hardisk clone.

[Guest_imported]

Dear Compaq Team,

Currently we are in the process of installing windows 2000
include with its general application such as msoffice & our
companys applications into 200 Hardisk.

The 200 hardisk will be installed into 200 same type of PC,the brand are Compaq model P 733/815E.

The question are as follows:

1.Whether do we need to install the windows 2000 one by one in every PC,and continue with its application till 200 times
same job?

2.Suppose there are any utilities for doing hardisk clone or such as duplicate to expedite our project,could you pls
advice us the names of the utilities/software?

3.If any,could you guarantee the utilization of your adviced
utility will not decrease the performance of our windows 2000?

Regards.

ANDRE MARCEL.

 

[Nostradamus]

As long as the machines are the same, cloning is very convenient and simple.
Install win2k on one machine just the way you want it, with all drivers and programs.
get yourself Norton Ghost 6.5 (latest version).
With this program you can make a *.gho file of your entire disk. Run the program again on a new computer, and unpack this image-file. Read through the manuals before running the program though. I don´t know how microsoft use the SID-numbers in win2k.
The SID is a unique number which is generated each time you install the OS. I don´t know what kind of problems that can arise when having the same SID on all PC´s.
Luckily Norton has added a program called ghostwalker that can change the SID after unpacking the image-file to each new computer.

Hope this helped a little. Nostradamus

 

[pauldune]

Hello,

Well, there are a few possible answers.....

1.Install 1 PC as a win2000 advanced server.
This server has the possibility of RIS (remote installation services). Now you can install one of the pc's till it is perfect for your needs.After that hook it up to the server,
and with a command (riprep) you can save the complete image to the server.Then you can install all the workstations by connecting them to the network and pressing F12 during boot.
(if you have networkboot supporting lancards)
It will connect to the server, even without ANY software on the harddisk,and then you will be able to put the image on the workstation.After completion, when you boot the workstation it only asks for name, reg. number ...
After that it is completely installed, without problems with licenses, SIDs or whatever.
2.Like Nostradamus said, use Ghost 6.5.
But dont use ghostwalker or anything else. Just use the windows 2000 command 'sysprep'. That will take away any unique identifiers from the machine (SID)
After that you can make an image.Disadvantages: if its bigger than +/- 1 GB it doesnt fit on a cd anymore.
You'll need a cd player.(network is possible, but you'll need a bootdisk with special dosdrivers for your networkboard)

GTX
Paul