RIS (or other) Image for multiple hardware

[Andreas Wöckl]

Hi Group!

We are currently implementing a network infrastructure for a few schools.
One of this schools has a lot of different computer types (7!!). Of course
we have to develop an imaging strategy for this school! RIS would be a good
option but unfortunately we have a few type that are not supported by the
RIS Boot Disc. We also tried to set up one PC, integrate the drivers of a
second type and put the harddisc in the second type. No chance - the
computer will not boot. After performing a repair install with an Windows XP
CD we could boot at the second type - but not at the first...

Anyone an idea which technology, tools we could use to solve this tricky
problem..?

Buying no hardware unfortunately is no option - there is no hardware budget
left.

I would greatly appreciate any ideas!

best regards

andy

 

[Florian Frommherz]

Howdy Andreas!

We are currently implementing a network infrastructure for a few schools.
One of this schools has a lot of different computer types (7!!). Of course
we have to develop an imaging strategy for this school! RIS would be a good
option but unfortunately we have a few type that are not supported by the
RIS Boot Disc. We also tried to set up one PC, integrate the drivers of a

What do you mean by "not supported by the RIS Boot Disc"? They will not
boot? The setup comes up with an error message? How did you create the
image the computers shall boot from?

Anyone an idea which technology, tools we could use to solve this tricky
problem..?

Depending on the number of similar computers (meaning: exact the same
hardware) you have, you could image one computer of each "type" and
deploy it via RIS. Sysprep.exe would be a good start for that.

cheers,

Florian

 

[aleinss]

Hi Group!

We are currently implementing a network infrastructure for a few schools.
One of this schools has a lot of different computer types (7!!). Of course
we have to develop an imaging strategy for this school! RIS would be a good
option but unfortunately we have a few type that are not supported by the
RIS Boot Disc. We also tried to set up one PC, integrate the drivers of a
second type and put the harddisc in the second type. No chance - the
computer will not boot. After performing a repair install with an WindowsXP
CD we could boot at the second type - but not at the first...

Anyone an idea which technology, tools we could use to solve this tricky
problem..?

www.leinss.com/uniimg.html

I'm pretty sure RIS has some type of imaging utility that does what
Norton Ghost does.

Adam

 

[Andreas Wöckl]

Hi Adam!

Thanks for the link - perfect!

cu

Andy

Hi Group!

We are currently implementing a network infrastructure for a few schools.
One of this schools has a lot of different computer types (7!!). Of course
we have to develop an imaging strategy for this school! RIS would be a
good
option but unfortunately we have a few type that are not supported by the
RIS Boot Disc. We also tried to set up one PC, integrate the drivers of a
second type and put the harddisc in the second type. No chance - the
computer will not boot. After performing a repair install with an Windows
XP
CD we could boot at the second type - but not at the first...

Anyone an idea which technology, tools we could use to solve this tricky
problem..?

www.leinss.com/uniimg.html

I'm pretty sure RIS has some type of imaging utility that does what
Norton Ghost does.

Adam

 

[Guest]

It's rare that a standard HAL won't work on an IDE or SATA computer, this is
only likely to affect more exotic hardware like SCSI or RAID.

The ususal reason an image won't boot on a different mobo is the IDE driver.
If you change the driver to "Standard PCI IDE Controller" before imaging,
then the image will boot on most hardware. Once booted it will be very
unresponsive for a few minutes while it sorts itself out. One more reboot and
it should be configured for the new mobo.

There also are sometimes issues with the disk MBR signature and boot.ini
settings, but these are less common.

 

[Andreas Wöckl]

Hi Ian!

Are there some special issues with SATA computers concerning booting?

cu

andy

 

[Shenan Stanley]

We are currently implementing a network infrastructure for a few
schools. One of this schools has a lot of different computer types
(7!!). Of course we have to develop an imaging strategy for this
school! RIS would be a good option but unfortunately we have a few
type that are not supported by the RIS Boot Disc. We also tried to
set up one PC, integrate the drivers of a second type and put the
harddisc in the second type. No chance - the computer will not
boot. After performing a repair install with an Windows XP CD we
could boot at the second type - but not at the first...
Anyone an idea which technology, tools we could use to solve this
tricky problem..?

Buying no hardware unfortunately is no option - there is no
hardware budget left.

Networks..
Pushing the images in a variety of ways.

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]

Hi Ian!

Are there some special issues with SATA computers concerning booting?

Occasionally, yes. Though XP SP2 supports most SATA controllers without
addtional drivers.