Jeff,
I emailed you a rather lenghty reply on how to do this. Feel free to
post it if you find it helpful.
-Mike
Well here is the post... It's really long but I think it will help
someone out there.
Jeff,
Via Network you'll have 2 requirements.
1.You'll need to use a XP Preinstall Environment Boot CD - see next
paragraph
2.You'll need to have a network share setup with Ghost on it and
storage space for image files. You'll want to make sure that the share
has an account that has full permissions on it. I setup a non-admin
local user account on the ghost storage pc and give it full access only
to that share. However if you are on a domain you can just add your
domain account to that share with full permissions (Share and NTFS
permissions) I tend to make the access to the share very restrictive
since I don't want other IT users in there accidentally deleting or
corrupting my images and it makes it easier for version control.
Preinstall Environment (PE Boot CD) - How to Create one very easily.
Go to the link below and download PE Builder v 3.1.10a (self installing
package)
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/download/
Install the PE Builder and collect all of the network adapter drivers
for every model of computer that you use. Just the XP drivers are
needed.
Copy the XP drivers into the C:\Program Files\Barts PE\Network folder
Run the PE Builder program and select source files. I used a 2003
Server install source files, but XP will work also. After you have
source files set and the network drivers copied into the folder burn
the CD. I selected StarBurn option and it worked fine.
It will create a bootable CD for you. Test it for network adapter
functionality on each model computer before you create the image for
that model so you are sure you can transfer the image off of the disk.
After you're comfortable that you will have network adapter
functionality you can move on to image creation.
Image Creation
First off I am assuming that your hardware is relatively standardized.
What you need to do is setup a server or workstation that will contain
the ghost program and image storage. Figure an image will be between
2-3 GB each. You'll probably need to create an image for each model
hardware. Hopefully you only use 2 or 3 different types of laptop and
2 or 3 different types of desktop.
You then do a standard install using an account that has local
administrator rights BUT IS NOT THE LOCAL ADMIN account, installing
everything you need on everyone in the company's company. You'll have
to create a new user. For example sake I'll call it PIMPDADDY. We'll
call this the base image. It would probably include the OS, Office
suite, any VPN clients, Antivirus clients, Zip tools, Adobe
Reader,etc.... just the apps that everyone needs regardless of
department.
Once your sure the computer is setup and you have ran and accepted all
license agreements and verified all of the applications work as
expected copy the sysprep files to a folder on the root drive into a
folder called Sysprep. It should include sysprep.exe; setupcl.exe; and
the sysprep.inf information file you should have created. After
copying the files do not run sysprep just yet. If you haven't created
the information file I can give you some details on how to create one
easily. Empty the recycle bin, arrange the start menu items by name
and make sure the desktop and screensaver is the way you want it to
look for new users. Do any tweaks that your company requires (example:
Adding templates, setting registry tweaks for computer name to appear
instead of My Computer, etc.) We don't want to have to do anything
after we image except load it and use it. When your confident you have
everything setup the way you want it move on to the next step.
Remember this is just the base needs for everyone in the company.
Don't get carried away adding department specific applications.
Next Step
Unhide all hidden files and select 'apply to all folders' (this is
under tools>folder options>view tab
Reboot (actually reboot, not just logoff) and log in as the actual
local administrator account, not the created PIMPDADDY account that we
installed everything on. Right click the computer icon on the desktop
and select Properties. Choose the Advanced tab and click the
'settings' button under User Profiles. The user profiles should
appear. Highlight the PIMPDADDY account and select 'copy to'. You
will be asked where to copy it to. Navigate to C:\Documents and
Settings\Default User and select the Default user folder. If it's not
there read the note below. Then under the 'Permitted to Use' select
change and type Everyone (allows all users to create same profile on
first login) If your on a domain you may be prompted for network
credentials. After you set the Everyone group as permitted to use
click OK/Apply.
Note: If you don't see the Default User folder under C:\documents and
settings\ its because you didn't unhide files and folders for All
Folders.
After you copy the PIMPDADDY profile over the Default User profile any
changes you make will not be incorporated. For example if you copied
the profile then realized you didn't add an application you would need
to make the change using PIMPDADDY's account and then re-perform the
profile copy. It's pretty much the last step before pressing the
image.
Insert the Bart's PE CD and wait until it takes over the Start button.
It replaces the icon.... click it and select exit.
The run the sysprep.exe in C:\Sysprep folder. I check 'USE
MINI-SETUP', make sure it is set to SHUTDOWN and then select the RESEAL
option. It will run the sysprep and shutdown the computer.
After the computer shuts down start it up and boot from CD with Barts
PE CD. If you forgot to put it in before you sysprepped open the CD
drive with a paperclip and pop it in.
Once you boot to Barts PE environments you'll want to fire up the
network adapters and map a network drive to the share that has the
Ghost program on it and the image storage folders. We'll call it G:\
for example's sake. After it successfully maps close Network PE
Configurator and open a command prompt. Wait a minute or two for the
NLA service to fire up. (It takes longer in a PE environment) and
change to the run cd g:\ to change to the G:\ root. Then run your
Ghost executable (for me I just type Ghost32.exe and Ghost loads right
up. (I'm using Ghost 8.5 I believe, but 10.0 should also work.) Select
Disk to Image option in Ghost and set the name using something you'll
remember (I name based on hardware - HPNC6220BASE) and let Ghost go to
work.
After you successfully create the image, loading it is the same, boot
new pc with Barts, map share, run ghost, choose Disk From Image and
select the Image file and you're all set.
Create a Base Image for each model hardware that you use and then if
you need to create departmental images all you need to do is load the
base image and install the apps and then go through the process again.
Sorry this was so long of a read, but I hope it helps.
-Mike, MCSE
