Deploying a handful of workstations

reaser · Post by **reaser** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:27 pm

I'm looking for best practice, easiest method to deploy more than one machine without having to manually configure each one.

I've configured 1 machine exactly as i'd like all of them to be. Now I need to know how to image this drive so that I can successfully deploy it to the other machines.

I'm aware of sysprep but haven't fully read up on it yet. It seems to be a bit of a process and i'm trying to see if there is an easier method.

I figured I could use some type of imaging/cloning software and just image each drive. All systems are the same exact system, same hardware specs. I used DriveXML to create an image on an external drive. I successfully restored the image on workstation 2 but it does not boot. It starts to load OS and blue screens shortly after the windows logo. So I'm guessing this method is not going to work. I did see something posted about changing the drive letter in the xml file so I'm going to take a look into this but I'm still wondering what is common practice and/or best practice for this procedure.

Thanks

Windows 7 32 or 64bit OS if that is of any importance.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 9:02 pm

Sysprep
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/ee530017

CableDude · Post by **CableDude** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 10:37 pm

I used to be a master at this before Windows 7 came about.

CableDude · Post by **CableDude** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 10:38 pm

YeOldeStonecat wrote:Sysprep
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/ee530017

Ohhhhh......they make it look so easy.

RaisinCain · Post by **RaisinCain** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 1:55 pm

We us Ghost at work and just sysprep 7 once so we can deploy the 1 image to multiple machines. Then we do a new subsequent image for any updates.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 8:48 pm

CableDude wrote:Ohhhhh......they make it look so easy.

It is....it is....so many useful native tools in Win7/Server08 now...you can ditch a lot of 3rd party utilities.

CableDude · Post by **CableDude** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 10:12 pm

YeOldeStonecat wrote:It is....it is....so many useful native tools in Win7/Server08 now...you can ditch a lot of 3rd party utilities.

It's just a matter of taking time to sit down and learn without stupid @$$ interruptions. I get interrupted too much.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 11:58 pm

CableDude wrote:It's just a matter of taking time to sit down and learn without stupid @$$ interruptions. I get interrupted too much.

The sysprep for Win7 really is as simple and easy as you saw in that very brief video...so you already learned it!