Older topic, updated below:
I haven't done this in a long while; deploying a reference image to multiple puters. I will be setting-up five workstations running Windows 7 Pro 64. Three workstations are identical. The other two are different models but substantially similar; all Intel chipsets and processors.
I'd like to setup one of them as the reference, apply all (or at least the majority) of the latest Windows Updates, Firefox, NET Framework up to 4.5.2, no vendor-specific drivers (just using the generic MS inbox drivers). Then clone it to the others. Doesn't have to be over network, I can do it on a per-box basis from, say, an external storage drive. All the workstations have OA 2.0 (BIOS SLIC) for Windows 7, so I'm not concerned about activating.
I get the gist of imaging a system and that, but my recollection is failing on what concerns there will be with Windows balking at the different BIOS builds, System ID, Disk ID signatures, and those kinds of things. I was messing around with Macrium Free (latest version as of a few weeks ago) and noticed it had a "restore to dissimilar hardware" option, though I don't know if it is FREE to use or whether it's a paid/upsell option, I didn't try it.
I'm trying to weasel out of doing this the 'approved' Microsoft way that requires using the WAIK tools, mounting an image, customizing Windows, recapturing the WIM, and all that. TIA for any help!
I haven't done this in a long while; deploying a reference image to multiple puters. I will be setting-up five workstations running Windows 7 Pro 64. Three workstations are identical. The other two are different models but substantially similar; all Intel chipsets and processors.
I'd like to setup one of them as the reference, apply all (or at least the majority) of the latest Windows Updates, Firefox, NET Framework up to 4.5.2, no vendor-specific drivers (just using the generic MS inbox drivers). Then clone it to the others. Doesn't have to be over network, I can do it on a per-box basis from, say, an external storage drive. All the workstations have OA 2.0 (BIOS SLIC) for Windows 7, so I'm not concerned about activating.
I get the gist of imaging a system and that, but my recollection is failing on what concerns there will be with Windows balking at the different BIOS builds, System ID, Disk ID signatures, and those kinds of things. I was messing around with Macrium Free (latest version as of a few weeks ago) and noticed it had a "restore to dissimilar hardware" option, though I don't know if it is FREE to use or whether it's a paid/upsell option, I didn't try it.
I'm trying to weasel out of doing this the 'approved' Microsoft way that requires using the WAIK tools, mounting an image, customizing Windows, recapturing the WIM, and all that. TIA for any help!
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