Setting up multiple PCs

[John]

I have six new Dell PCs that are preconfigured with XP Pro and Office.
But I need to install printers, several applications, fine tune some
preferences, install Symantec Antivirus Corporate, etc.

Is there a program that will act as a "master" on one computer while
the other computers will "copy" every action that I do on the master?

I've been thinking about using Group Policy (we have a domain) to push
out the apps with .msi's, but I'm not a pro with GP.

Any suggestions?

John

 

[Malke]

I have six new Dell PCs that are preconfigured with XP Pro and Office.
But I need to install printers, several applications, fine tune some
preferences, install Symantec Antivirus Corporate, etc.

Is there a program that will act as a "master" on one computer while
the other computers will "copy" every action that I do on the master?

I've been thinking about using Group Policy (we have a domain) to push
out the apps with .msi's, but I'm not a pro with GP.

Just set one computer up the way you want, make an image with a program
like Acronis TrueImage or Symantec Ghost, and image the other 5.

Malke

 

[Yves Leclerc]

Just set one computer up the way you want, make an image with a program
like Acronis TrueImage or Symantec Ghost, and image the other 5.

Malke

Also, you would require 'sysprep" since you will need to set up the "image" to
accept the CD Key on each different PC.

 

[Malke]

Also, you would require 'sysprep" since you will need to set up the
"image" to accept the CD Key on each different PC.

Not for only 5 computers. You could either just change the key
afterwards per some of the suggestions in Item #18 on Michael Stevens'
site or call MS to do it.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#18

Certainly if the OP thought he was going to need to image and roll out a
lot more workstations it would be useful for him to learn Sysprep.

Malke

 

[Kerry Brown]

Not for only 5 computers. You could either just change the key
afterwards per some of the suggestions in Item #18 on Michael Stevens'
site or call MS to do it.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#18

Certainly if the OP thought he was going to need to image and roll
out a lot more workstations it would be useful for him to learn
Sysprep.

Malke

You would have to do something about the duplicate SIDs. NewSID from
sysinternals.com would work well.

Kerry

 

[John]

I've always been apprehensive to use an imaging program. Do you use
them regularly? Is this going to be one of those pain in the ***
things that I wish I wouldn't have started? In reality, is it pretty
easy?

 

[Kerry Brown]

I've always been apprehensive to use an imaging program. Do you use
them regularly? Is this going to be one of those pain in the ***
things that I wish I wouldn't have started? In reality, is it pretty
easy?

I use Acronis True Image for disk imaging. The approved Microsoft way to
deploy an image of XP is to use sysprep just before creating the image.
Sysprep is hard to learn. As Malke says if you are only deploying a few
images then it is probably not worth the bother to learn it. Some of the
problems you will run into are. Duplicate SIDs - each computer has a SID
(security identifier). If you deploy an image all the computers will have
the same SID. If they are networked this can cause erratic operation as some
prorams and network services use the SID to identify a computer. The next
hurdle is the Windows activation. If the original image is not made with a
volume license version of XP each computer will need to be activated. As
they all have the same product key as the original then only the first one
will be able to activate. There are other minor things like the computer
name, program keys etc. Sysprep can be run with many options so upon first
boot each computer runs a mini setup allowing you to enter product keys,
name the computer, and generate a unique SID. If you are only deploying a
few computers then it may be easier to just create an image and deploy it.
When first booting each computer run a program to generate a new SID and
another program to change the product keys. You should also make sure each
computer has a unique name.

All of this assumes you are using very similar hardware on all the
computers. If any of them have a different motherboard, video card, hard
drive controller or other differing hardware then sysprep is your only
option. It can be setup so that on first boot the mini setup will discover
new hardware and install drivers.

Kerry