell, IBM, Compaq/HP desktops, laptops, you name it. It installs the OS, then the apps on top. It installs every standard app. Anything extra then gets put on after.

For our customers, they get it easy. We currently use a dos boot floppy/CD which loads up network drivers, then connects to a server. (this will be replaced with PXE boot soon) It then sends a windows XP image across the network and onto that machine, and all the standard apps. It then looks at machine specific data and pulls down any additional apps specific to that machine, and we shall have no more 'I had Visio 2003 Pro before you rebuilt it' arguments

Ghost images are great, we used to use them (and still do for non-XP machines) but its rapidly dieing out.

Any solution is out there, but the time and effort you put into it could outweigh any benefit.

Nox

[Moby-Dick]

A sysprepped image should work on machines provided they use the same HAL. You may have fun and games with drivers though.


why not have a base image that builds OS image then use a build script on a specific login to deploy apps ( its more flexible than having to change your image if your apps update )