deployment of windows xp

[rel]

Hi,

I plan to upgrade about 60 workstations from windows95 to WinXP.
These workstations consist of 3 different HW configurations, all of
them pentium3 500Mhz systems. The workstations all join a NT4 domain,
this PDC will also be upgraded to Server 2003. But after de client's
get upgarded.

I have no experience with deployment, done some research about it.
But am not sure. That's why I ask for advice/tips from those who
have been there. For a sanity check.

The steps that I think I should follow are;

1. Install Windows XP on a pc, configure this pc:
install OfficeXP, application, tweak the desktop.

2. Copy the "C:\Documents & Sett..\<USER>" over the
"Default User" profile. To apply changes for every future user.

3. Run sysprep (with parameters), shutdown and run an image
with cloning software.


The questions about the above steps that I have;

For step 1:
Are there issues to pay attention for, tips?
Knowing that the PDC will get upgraded to Server2003
and already set/install things for easy managemt etc?

For step 2:
When customizing the the installation I logged in with my
domain account, but with local Administrator rights enabled.
Could there be a problem copying my profile over the "Default User"
one? I've read that with Win2000 this worked flawlessly, but that
it creates trouble with WinXP, such as: User names not correct,
user paths that are set to the old profile's.

If this is a no go, is there a correct method to get this done?
Tools that I need?

For step 3:
I have a volume licence key for the product, and shouldn't use
-factory -reseal parameters for sysprep or am I wrong?
If so what will the -reseal parameter do.

Also the 3 different workstation differ only in
HDD/Video/NIC hardware. Should I use -pnp parameter?
Or is this parameter only intended for pc's with
chipset and processor differences?


Thanks in advance,
rel

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

An upgrade from Windows 95 to Windows XP is unsupported, so you'll
have to perform a "clean install" by first refomatting the drives. You'll
need to build a sysprep image for each different hardware configuation.

Windows XP Supported Upgrade Paths
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;292607&Product=winxp

How to Use Sysprep: An Introduction
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/itpro/deploying/introduction.asp

How to Use Sysprep with Windows Product Activation or Volume License Media to Deploy Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;299840&Product=winxp

Description of the Windows XP Corporate Deployment Tools and Documentation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;321880&Product=winxp

How to Use Sysprep with Windows Product Activation or Volume License Media to Deploy Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;299840&Product=winxp

How to Use Sysprep for Auditing Installations
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/itpro/deploying/auditing.asp

Deploying Windows XP
http://labmice.techtarget.com/windowsxp/Install/deploy.htm

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Hi,
|
| I plan to upgrade about 60 workstations from windows95 to WinXP.
| These workstations consist of 3 different HW configurations, all of
| them pentium3 500Mhz systems. The workstations all join a NT4 domain,
| this PDC will also be upgraded to Server 2003. But after de client's
| get upgarded.
|
| I have no experience with deployment, done some research about it.
| But am not sure. That's why I ask for advice/tips from those who
| have been there. For a sanity check.
|
| The steps that I think I should follow are;
|
| 1. Install Windows XP on a pc, configure this pc:
| install OfficeXP, application, tweak the desktop.
|
| 2. Copy the "C:\Documents & Sett..\<USER>" over the
| "Default User" profile. To apply changes for every future user.
|
| 3. Run sysprep (with parameters), shutdown and run an image
| with cloning software.
|
|
| The questions about the above steps that I have;
|
| For step 1:
| Are there issues to pay attention for, tips?
| Knowing that the PDC will get upgraded to Server2003
| and already set/install things for easy managemt etc?
|
| For step 2:
| When customizing the the installation I logged in with my
| domain account, but with local Administrator rights enabled.
| Could there be a problem copying my profile over the "Default User"
| one? I've read that with Win2000 this worked flawlessly, but that
| it creates trouble with WinXP, such as: User names not correct,
| user paths that are set to the old profile's.
|
| If this is a no go, is there a correct method to get this done?
| Tools that I need?
|
| For step 3:
| I have a volume licence key for the product, and shouldn't use
| -factory -reseal parameters for sysprep or am I wrong?
| If so what will the -reseal parameter do.
|
| Also the 3 different workstation differ only in
| HDD/Video/NIC hardware. Should I use -pnp parameter?
| Or is this parameter only intended for pc's with
| chipset and processor differences?
|
|
| Thanks in advance,
| rel
|

 

[James S. Borg]

1. Can you use Ghost or some other imaging software?
2. Can you set up a RIS server?
3. How are you going to migrate the users settings/files?
4. You should probably modify the Sysprep.inf file so that it joins each
workstation to the domain and creates the computer account.The you can use
the minisetup Flag.
5. To create the image I would not join the computer to a domain, everything
I have read indicates that you should not join it to a domain. Here is what
I did. Used RIS to install the OS and Office. Copied necessary drivers to
the proper directory on the RIS server for three different model PC I was to
create images for. Updated the workstations applications and OS. Created a
temp user account logged in as temp, then customized the desktop. Logged out
and then back in as Administrator and copied the temp profile. Made sure I
gave everyone permission to use it and then shutdown and rebooted. Then
deleted the temp profile and ran the minisetup flag. Shutdown and imaged the
PCs.