How to build a multi PC master drive?

[Guest]

If this is not clear I will explain here.

How do you build a multi PC master hard drive that can boot and install any
of the drivers it needs automatically if the drive is moved from one PC to
another?

For instance we use Gateway PC's and have several models that are very
similar but may have different chipsets, NIC, video, sound or display
adapters. I can build the initial drive and install the requested drivers
each time the drive is moved to another PC from a folder in the C:\drivers
folder, though not all the drivers are requested each time the drive is moved
to another PC.


To date this master drive will run on 4 different PC's E4000 to E4500
installed from 2002 to 2006 all with XP SP2 after the necessary drivers are
installed after the move or having run SYSPREP, like a NIC , sound or video.

I use this drive to clone replacements and would then like its image to be
used for RIS so a standardized corporate image can be installed when
necessary.

Do you have any ideas?

Thanks,

 

[Shenan Stanley]

If this is not clear I will explain here.

How do you build a multi PC master hard drive that can boot and
install any of the drivers it needs automatically if the drive is
moved from one PC to another?

For instance we use Gateway PC's and have several models that are
very similar but may have different chipsets, NIC, video, sound or
display adapters. I can build the initial drive and install the
requested drivers each time the drive is moved to another PC from a
folder in the C:\drivers folder, though not all the drivers are
requested each time the drive is moved to another PC.


To date this master drive will run on 4 different PC's E4000 to
E4500 installed from 2002 to 2006 all with XP SP2 after the
necessary drivers are installed after the move or having run
SYSPREP, like a NIC , sound or video.

I use this drive to clone replacements and would then like its
image to be used for RIS so a standardized corporate image can be
installed when necessary.

Do you have any ideas?

Master images? Unattended installs?

By CD/DVD...
http://unattended.msfn.org/

By network...
http://unattended.sourceforge.net/

Your other choice might be to create a universal image - but I think you
would get more flexibility with an unattended installation.

http://www.leinss.com/uniimg.html
(See the WinXP Blog addition - imaging with universal image)

http://www.gc.peachnet.edu/www/wbeck/W2KXP.htm#Master
(More on building and ghosting a master image)

 

[Guest]

Stan, this give me idea's. Thanks, I thought it would have been a bit easier
though.