• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Single Ghost image for multiple hardware configurations?

codeyf

codeyf

Lifer
We're in the process of updating our computer images. Right now, we have images for EACH different desktop configuration, and each laptop. Works out to be around a dozen or so.

Is it possible (if so, how) to consolidate these in to 1 laptop image and 1 desktop image that will work for all configurations?

I don't have much experience with ghost short of reimaging and backing up, so any help/input that can be given would be great!
 
Ghosting created an image of the Hard Drive sector by sector, it does not know any thing about Hardware, Software, and configuration. So you can not consolidate anything.

However under certain circumstance if you are using WinXP and the hardware drivers is supported in WinXP with no need for additional drivers, it possible that if you Ghost the image to another computer it would work since WinXP will adjust itself at the first Boot. In addition you need to take care of the Lic. and activation.

Taking into consideration the price of DVDs that can be used to store the Ghost back ups, it does not make sense to take the risk.

:sun:
 
I read somewhere that if you created your base workstation configured how you wanted (software installed, etc.), then removed all machine specific hardware drivers from device manager, if you ghosted the computer after shutting that down when you restored the image windows would rebuild whatever appropriate drivers it needed when it was restored on each machine. Don't know if that helps or not....

It seems VERY inefficient to have an image of each workstation setup, even if backup media is cheap. You'd have 500 discs lying around with images on them??
 
Originally posted by: edmicman
It seems VERY inefficient to have an image of each workstation setup, even if backup media is cheap. You'd have 500 discs lying around with images on them??
Click to expand...
Well, a company with hundreds of machines should have someone smart enough to standardize them into at most 5-10 different hardware configurations instead of buying 500 unique machines.
 
Originally posted by: SilverTorch
Sysprep 1.2 (Windows XP)

Sysprep 1.1 (Windows 2000)

While setting sysprep up, configure a general Drivers folder. Put all drivers in there and force sysprep to "scan hardware" not sure what option it is.
Click to expand...

Ladies and gentlemen, we have Teh WinnAr.

As long as they're all ACPI-compliant and the same kernel (uniproc vs multiproc) you can Sysprep it and have it work. Force a Minisetup, PnP redect, and SID generation - it takes a bit longer per station but in my experience is worth it.

- M4H
 
Originally posted by: DarkTXKnight
Thanks, im going to read over this..... Id like to do something like this on my 5 machines at home 🙂
Click to expand...


Ditto, albeit would be used to consolidate the dozen or so images for the 460+ machines here at work, and anything new that comes in 🙂
 
The idea of using one Standard Ghost for many computer works when the Computers are the same (or almost the same) Hardware vise.

Businesses usually buy few (or more) computers that are exactly the same.

It would work of course if you have at the Home computers thta are same (which is very rare in the Home environment).

People usually have multi computers because they have the old computers left behind or build extra computers for leftover parts, or found an Hot Deal. etc. Under such a situation it is more like a "Crap Shot". SysPerp will not compensate for big deviation in hardware it has to do more with OS, and Network settings.

:sun:
 
Originally posted by: SilverTorch
Sysprep 1.2 (Windows XP)

Sysprep 1.1 (Windows 2000)

While setting sysprep up, configure a general Drivers folder. Put all drivers in there and force sysprep to "scan hardware" not sure what option it is.
Click to expand...

the link of sysprep 1.2 is to a .cab file.

after i ghost the XP image to another machine, i get the blue screen. thus i cant even get to the point to run the .cab file.

suggestions?

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top