Installing Windows XP PRO SP3 on multiple computers simultaneous

[Linuh]

Hi all.I`m not usually a "windows user" but this time, because of my job i
must use it.My problem is that i need to install 30 computers with
WinXP-SP3.All computers have the same hardware and i think to do this as fast
as possible.Any idea?I don`t wanna involve any unix solutions in here even it
is possible.I wanna deploy the entire network install simultaneous, controll
it as much as possible but only using microsoft products.Is this possible?I
have acces to any Microsoft products i could need with license so...what do i
need to do?Am i asking for too much?.Thank you for your time and help.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I`m not usually a "windows user" but this time, because of my job i
must use it.My problem is that i need to install 30 computers with
WinXP-SP3.All computers have the same hardware and i think to do this as
fast
as possible.Any idea?I don`t wanna involve any unix solutions in here even
it
is possible.I wanna deploy the entire network install simultaneous,
controll
it as much as possible but only using microsoft products.Is this
possible?I
have acces to any Microsoft products i could need with license so...what
do i
need to do?Am i asking for too much?.Thank you for your time and help.

What is your job?

You could use WDS. You could setup an unattended installation in various
ways. You could utilize a third party imaging application. It really
depends on your needs and skills.

With your current criteria (Windows XP, all same hardware, fast as
possible) - I recommend installing one computer from scratch and using an
imaging utility to make a copy of said machine and push it out to the other
machines. It ignores your 'with Microsoft products only' criteria - but
that seems over-limiting (to me) anyway, considering it is highly unlikely
the only thing on the end-result will be Microsoft products. ;-)

Otherwise - WDS is your best bet - although using it with Windows XP has
mixed results and *will* take more time to setup with Windows XP than the
imaging thing likely would - no matter which third-party product you chose
to go with. ;-) You do have a distinct advantage that all the hardware is
the same - that could/should speed up the process.

Windows Deployment Services Getting Started Guide
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc771670(WS.10).aspx

 

[Anteaus]

Whatever approach you take you will need some kind of disk-copy utility, to
run on a 'rollout machine' which clones the disk image. Microsoft don't
really have anything suitable, so it's either licensed third-party such as
Acronis, or various GNU/Linux options. (Knoppix suggests itself) None of the
Linux stuff would be present on the finished product, so I see no issues with
following this route.