PC people, help me again! Last time was awesome! (image soft. questions)

mattsk42 · #1 08-25-2011, 03:59 PM

I basically want a computer cloned to 5 or 6 others. Windows, Office, Visual Basic, Network settings, etc. What is the best way to do this?

Especially, how do you handle valid windows keys? I have about 20 keys to use. (MS Technet subscription)

MatticusMania · #2 08-25-2011, 04:03 PM

Sorry, Im not one to be politically correct...

tastybasslines · #3 08-25-2011, 04:11 PM

Ghost them?

**jmattbassplaya** · #4 08-25-2011, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Sorry, Im not one to be politically correct...

I thought the same thing when I read it

mattsk42 · #5 08-25-2011, 08:54 PM

Haha I totally didn't get that at first. I'm definitely not a PC. Anyway, I've read some about ghosting, but I don't really get it. Like I mentioned, the keys would need to be legal, etc.

mmbongo · #6 08-25-2011, 09:03 PM

I use Ghost to do this.

Deathblade Eric · #7 08-26-2011, 02:51 AM

Assuming identical machines, have a look at Clonezilla. It's a Freeware, open-source, Linux-based disk imaging program. I use it to take regular images of my XP install & it's very simple to use. Takes about 30 mins to image a 120GB HD.

If the machines you're cloning to are not identical, you'll be on a hiding to nothing though, as a lot of your device drivers will be all to cock.

Pete.

Strohsx · #8 08-26-2011, 03:11 AM

What version of microsoft?
XP, 7?

XP
Either way if they are not the same model computer you're better off loading them all separately if it's XP.
computer images on for XP on different model computers will not work...well.... at all. You need a separate image for each.

If they are the same model sysprep the master computer to remove the Security Identifiers (SID)
sysprep: How to use the Sysprep tool to automate successful deployment of Windows XP

Then clone the machine to the others using symantec ghost or clonezilla ...
Clonezilla is free...yay Clonezilla - About

Boot the machine's and treat them as new computers basically. They will ave the same drivers, programs and preferences as the first.

Windows 7
You can do the exact same thing as above but I've has success with different model computers using the same image which is win.

You can also use imageX/WDS (all included on windows 7) so no 3rd party tools needed, and not all the difficult.all in all make sure you sysprep.

How To Image and Deploy Windows 7 a Complete Guide - Using sysprep and imagex

Oh an make sure you have the licenses for all the software you're installing on each.

XP
You can actually find an volume license key online and use that on all the computers just so long as you keep the licenses you do have on record, XP isn't much about what key you use just so that you do have one for each install.

Windows 7
Either put them in separately or set one up a a licensing server but with your small deployment it'd be a waste of time.

Edit: sysprep removes network settings, and why would you want to clone them anyway?

mattsk42 · #9 08-26-2011, 09:04 AM

They will all be Win7. Mostly we are computer programmers and want to install win7, office, visual studio, a bunch of sql and server tools, and maybe a few files. Putting in separate keys seems easy enough for 5 machines.

Is it the general Windows installation where you have to enter a key? I was under the impression that it literally copied the whole "test pc" over...key and all. Then you'd have to figure out how to change the key after the fact. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks a ton for the info. It's surprisingly hard to find info on simply cloneing vs. backup and restore.

MJ5150 · #10 08-26-2011, 09:30 AM

Why not set up a virtual environment for your testing?

-Mike

Strohsx · #11 08-26-2011, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattsk42

They will all be Win7. Mostly we are computer programmers and want to install win7, office, visual studio, a bunch of sql and server tools, and maybe a few files. Putting in separate keys seems easy enough for 5 machines.

Is it the general Windows installation where you have to enter a key? I was under the impression that it literally copied the whole "test pc" over...key and all. Then you'd have to figure out how to change the key after the fact. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks a ton for the info. It's surprisingly hard to find info on simply cloneing vs. backup and restore.

See my link regarding Sysprep and imageX

No matter WHAT, you want to sysprep any machine you are going to be cloning. If they have different hardware it's best to do a fresh install on each, windows 7 licensing/activation/keying is tricky and you ideally want each machine to have it's own key unless you have a volume license and an activation server set up.

5 machines isn't a big deal you should be able to do it in less than an hour. Create a server share or put all the programs on a pen drive to save time.

God yes use virtual machines.

Wait... programmers?... windows?!?!?!
Install Slackware and like it.

Bassamatic · #12 08-26-2011, 12:32 PM

For using a disk imaging program such as Drive Image or Ghost (NO Norton products go near my PCs), your 5 computers need to be identical, as the setup is different for different hardware, If they are exactly the same, you can use Drive Image to clone 4 more hard drives and drop them in, and you are done. You can do a temporary install of the second drives to the host computer to clone them, or use a USB drive adapter, etc.

You can find earlier editions of Acronis Drive Image on eBay for a few $$. v 10 or 11 will work fine.

joshmat · #13 08-27-2011, 08:24 PM

If the hardware isn't identical, you'll most likely spend more time sorting out the drivers than you would just loading them all separately and loading the software from a network share/external HDD/some other storage device. Symantec Ghost is also expensive if you're only doing a handful of machines. Strohsx has some really good info up above.

Ziltoid · #14 08-27-2011, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Why not set up a virtual environment for your testing?

-Mike

Same question here.

Raven2k360 · #15 08-28-2011, 11:32 AM

I don't know the answer off the top of my head, but I can ask my IT buddies at school -- they're in the middle of upgrading all school computers from XP to Win7. I know they're running Win7 Enterprise for this, so I don't know if they have a 'corporate' key for all computers, or if they push individual keys to each machine when they install the images...but I think they're pushing off of one single OS image; I know Win7 is good at detecting and installing drivers automatically, so difference in hardware isn't as much of an issue as it was with XP. Like I said, I can talk to the IT guys at school and find out.

tk421 · #16 08-28-2011, 06:54 PM

i prefer to use SCCM to push images via task sequence, but then again at work i have the infrastructure to do so.

at home, for similar hardware (say 2 or 3 of the same model laptop) i would set one how i wanted it, then use my bootable 250gb usb drive w/ ghost on it to clone them.

mattsk42 · #17 08-30-2011, 08:42 AM

Thanks for the replies! They are 5-7 identical machines (or very very close) and it is a Win7 install + 5-10 other programs for the developers. None of them will have Windows 7 or Office loaded on them "pre" image/clone.

Looks like Win7's built in image-r is the easiest. Still iffy on how to get the correct keys/activations to all of them.

joshmat · #18 08-30-2011, 08:48 AM

Give this a read, buddy.

Change Product Key Windows 7

MakiSupaStar · #19 08-30-2011, 10:22 AM

Our elders require extra care and attention. Obviously. Otherwise, this very retirement community wouldn't even exist. In my opinion it's essential that the employees of this community share this sentiment.

MJ5150 · #20 08-30-2011, 10:24 AM

Haha, woops.

-Mike