LAPTOP FORUM

Have just finished setting up a T43 (from IBM Restore Disks) inc Office 2k3,
etc etc with all Windows updates / KIS & updates, defragged, custom
settings, all IBM driver / software updates, just as desired. This has been
going on for many many hours. Now at Xmas I face the prospect of repeating
this lengthy procedure for 2 more machines I bought used for relatives (both
mavhines having wiped HDs).

What issues are there regarding my idea to just use Acronis to create a disk
image (to include recovery partition) onto DVDs and rebuild the other 2
machines (very similar spec but e.g. different wireless cards) from this
image?

I

In article , robd@terra.es says...

Im unclear about any issues surrounding activation with windows and
office, etc as I use corporate licenses that have no such requirement.

Before you image the machine you want to run sysprep - a utility that
will reseal the computer and give it a new sid.

Once shut down, take your image before booting back up and then when you
run it again you will get the mini setup as though it were a new
computer youd first switched on.

Differences in hardware should resolve themselves or may require
intervention with drivers, etc providing it is not something essential
such as the disk controller or something that requires a different acpi-
HAL which would cause it to blue screen before getting anywhere useful.

I think you can run sysprep with switches that will force it to re-do
the plug and play enumeration of devices but ive not used that myself.

jas0n wrote in message
news:MPG.1fb88da345df90af989694@news.gradwell.com...
In article , robd@terra.es says...

Im unclear about any issues surrounding activation with windows and
office, etc as I use corporate licenses that have no such requirement.

Before you image the machine you want to run sysprep - a utility that
will reseal the computer and give it a new sid.

Once shut down, take your image before booting back up and then when you
run it again you will get the mini setup as though it were a new
computer youd first switched on.

Differences in hardware should resolve themselves or may require
intervention with drivers, etc providing it is not something essential
such as the disk controller or something that requires a different acpi-
HAL which would cause it to blue screen before getting anywhere useful.

I think you can run sysprep with switches that will force it to re-do
the plug and play enumeration of devices but ive not used that myself.


Thanks for that Jas0n, all seems to be going to plan without any switches -
probably as units are so very near identical in terms of hardware.

Rob