Ghosting Vista to lab computers

[MarcusB]

We bought 200 computers(HP Workstation XW4400 with Windows Buisnes OEM)
to our computer lab.
For first 8 weeks we was running Windows 2000 pro (so called
downgrading) on all computers, because I did knew how to ghost and roll
out it. No activations and such things. Just make ghost, ghost all
computers and run ghostwalk on all of them.

How I can ghost OEM Vista to all of the computers. Can I install one
machine with original OEM Vista and ghost it the same way Windows 2000 I
done. Then rollout and run ghost walk. What with activation. As I know
HP is using master registration key, and all machine are the same.
Will ghosting work this way????
Need help ASAP


Regards
Marcus

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

The problem is, all those 200 computers will have to be manually activated.
Unless you are mistakening Windows Vista Business (OEM) with actual install
Volume License copies. I suspect they are not actually OEM Windows Business
but Volume License.

The best way to do mass deployment of Vista is to learn how to use tools
such as XIMAGE:

Here are some references you might want to look at:

Deploying Windows Vista:
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Deploying-Windows-Vista.html

XIMAGE and WIM image format:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/expert/ximage.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/technetmag/issues/2006/11/Deployment/
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/technetmag/issues/2007/09/BDD/default.aspx

 

[MarcusB]

If it will to complicated I will stay with windows 2000. I need simple
way. We do not have time to activate each ghosted machine. We used to
ghost computers 3 times during year.

Yes all computers are OEM Buisnes Vista.


Regards

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

You probably need to contact HP about mass deploying Vista on these
computers. XIMAGE is really meant to consolidate the issues associated with
mass deployment of Windows. So its definitely something you should look
into.

 

[MarcusB]

It will be much more easy to stay with windows 2000, if the old method
with ghosting will not work with Vista.
Why Microsoft is doing such difficulties. Does Microsoft want people who
like Windows think about another OS etc...


Regards
Marcus

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

No, its easy if you use the free XIMAGE tools which make it way more
automated to deploy Vista, manage and update your Vista systems. You can
even make changes to your WIM images on the fly and deploy updates without
any disruption. I just believe its the approach you took to procuring the
purchase of your computers. When organizations make large system purchases,
the intent is that you have a Volume License contract to make managing those
systems a lot easier, you don't have to deal with things like activation for
example. The good thing about the OEM license is, machine is already
licensed, so all you would have to do is use the Vista Business Volume
License (which is an upgrade) to upgrade those OEM installs of Vista
Business.

 

[MarcusB]

We are using volume licensing for all our 2000 and some Xp machines, but
with Vista it is not the same. You have to run KMS server, but we do not
want to run such server (extra point of failure). What about machines
which loose network connection to KMS server or are not connected to the
same network? No no it is too complicated.
With 2000 it was so easy. Just make a ghost, ghosting and run ghostwalk.

Regards

 

[Charlie Tame]

It will be much more easy to stay with windows 2000, if the old method
with ghosting will not work with Vista.
Why Microsoft is doing such difficulties. Does Microsoft want people who
like Windows think about another OS etc...


Regards
Marcus

You would think so, and you may get MORE activation difficulties in the
future based on recent activation problems when a server crashed.
Besides that, Vista is not finished yet, there are still issues which
belong in a Beta version, not production software. Unfortunately the
problem with activation is being backported to XP and Windows 2003
server. MS need to stop this behavior toward honest customers now or
else as you say, people will start to look somewhere else. I support
their right to avoid theft and piracy but NOT their right to consider
everybody a thief until proven otherwise.

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

And thats why Microsoft has volume license programs to avoid this. You don't
have to activate Volume License software. Microsoft sells the software in
confidence that they won't abuse the system. The majority of pirated copies
of Windows out there are from volume license contracts. As for Vista not
being finished, software is never finished, its always in development. Its
just that the software reaches a level of stability and users/businesses
want additional functionality and ease of use, so during that development,
software is stabilized with new features.

 

[HeyBub]

We are using volume licensing for all our 2000 and some Xp machines,
but with Vista it is not the same. You have to run KMS server, but we
do not want to run such server (extra point of failure). What about
machines which loose network connection to KMS server or are not
connected to the same network? No no it is too complicated.
With 2000 it was so easy. Just make a ghost, ghosting and run
ghostwalk.

If it's too complicated, hire a 12-year old male.

 

[rtk]

"extra point of failure"? A client has to check in once every 180 days, it's
not the business continuity nightmare you're eluding to.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsvista/bb335291.aspx

 

[rtk]

Unfortunately, it was the early success of the devils-own volume license key
for XP that caused MS to now require activation on these versions as well,
using either Windows Vista Multiple Activation Key (MAK) and/or Windows
Vista Key Management Service (KMS).

Even Enterprise requires activation, but with KMS it's pretty much a no
brainer.

rtk

And thats why Microsoft has volume license programs to avoid this. You
don't have to activate Volume License software. Microsoft sells the
software in confidence that they won't abuse the system. The majority of
pirated copies of Windows out there are from volume license contracts. As
for Vista not being finished, software is never finished, its always in
development. Its just that the software reaches a level of stability and
users/businesses want additional functionality and ease of use, so during
that development, software is stabilized with new features.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!E8E5CC039D51E3DB!9709.entry

It will be much more easy to stay with windows 2000, if the old method
with ghosting will not work with Vista.
Why Microsoft is doing such difficulties. Does Microsoft want people who
like Windows think about another OS etc...


Regards
Marcus

Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin] wrote:
You probably need to contact HP about mass deploying Vista on these
computers. XIMAGE is really meant to consolidate the issues associated
with mass deployment of Windows. So its definitely something you should
look into.

You would think so, and you may get MORE activation difficulties in the
future based on recent activation problems when a server crashed. Besides
that, Vista is not finished yet, there are still issues which belong in a
Beta version, not production software. Unfortunately the problem with
activation is being backported to XP and Windows 2003 server. MS need to
stop this behavior toward honest customers now or else as you say, people
will start to look somewhere else. I support their right to avoid theft
and piracy but NOT their right to consider everybody a thief until proven
otherwise.

 

[Telstar]

If it's too complicated, hire a 12-year old male.

If this guy is reponsible for 200 corporate computers, the business will
fail. I'd fire him.

 

[MarcusB]

Hi rtk,
You sound very funny.
We use Volume license (select) for whole University. We are independent
(750 staff members) department using the University volume license the
license server KMS are run on University servers (by Computer Centrum)
which we do not control and they do not care so much if the server is
down or not. Therefore it is little risky busines to be dependent on
them. We already bought 100 Vista licenses and very often we got
problems with their server. THerefore we are thinking to rely on OEM
licenses which come with computers. What your sugestion?
It is little stupid to buy Volume licenses for computers which already
have Vista Buisnes OEM licenses. Am I right?

I appreciate any suggestion to solve our Vista licensing (ghosting)
nightmare.


Regards
Marcus

Unfortunately, it was the early success of the devils-own volume license
key for XP that caused MS to now require activation on these versions as
well, using either Windows Vista Multiple Activation Key (MAK) and/or
Windows Vista Key Management Service (KMS).

Even Enterprise requires activation, but with KMS it's pretty much a no
brainer.

rtk

And thats why Microsoft has volume license programs to avoid this. You
don't have to activate Volume License software. Microsoft sells the
software in confidence that they won't abuse the system. The majority
of pirated copies of Windows out there are from volume license
contracts. As for Vista not being finished, software is never
finished, its always in development. Its just that the software
reaches a level of stability and users/businesses want additional
functionality and ease of use, so during that development, software is
stabilized with new features.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!E8E5CC039D51E3DB!9709.entry

MarcusB wrote:
It will be much more easy to stay with windows 2000, if the old
method with ghosting will not work with Vista.
Why Microsoft is doing such difficulties. Does Microsoft want people
who like Windows think about another OS etc...


Regards
Marcus

Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin] wrote:
You probably need to contact HP about mass deploying Vista on these
computers. XIMAGE is really meant to consolidate the issues
associated with mass deployment of Windows. So its definitely
something you should look into.


You would think so, and you may get MORE activation difficulties in
the future based on recent activation problems when a server crashed.
Besides that, Vista is not finished yet, there are still issues which
belong in a Beta version, not production software. Unfortunately the
problem with activation is being backported to XP and Windows 2003
server. MS need to stop this behavior toward honest customers now or
else as you say, people will start to look somewhere else. I support
their right to avoid theft and piracy but NOT their right to consider
everybody a thief until proven otherwise.

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

Check out how this University handles Windows Vista Enterprise and
Activation 2.0, really interesting article:
http://kb.wisc.edu/page.php?id=5294
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!E8E5CC039D51E3DB!9709.entry

Hi rtk,
You sound very funny.
We use Volume license (select) for whole University. We are independent
(750 staff members) department using the University volume license the
license server KMS are run on University servers (by Computer Centrum)
which we do not control and they do not care so much if the server is down
or not. Therefore it is little risky busines to be dependent on them. We
already bought 100 Vista licenses and very often we got problems with
their server. THerefore we are thinking to rely on OEM licenses which come
with computers. What your sugestion?
It is little stupid to buy Volume licenses for computers which already
have Vista Buisnes OEM licenses. Am I right?

I appreciate any suggestion to solve our Vista licensing (ghosting)
nightmare.


Regards
Marcus

Unfortunately, it was the early success of the devils-own volume license
key for XP that caused MS to now require activation on these versions as
well, using either Windows Vista Multiple Activation Key (MAK) and/or
Windows Vista Key Management Service (KMS).

Even Enterprise requires activation, but with KMS it's pretty much a no
brainer.

rtk

And thats why Microsoft has volume license programs to avoid this. You
don't have to activate Volume License software. Microsoft sells the
software in confidence that they won't abuse the system. The majority of
pirated copies of Windows out there are from volume license contracts.
As for Vista not being finished, software is never finished, its always
in development. Its just that the software reaches a level of stability
and users/businesses want additional functionality and ease of use, so
during that development, software is stabilized with new features.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!E8E5CC039D51E3DB!9709.entry
MarcusB wrote:
It will be much more easy to stay with windows 2000, if the old method
with ghosting will not work with Vista.
Why Microsoft is doing such difficulties. Does Microsoft want people
who like Windows think about another OS etc...


Regards
Marcus

Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin] wrote:
You probably need to contact HP about mass deploying Vista on these
computers. XIMAGE is really meant to consolidate the issues
associated with mass deployment of Windows. So its definitely
something you should look into.


You would think so, and you may get MORE activation difficulties in the
future based on recent activation problems when a server crashed.
Besides that, Vista is not finished yet, there are still issues which
belong in a Beta version, not production software. Unfortunately the
problem with activation is being backported to XP and Windows 2003
server. MS need to stop this behavior toward honest customers now or
else as you say, people will start to look somewhere else. I support
their right to avoid theft and piracy but NOT their right to consider
everybody a thief until proven otherwise.

 

[Charlie Tame]

You do realize what you just said?

Microsoft sells the software in
confidence that they won't abuse the system. The majority of pirated
copies
of Windows out there are from volume license contracts.

So why then are they hammering the people who cannot "Afford" the volume
license "Merry go round"?

You just stated that Microsoft sells unprotected software to "Pirates"
then penalizes retail users with accusations of theft and summary
de-activation.

I wouldn't expect a job on the MS laywers' defense team any time soon...

 

[Charlie Tame]

Unfortunately the "Apologists" for Microsoft's appalling business
practices automatically assume (Like Microsoft have begun to do) that
everyone except them is a thief, yet I am quite confident that every
single one of us posting here has at some time broken a license
agreement or "Stolen" something, even if only a company pen. The one guy
qualified to throw stones died 2007 years ago

The fact is that these measures MS are taking will NOT affect sales in a
positive way at all, when a Windows system breaks now the owner has no
incentive to buy a new license, they may as well "Try" some other
system, so if that user was going to "Pirate" a version of Windows they
simply won't bother, and MS will lose the "Exposure" and advertising
that machine may have brought and gain absolutely nothing. Instead they
have set up a Linux machine in Grandma's house where future users will
get as familiar and comfortable with Linux as they have historically
been with Windows.

The current licensing model has become way too cumbersome to be managed
effectively, it is full of legal language and full of traps for the
unwary, bringing in a huge profit for lawyers and nothing at all for MS
or their users, it is however a "Raft" for the apologists to cling to.

The big problem of course is that MS have become dedicated to pissing
off legitimate users and most users have no quick way out, however they
WILL find a way out and unless this situation is rectified soon it will
start a mass migration that will then be unstoppable. I am sure someone
at MS is thinking this is just complaints from frustrated "Pirates" and
will continue to do so until the reality hits them in the pocket, and
that will takes some time, but by the time it does a considerable amount
of damage may have been done.

Hi rtk,
You sound very funny.
We use Volume license (select) for whole University. We are independent
(750 staff members) department using the University volume license the
license server KMS are run on University servers (by Computer Centrum)
which we do not control and they do not care so much if the server is
down or not. Therefore it is little risky busines to be dependent on
them. We already bought 100 Vista licenses and very often we got
problems with their server. THerefore we are thinking to rely on OEM
licenses which come with computers. What your sugestion?
It is little stupid to buy Volume licenses for computers which already
have Vista Buisnes OEM licenses. Am I right?

I appreciate any suggestion to solve our Vista licensing (ghosting)
nightmare.


Regards
Marcus

Unfortunately, it was the early success of the devils-own volume
license key for XP that caused MS to now require activation on these
versions as well, using either Windows Vista Multiple Activation Key
(MAK) and/or Windows Vista Key Management Service (KMS).

Even Enterprise requires activation, but with KMS it's pretty much a
no brainer.

rtk

And thats why Microsoft has volume license programs to avoid this.
You don't have to activate Volume License software. Microsoft sells
the software in confidence that they won't abuse the system. The
majority of pirated copies of Windows out there are from volume
license contracts. As for Vista not being finished, software is never
finished, its always in development. Its just that the software
reaches a level of stability and users/businesses want additional
functionality and ease of use, so during that development, software
is stabilized with new features.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!E8E5CC039D51E3DB!9709.entry
MarcusB wrote:
It will be much more easy to stay with windows 2000, if the old
method with ghosting will not work with Vista.
Why Microsoft is doing such difficulties. Does Microsoft want
people who like Windows think about another OS etc...


Regards
Marcus

Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin] wrote:
You probably need to contact HP about mass deploying Vista on
these computers. XIMAGE is really meant to consolidate the issues
associated with mass deployment of Windows. So its definitely
something you should look into.


You would think so, and you may get MORE activation difficulties in
the future based on recent activation problems when a server
crashed. Besides that, Vista is not finished yet, there are still
issues which belong in a Beta version, not production software.
Unfortunately the problem with activation is being backported to XP
and Windows 2003 server. MS need to stop this behavior toward honest
customers now or else as you say, people will start to look
somewhere else. I support their right to avoid theft and piracy but
NOT their right to consider everybody a thief until proven otherwise.

 

[Charlie Tame]

Check out how this University handles Windows Vista Enterprise and
Activation 2.0, really interesting article:
http://kb.wisc.edu/page.php?id=5294

All of which does little to stop piracy and lots to encourage people to
go to another OS - Brilliant...

 

[NoStop]

We bought 200 computers(HP Workstation XW4400 with Windows Buisnes OEM)
to our computer lab.
For first 8 weeks we was running Windows 2000 pro (so called
downgrading) on all computers, because I did knew how to ghost and roll
out it. No activations and such things. Just make ghost, ghost all
computers and run ghostwalk on all of them.

How I can ghost OEM Vista to all of the computers. Can I install one
machine with original OEM Vista and ghost it the same way Windows 2000 I
done. Then rollout and run ghost walk. What with activation. As I know
HP is using master registration key, and all machine are the same.
Will ghosting work this way????
Need help ASAP


Regards
Marcus

What kind of "computer lab" do you run that you'd even consider putting that
toy operating system on all the computers? Are you nuts?

Cheers.

 

[Frank]

MarcusB wrote:




What kind of "computer lab" do you run that you'd even consider putting that
toy operating system on all the computers? Are you nuts?

Cheers.

He's not talking about putting a linux toy POS os on them. He's talking
about putting a real OS...in this case Vista on them.
Big difference doris. I guess you're to stupid to know that or else
you've got your pointy head shoved all the way up RS's hairy arse to
know anything right?
Frank