Dell Recovery CD + Serial Number

[Dos_Box]

I have 2 training suites of 40 Dell Optiplex GX620 which are due to be sold on to a lucky school this summer. Unfortunately I only have one recovery CD and would like to RIS all of the systems to the default factory state before we pass them on. The CD is not a complete OS image (with drivers etc) but just an XP SP2 installation disk with sysprep. Where would I be able to find he serial number on the disk to set up my RIS answer file?

[SYNACK]

If it is a syspreped image the file you want should be sysprep.inf stored in the root of the image or the sysprep folder.

If it is an automated setup CD then you are after winnt.sif which will be in the i386 folder on the install CD.

[FN-GM]

the Dell Recovery CD doesn't actually use one, you use a Windows SN.

Can you only sell these machines to Lancs schools? What about ones in Greater Manchester?

Z

[Michael]

Probably the best method would be to install Windows XP as new (using an OEM disc), install drivers manually once you're in Windows and then Sysprep the image with no answer file.

Deploy this image on each of the machines and then they're ready to go. The administrator who receives them can then manually input the right establishment, serial and also join them to the domain.

If you're unable to find the Windows serial number, I use a small utility called 'Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder', which Sophos sometimes classifies as spyware, but it is safe!

[Dos_Box]

It already does this. They can type in teh COA nukmber and it works fine. I was just tryign to make things easier for the end user.