To build the image, you need an image building software. I use Power Quest's Deploy Center/Image Center/Drive Image program. (Long name, the name changes depending on what version and what use you have for it.) Other people prefer Norton Ghost.Once you have the image file built, you need to transport it to the machine needing to be imaged. Easiest way is to burn the image file onto a CD.
I was thinking of uploading the Windows XP RTM OPK disc i have. Do you have it on the FTP? This is the original Windows XP OPK. Not SP1/SP2/SP3. The original 2600.xpclient version of the OPK. Microsoft Windows XP OEM Preinstallation Kit (2001-10-29) English Top: coltonspleen Post subject: Re: Is the Windows XP RTM OPK on the FTP? Do not use the original 'gold' release of Windows XP OPK to preinstall Windows XP SP1 or the Windows Server 2003 family. Installing the OEM Preinstallation Kit To install the OEM Preinstallation Kit 1. Purchase a 3-pack of Windows XP Professional SP1 (or Windows XP Home Edition SP1) from an authorized distributor.
Another way (that we use) is to put it on a server and boot up the client machine with a dos network disk and restore the image over the network. If you really want to be advanced, you can use PXE from PQ Deploy Center, though I never was able to get it working. (Didn't try very hard, I had other projects to work on.). After you've gone through the hassle of creating a disk image, you know you're going to have to create a new image for each model of PC you have, right? Just one change in the hardware and you've got either missing drivers, or drivers that crash the machine. Also, there may be trouble with any type of Windows Activation here because the hardware has changed.I built an unintended installation script with the documentation provided by MS, and created my own.vbs file after the OS is on to run silent installs of each software and driver package.Now I just put in the CD, turn it on, and in about double the time of imaging a drive, you've got a fresh clean install built specifically for that model.
How does which work? Imaging?Imaging is straightforward and should be explained in the doccumentation for the program you select, be it PQ or Ghost. Too complex to explain here, but the manual will cover you.:)Sysprep is a vast, confusing skin of evil produced by Microsoft to taunt and confuse sys admins.
Microsoft's website explains in it great detail (great, great, great detail. Sometimes, too much detail.) But to summarize, sysprep basically lets you prepare a machine to be imaged. It wipes out the individual user settings, and stuff. It lets you specify that the windows welcome setup should play (That 'Welcome to your new computer' deal with the music where you pick your PC name and add an account, etc) upon next reboot. Behind the scenes, it lets you specify different boot drivers as well as different operating system drivers.
Any machine you want to use, just copy the drivers to the hard drive, tell sysprep about that directory, and it'll automatically install any hardware found upon reboot.