Windows 2000 and Windows XP Image Deployment

[Guest]

Hi,

I just joined a new software company and were assigned a project to refine
the current existing W2K, W2K/Linux, and W2K/Linux/ESX images. In addition,
we are moving torward Windows XP Professional as a newer OS image. Since I
am working with both W2K and XP images, I thought the XP forum would be a
better place to place my questions.

The company preferred desktop/laptop/server are all Dell's. Most of all the
pre-installed software that come with the Latitude D400 laptop and the
Precision Workstation 370 are Windows XP Professional. With this information
I would like to ask the forum advice on a few concerns and issues I am facing
with the imaging process.

1. Licensing... I would like to know does the pre-installed Windows XP Pro
installed by Dell is a fully licensed copy? If so, when I create and
deployed WinXP images, how would this affect the software licensing and
activation process? Each machine does have it's own CD-KEY label attatch to
the machine. But within the image, I can only input one valid CD-KEY.

2. On my first trial run creating the Windows 2000 and XP images... I
build up a base installed of the OS, applied all of Microsoft security
updates and Windows updates. I also include Microsoft Office 2000 Premium on
the W2K image, and Microsoft Office 2003 Professional on the XP image. I
then use the Setupmgr.exe and Sysprep.exe to configure for reset the SID
prior to using Ghost Corporate Edition v8.0 to create the backup base images
for deployment. On my first test of deployment, which was sucessful, I
notice one thing that happen that I like to know how to resolve. When you
execute any of the Office application for the first time, Windows asked for
the orginal installation file location to continue the setup. This is where
I need advice on. I taken that since Sysprep.exe has reseal the SID and a
new one was generated, the Office program were too affected? If so, has
anyone have any tips on how this problem can be configure so that it would
not ask for the installation CD?

3. At this time, the image I have created are very basic, which mean that I
did not get into the more Advanced options in Sysprep. The advanced features
I am interested in knowing more about are:
a. Automating the network driver installs. Does this involve calling to a
scripts file, and also have to configure execution startup within Active
Directory?
b. Automating network scripts to generate user's environment pertaining to
their login ID, such as configuring network mapped drive, Outlook Exchange's
server's setting.

I know that I am asking for a lot of information But if anyone how has
comments or tips, or just simply point me to a Microsoft support article, I
would greatly appreciated!

Best Regards,
Vinh Le
ESS Support Technician

 

[Guest]

Hello,

It's probably asking for a file called OWC11.msi (Office 2003). In my case,
I copied the file from the CD and put it in C:\Program Files\Microsoft
Office\OWC11.msi so that when it asks for the file, I can point it to there.
After the first person (usually me) uses a Microsoft Office application for
the first time, it'll navigate to there on it's own. The first person will
have to navigate there themselves (that's why I try to be the first one since
I know where the file is.

Hope this works for you.

Charles