How to make a single image boot on different laptops without crashing?

[news.microsoft.com]

I need to create one single master image of Windows XP SP-2 (using Ghost 8)
that would cover these laptop models: IBM Thinkpad T22, T23, T30, T40, T41,
and T42.

The problem is, there is no way I have found to create an XP install that
will work on all the machines. These machines range from a Pentium 3 (the
T22, and T23), to various P4 models (T30, T40, T41 and T42).

Doesn't matter which machine I create the image on, if I ghost it to other
models, it will blue screen upon boot. I've tried playing around with
Sysprep, and other tricks, but so far I can only get the very simular T40,
T41, and T42 models to work with 1 image.

I know this can be done somehow, because I have a Ghost image created by the
last guy who did this, that will boot on all the above models with no
problems. (although it does find a lot of hardware after being booted, but
that is OK).

Basically I want to make it as easy as possible for the techs when they
ghost a laptop with this image. All they need to do is perform a few basic
customizations for the user, and thats it.

Unfortuntely, I cannot contact this guy, as he left the company and did not
leave any way to contact him. I much prefer to create seperate ghost images
for all the different hardware, but that is not what my boss wants

Anybody have any suggestions?

- George ([email protected])

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I need to create one single master image of Windows XP SP-2 (using Ghost 8)
that would cover these laptop models: IBM Thinkpad T22, T23, T30, T40, T41,
and T42.

The problem is, there is no way I have found to create an XP install that
will work on all the machines. These machines range from a Pentium 3 (the
T22, and T23), to various P4 models (T30, T40, T41 and T42).

Doesn't matter which machine I create the image on, if I ghost it to other
models, it will blue screen upon boot. I've tried playing around with
Sysprep, and other tricks, but so far I can only get the very simular T40,
T41, and T42 models to work with 1 image.

I know this can be done somehow, because I have a Ghost image created by the
last guy who did this, that will boot on all the above models with no
problems. (although it does find a lot of hardware after being booted, but
that is OK).

Basically I want to make it as easy as possible for the techs when they
ghost a laptop with this image. All they need to do is perform a few basic
customizations for the user, and thats it.

Unfortuntely, I cannot contact this guy, as he left the company and did not
leave any way to contact him. I much prefer to create seperate ghost images
for all the different hardware, but that is not what my boss wants

Anybody have any suggestions?

- George ([email protected])

For a really robust image I would create one image file for each
laptop model.

You can try to make a generic one but it might not be as robust
and reliable as you like.

To make the generic one you need to replace the specific
driver for the master IDE controller with the generic Microsoft
driver. Using this method, I have been able to run laptop images
on desktops - most of the time . . .

 

[news.microsoft.com]

I agree with you, one image per machine is the way to go. I have been
building all the images (both laptop and desktop, as well as for file
servers) for over 6 years, and I always build seperate images for each peice
of hardware, but we are going thru some serious management changes, and I
just do the work, I don't get to make the decisions.

I will try your suggestion, and hopefully it will work!

Thanks!

- George

 

[Jetro]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q314082
You receive a Stop 0x0000007B error after you move the Windows XP system
disk to another computer

Move an image from model to model and install additional drivers (audio,
modem, NIC etc) and sysprep it. I would refrain from mixing Video drivers
(ATI/S3 Savage) but add them as well as the chipset drivers to an image
somewhere to keep it handy.
The chipsets are: T22 - Intel 440BX, T23 & T30 - Intel 830, T40, T41& T42 -
Intel 855. Read IBM site about proper chipset recognition. You cannot clone
ACPI-awared image onto, say, Standard BIOS.

Server images are a separate story. I've been using Ghost during, say, 10
years and never cloned a single server either Novell or Microsoft for
production environment rollout but backup only. Maybe it's a superstition
but I hate to fix a broken security channel.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I need to create one single master image of Windows XP SP-2 (using Ghost 8)
that would cover these laptop models: IBM Thinkpad T22, T23, T30, T40, T41,
and T42.

The problem is, there is no way I have found to create an XP install that
will work on all the machines. These machines range from a Pentium 3 (the
T22, and T23), to various P4 models (T30, T40, T41 and T42).

Doesn't matter which machine I create the image on, if I ghost it to other
models, it will blue screen upon boot. I've tried playing around with
Sysprep, and other tricks, but so far I can only get the very simular T40,
T41, and T42 models to work with 1 image.

I know this can be done somehow, because I have a Ghost image created by the
last guy who did this, that will boot on all the above models with no
problems. (although it does find a lot of hardware after being booted, but
that is OK).

Basically I want to make it as easy as possible for the techs when they
ghost a laptop with this image. All they need to do is perform a few basic
customizations for the user, and thats it.

Unfortuntely, I cannot contact this guy, as he left the company and did not
leave any way to contact him. I much prefer to create seperate ghost images
for all the different hardware, but that is not what my boss wants

Anybody have any suggestions?

- George ([email protected])

HOW TO Use Sysprep.exe Tool to Automate Successful Deployment
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q302577


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[news.microsoft.com]

Jetro,

Thanks a million! The information you provided (especially that link) was
exactly what I needed! That link went to a page on MS's site which provided
what I needed. As soon as I added the information it provided into the
registry, and forced Windows to load all of it's IDE drivers, the thing
worked perfectly.

I now have an image that I have booted on the following laptops without any
problems:

T22, T23, T30, T40, T41, and T42. The image works excellent. The original
image was for a T42, I then simply booted it on every model, going backwards
to the oldest T22, and simply loaded the drivers it was missing for each
image. Really, the only thing I needed to load was Wireless nic drivers,
and video drivers for the T22 and T23. The T30 is actually quite close to
the T40 series (not chipset, but most of the hardware).

We have a few other misc Thinkpad models that we only have 1 or 2 of, but
for the heck of it I tested it also on these models, and it worked great:
X20, and X40. The only thing that ever came up was on the X40, as it uses
the Intel Extreme video, if I loaded that driver (and did not reboot after
installing), if I switch video from the default 640x480, it will bluescreen.

But the Intel Extreme video is strange anyways, and all I need to do is keep
a copy of the driver on the image so in the rare exception one of these
models is used, all a tech has to do is install the video driver.

Again, thanks a lot! You REALLY helped out a lot.

- George

 

[Jetro]

You're welcome.