Help needed creating a disk image for various hardware configurations

[noah]

Hi -

 

Looking for suggestions on the best way to create a disk image of Windows XP that will work on various different harware configurations. Is this possible? What methods have you found that work best?

[andyrite]

SysPrep Driver Scanner and mysysprep will help you along your way.

[ssx4life]

Hi, welcome to edugeek.net! =)

 

Deploying Windows XP to multiple machines and different hardware types is possible, you just need to get pointed in the right direction.

 

Personally I suggest reading up on Michael Votaw's XP guide - COE Exchange: Imaging Windows Machines with Sysprep

 

Mike does a good job with the basics, but I would take it one step further! =)

 

#1. Use Sysprep Driver Scanner to load ONLY mass storage drivers into the sysprep setup. (use driverpacks mass storage driver set... see the link in #2)

#2. Use Driverpacks (News | DriverPacks.net) for all other drivers. (I still don't load chipset drivers in sysprep due to too many issues with Dell hardware... but I blame Dell for that)

#3. Make sure you are staying within the terms and conditions of your EULA from M$. This means using either a VLK license for XP or using Royalty Keys on ONLY oem hardware that came with the came version of XP (COA)

 

Image the system with your favorite imaging software, I still prefer to use FOG... but that's a bit advanced.

 

If you need more help let me know.