System builders and Windows Installation

[softhands]

Hi,

 

We are system builders and repair centre. We get computers with virus and customers want them to rebooted so we reinstall windows and then load open source software.

 

This process takes 3 hours on each system.. During the windows installation we always use serials key from COA sticker.

 

Is there any way to speed up the whole process by deploying Windows installation along other apps we usually install?

[Dos_Box]

I suggest you search the forums for 'Fog'!

[glennda]

Hi,

 

We are system builders and repair centre. We get computers with virus and customers want them to rebooted so we reinstall windows and then load open source software.

 

This process takes 3 hours on each system.. During the windows installation we always use serials key from COA sticker.

 

Is there any way to speed up the whole process by deploying Windows installation along other apps we usually install?

 

You could maybe create an image then deploy using something like Symantec's ghost or the free alternatives like clonezilla etc. You could also if you have a server you could use windows deployment services to deploy the image.

 

This might not work on all machines tho as you cannot install an image with the drivers for every single machine that comes through the door - but most hardware will take the image and then prompt you for drivers after the installation.

 

Toby

[pwds]

I'd look at Ninite Easy PC Setup - Silent Unattended Install Multiple Programs At Once for installing Open Source apps- picks sensible defaults (except it does let Opera be default browser when I install multiple browsers for web testing) and fully automates installation.

 

Wirth reference to Windows, I don't know if it's possible to create a answer file that will set all other regional and language settings but prompt for the key. Will look in to that one as it's exactly what you're after.

 

With Windows Vista and 7 it should be easier- the key isn't required at installation and you just need to activate the OS afterwards.

 

AFAIK Any cloaning tool like FOG won't work for you as the machine the image was taken from will have to be the same as the machine to be imaged, and the key would be included with the image. It's possible to change this in XP Pro but I'm not sure about Home.