Windows Back Up / Restore.

[plexer]

http://www.runtime.org/dixml.htm

Can be used to image a running xp etc... system.

Looks neat.

Ben

[NetworkGeezer]

If cost is an issue then dd might be an option.

Ghost and other commercial products have advantage of copying only copying populated sectors. This reduces the image size even further then compression alone.

The other option of course is doing ghost like imaging with RIS using the RIPREP utility. This sound like what Gatt is doing.

[plexer]

What about:

http://www.vmware.com/vmtn/appliances/directory/321 ???

Ben

[tickmike]

Hi . just an update .
Well I used Partition Magic and it is magic , made an extra partition like 'SimpleSi' explained above.
About first five Ghost images were corrupt, did 'scan disk' then 'defrag' then I got a good ghost image.
Tried peer to peer to workstation image copied ok come to reboot get BSOD with error oxooooooA5 and that is 'ACPI Bios' wants updating..
Done a 'google' for it and it seems a known problem .
So all these workstations are the same spec so how the xxxx can it do this. Does the file get corrupted when you ghost it.
So I was going to try 'SimpleSi' method next, I ghost image to E Drive , Shared it, copied to another workstation on to E drive .
but it was 10.30pm and I had enough. try tomorrow.

Question 1..about SimpleSi method above ... I have the copy of C drive on E drive so how do I get it to boot from E drive ... how do I change the drive letters over.?.

2..Do I have to update all the bios to get rid of this error.?.

From Michael.

[mark]

You ran Sysprep before imaging - so that when booting the new image goes through a mini install? [you didn't say]

I think SimpleSi meant:- to image to the E: Drive, as a permanent store for the ghost image - that's how I understood it anyway. Then you restore to the C: drive. Do this from a working O/S or using the dos version of ghost.

[Ric_]

Sounds like your image is being used on different hardware models. If the OS is XP you can simply boot off the installation CD and ask it to Repair it for you. If you are using 2K you're screwed!

If you cannot make different images for each model, you should run sysprep and tell it to do the hardware search at first startup... you need to thoroughly read the MS documentaion on this.

[tickmike]

Hi, Urgent help needed please. . What do I do ?.
Its W2k and I thought they were all the same types of computer's ,
We had problems in the past with them not finding the hard drive when they boot up and getting a BSOD saying there was no 'hard dives installed' ,and some of them decided not to turn the computer off after if shut down the software eg. the W2K OS you have to press the power button to turn off.

Do I have to abandon trying to use Ghost or do I have to go back to a complete OS install the long way ?.
Michael.

PS. I Have not used 'Sysprep' before.

[SimpleSi]

Hi Mike
My method assumed that all the machines were identical - if they are not then you've got a much more complicated job on to try to clone one machine to another :-(

If you have a lot of machines (of mixed types) (>20) which need to have the same software on them then it may be worth trying to learn about Sysprep otherwise the reliable way to get going is to start re-installing your OS and applications on each machine individually.

At the beginning you'll be quite slow but as you do more and more of them you'll find yourself wizzing along once you get into a routine.

Copying entire install CD's to a server then and then running around each machine running the setup routine over the network can work wonders at times :-)

If the machines are currently working then you can use a program called WinAudit to see what hardware is on each machine - some may be more identical than others :-)

What/how many programs do you need to get up and running on the machines before term starts?

regards

Simon

[tickmike]

Hi Simon,
All the 30 computers are the same spec Compaq deskpro EN series, all hardware is the same except 4 computers have CD burners on them as well as the normal CD readers.

Software wanted on each to get up and running=

W2k pro.
MS Office.
AVG AV.
Zonealarm.
Spywareblaster.

Put other on later.

Edit... Just had a look at one of the computers at school Via My Radio link. and the bios date is 22/8/99 .
I've never upgraded any bios before is it something I need to do ?. ...Edit


Michael.

[mark]

I think you just need to use sysprep Michael. It's on the Win2K Pro CD [it has to be the Windows 2000 version], or download an updated W2000 version: http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000...ep/default.asp

1. Set the PC up how you want it
2. Run Sysprep [in Windows] - very few options - very easy
3. Choose not to reboot after Sysprepping, just shut down
4. Image the Windows Partition using Ghost in DOS - either to another partition or to another hard disk.