Is it possible to make a hard drive image that will clone to any computer?

[DreamInBlue]

I want to make an image of a full windows xp install with a few other programs already installed that will be universal and possible to be cloned to any system. This will be legal I will be changing the product key on each system so that it has its own valid product key and license. Would just uninstalling all the drivers work or I seem to remember a windows program that disables all the drivers to prepare the hardrive for install into a new system but I can't find it.

 

[drag]

Yes this is possible.

I've done it with ghost image and w2k several times. There are even ways to do it so that you can setup a unique computername and such for each install you do. Not completely sure about WinXP, the activation stuff throws a wrench in it, but depending on what version your using it will make it more or less difficult, I suppose. depending on the version you get you will probably be able to take care of giving each computer a new unique name and key, or whatever.

You realy need to do it on mostly identical hardware, though. If you have 2-3 different computer configurations, then it may be easier to make 2-3 different install images, but if each computer is different that will make it a huge hassle. WinXP is notorioriously bad about being moved from one computer to another.

Look at the feature set of Ghost, and probably some trial and error.

 

[Mercurie]

Are you using a Volume License edition of XP? If so, you should be able to put the image on another computer, hoping that it doesn't go nuts trying to unload and reload the different hardware. Activation shouldn't be an issue.

If you're using retail or OEM copies of XP, it may be more hassle than it's worth.