Backup/Restore

[Mir96TA]

I have to maintain 500 Computers,
They are 3 total different kind of computers.
I have moron users, I have to give them Local Admin right, cause things they have to do.
I need to come up with some sort back and Restore method, where I can restore off the DvD or
System automatically Resotore the computer to its Original States
Any IDea
I was thinking about using Nero Backup and Back the Computer to DvD
and backit up to DvD and Restore as I need it

 

[Navid]

The best is a utility that can create an image of the partition like Drive Image (now Ghost 9).
Install the OS and updates, drivers and all the programs you want. Then, create an image of the OS partition and burn it on a CD or DVD.

As long as the hardware on all the machines on each one of the three types are the same, you will only need three images.

 

[Mir96TA]

See Nero also does all that

 

[Navid]

The image you create with Drive Image contains everything. It replicates the drive. After restore, it is like nothing has changed. It is not like copying all the files and folders.

You can restore such an image to a new hard drive and you are set to go.

I would be interested to learn more about this particular capability of Nero, which I also have!
Do you have a link?

Edit:
If you have an image of a partition that has the operating system on it, you can just restore it. You don't need to install the OS first. You don't even have to reformat. Restoring the image makes the drive the way it was when you created the image. It only takes a few minutes. You can start these programs (Drive Image) from DOS.
That saves you time when things go wrong (not having to go through the OS installation).

How can you run Nero without an OS?

 

[ITJunkie]

I would agree with Navid on this as well. Also, with 500 computers to support that would indicate a rather large network. I'm curious to know why you don't have a high-end backup scheme in place using something like Veritas or Arcserve?