sysprep Windows 2003 SE of multiple partitions

[narayan]

Hi,
I have setup where I need to sysprep a Windows 2003 SE (no service
pack) with 2 partitions on the same drive. (C: and D: - C: is the boot
partition). When I did sysprep of this with reseal option and then
rebooted in to the system - I found the system was not booting any
more.
Later I found the KB article about sysprep not supporting multiple
partitions.
With great difficulty I think we are close to recovering the system,
data and apps. But, then we have to do this setup again as we are
going to clone the system to an iSCSI device for iSCSI boot (using
vista PE).
If sysprep is not an option - what can I do ? Simply cloning the
system with a linux-type dd - I have tried in past - but was not able
to get it working ? If anyone knows about this - please respond ASAP -
as this is a very urgent requirement.
Thanks
NB

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

Hi,
I have setup where I need to sysprep a Windows 2003 SE (no service
pack) with 2 partitions on the same drive. (C: and D: - C: is the
boot
partition). When I did sysprep of this with reseal option and then
rebooted in to the system - I found the system was not booting any
more.
Later I found the KB article about sysprep not supporting multiple
partitions.
With great difficulty I think we are close to recovering the system,
data and apps. But, then we have to do this setup again as we are
going to clone the system to an iSCSI device for iSCSI boot (using
vista PE).
If sysprep is not an option - what can I do ? Simply cloning the
system with a linux-type dd - I have tried in past - but was not
able
to get it working ? If anyone knows about this - please respond
ASAP -
as this is a very urgent requirement.

I regularly sysprep and deploy Windows XP and Vista systems with
multiple partitions on a single drive. Is Windows 2003 somehow
different with respect to sysprep? What KB article are you referring
to? I'd like to review it.

--
Zaphod

Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster: A cocktail based on Janx Spirit.
The effect of one is like having your brain smashed out
by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick.

 

[Anteaus]

Depends what your objective is.

If you simply need to clone the machine, then Drive Image 5, or a recent
Acronis product will do that. Most of the Linux products will clone FAT32
partitions, but not all are successful with NTFS.

Sysprep is only necessary if you need to present the computer in 'fresh out
of box' condition without useraccounts. It is not necessary (or always
desirable) to sysprep computers if you want to deliver them ready-for-use
with accounts, etc. on them. Though in that case you should run NewSID on
each copy.

Windows 2003 (if this is what you refer to) is normally a server OS anyway,
although I realise that some sites use it as a desktop OS for the sake of its
somewhat better performance.

As for iSCSI boot, haven't a clue, that is getting too exotic for me! In a
general case though, IDE/SATA disk images are not interchangeable with SCSI
ones, not even on the same mobo.

 

[Peter Foldes]

You are not able to do this without having W2K3 SP1 installed. You need at least
SP1.

I am using a W2K3 SP2 Enterprise and sysrep will work only after SP1 is installed.
Anyone knowing a server system would know this. You can achieve it another way also.
But since you do not have any SP installed on your server and what you asking to do
then that means you are using a pirated version of the W2K3

Try posting to the W2K3&8 newsgroup with this question. You will not even get a
response since all will know the same as I posted above the minute they read your
post