NicolausUsry

I have been using nlite since it came out to create XP installs for office machines, but I have been trying to setup an unattended install disk lately with everything down to the start menu organization setup, and am wondering if there is any way to have a computer setup the way I want it, and instead of making an iso for the system and burning a disk of only the os, the entire program selection, icons, and prefrences including restrictions would be there. I used to use Norton Ghost for this, but with XP I can not get it to ghost multiple machines. A point in the right direction would be of much help. Thanks in advance, Nicolaus Usry

I like the idea of the unattended, but I am having sizing problems, and especially with the installation of Novell client because it replaces system files and crashes when windows is restarted after I install with my unattended disk. Any tutorials on this I could have missed when I was searching? Thanks, Nicolaus Usry Also, an RIS server would be lovely but unfortunatly money won't permit this, unless someone can explain how to run one with samba, or novell 6.5. Again thanks for the replies.

Is there any program that will allow me to reverse compile the unattended disk by setting a computer up to my liking and then having a program make a windows xp install disk out of it instead of just using ghost? I am interested in a cd install of Windows XP that will be like using Ghost 2003 in Windows 9x. This would be a disk that would have all my programs on it and the users and Start Menus, regedits, and ... to my liking. I love the idea of unattended, but whenever I attempt to make a disk, at least one program fails to run properly (especially the novell install), or there are dialogs I must click off of or something. This disk is meant for me to be able to hand out, and a brainless end user is able to pop in there cd rom and reboot (all there files are linked to my Novell servers so I don't have to backup there data). I just need ease. Any suggestions helpful

How do I modify and create start menus in unattended, and how do you manage 4gb of data on cd rom? I would love to do this if possible. Also, Novell? Also, how do you have setup prompt for computer name? Thanks Referring to the Dell, and "Gatewaste", I have attempted this, but the most prominant machine has 3 of the 20 in the lab, the rest are just slightly differant enough for XP to reject unfortunately. Reffering to "Rule #1" I have already searched and not found my answer. Any info helpful Thanks

I have a computer lab that I help keep up to date. The problem I am having is that we setup our labs with the latest software because of the need our school has. One of the labs has Dells and works fine when we ghost the software and OS to each (Windows XP SP2, Office XP, Acrobat Reader 7.0, Ultimate Zip 2.5, Microsoft Works 2003, Wordperfect 8.0, OpenOffice 1.9m51, iTunes, Windows Media Player 10, Real Player 10, Musicmatch, Movie Maker 2, and other software packages). The other lab has been a huge hassle though. The other lab is also a Dell lab, but when the systems were purchased, they came from a discounter who gave us slightly differant chipsets which XP hates to ghost from one to another (going through repair, replace icons, install Novell again, and with 20 machines, this is saying something). The school has hit the budget for the year (meaning no windows servers or anything that could help in the situation (as far as I have been trained)). I have also had trouble with the unattended disk because all of the icons are reinstated by windows, and the school has requested things like the star background when you login (why? don't ask me), SO, since the screensaver files are installed after the 12 minute mark (where all my batch scripts came in) I seem out of luck with this possiblity. Does anyone have any idea on how I could go about ghosting systems that have similar yet differant chipsets without it taking a two day lab shutdown (and me 6am-6pm during those days). Suggestions would be greatly appriciated, or a suggestion on some type of script I could write to make windows xp release its hardware identification. (I have tried Microsoft's Knowledge base, and they say the factory mini setup will do this, but all I get with the mini setup is upon restart is the ever so infamous (to me anyway) ntoskrnl.exe missing? You can presume I have: Windows XP (No activation licensing) Windows XP Preinstallation CD Windows XP SP2 integrated update cd Office XP All programs listed above and in .msi form. Ghost 2003 Ghost 9.0 Symantec Antivirus 9.0 DeepFreeze (Latest Version) 80gb external drive to transport ghosts and files System Specs: Celeron 500-900 mhz 512 mb SDRAM 12gb HDD 32mb Dedicated graphics (1024x768) 10/100 and or Gigabit Ethernet Cards Sound Card Ask me to get something else and I will (under 200.00 USD) if you are absolutely certain. Thanks again in advanced.