Folks,

We are about the roll out a new PC network with approximately 20
workstations and a Win2k (or 2003) server.

What I would like to ask is what is the best method for installing windows
(either 2000 or XP) and applications on all these machines without me
having to spend a week doing a manual install (and then stuffing one up).

The machines should be fairly similar in config (although we also have
some older machines of different configuration that I would want to
reinstall in the process) and will have the same core software.

I investigated Ghost but had a few issues with it and would prefer a
solution where a silent/scripted installation takes place.

For bonus points, a process that the user could perform to "refresh" the
machine would also be advantagous.

Regards
Matt

For the Microsoft-approved techniques, search for "RIS" and "ADS" on
microsoft.com:

http://www.google.com/search?q=ris+site%3Amicrosoft.com
http://www.google.com/search?q=ads+site%3Amicrosoft.com

Read about "Group Policy" for application deployment.

For a more hand-rolled CD-based approach, see
<http://unattended.msfn.org/>.

Finally, for a hand-rolled network-based approach, see
<http://unattended.sourceforge.net/>. (My favorite, but I am somewhat
biased.)

- Pat


Matt Hyne <(E-Mail Removed)> writes:

> Folks,
>
> We are about the roll out a new PC network with approximately 20
> workstations and a Win2k (or 2003) server.
>
> What I would like to ask is what is the best method for installing
> windows (either 2000 or XP) and applications on all these machines
> without me having to spend a week doing a manual install (and then
> stuffing one up).
>
> The machines should be fairly similar in config (although we also have
> some older machines of different configuration that I would want to
> reinstall in the process) and will have the same core software.
>
> I investigated Ghost but had a few issues with it and would prefer a
> solution where a silent/scripted installation takes place.
>
> For bonus points, a process that the user could perform to "refresh"
> the machine would also be advantagous.
>
> Regards Matt