does you updatehal line not have the underscore on purpose? the docs show: updateHAL="ACPIAPIC_MP,%WINDIR%\....." i don't remember why, but i think i took it from some sort of article on the web it still worked fine and best part is that i can use the same images on an old P3 based computer with no problems i think i know how to solve your problem but i need to know some things: 1) what is the model of your laptop 2) what is the NIC manufacture and model Make change the location to where your own installation has the hal dll's. Make sure also that before you reboot that you change or make sure that when you go into Control Panel > System > Hardware > Device Manager > Expand "Computer" > Make sure that it says ACPI Multiprocessor/Uniprocessor. If you are imaging from a MultiProcessor system keep the above Unattended - Update order. If you are imaging from a UniProcessor reverse the Unattended - Update order. thanks, i totaly forgot to mention it