Hello All,

Does anyone know how to clone a disk and copy the image to multiple hard drives without having to reactivate or enter a new CD Key after each copy? Reason I ask is, I work in a large company and I'm constantly having to restore computers. I tried the SysPrep but every time i copied the image I was prompted on the new computer to enter a new serial number and then to register.

Thanks.

Norton Ghost does the trick. I actually ghosted four computers a few days ago for my school. Worked like a charm!

Norton Ghost does the trick.

ghost won't solve his activation problem unless hes has a volume license key. Which one would hope he was using to build his base system and not the OEM or a retail cd.

ghost won't solve his activation problem unless hes has a volume license key. Which one would hope he was using to build his base system and not the OEM or a retail cd.

Here's what I usually do. Every new computer we get comes with a restore CD. I usually just use any restore cd and restore the OS, the I have to go the network to install all the applications that are used on each computer. I used Acronis to clone the image and saved it to the network. Then When it's time to restore a computer, I would boot with the Acronis CD go to the network and download the image. Decompress and boom! new OS. Only problem is that it need activation.

Right now I'm looking into creating a Windows XP CD and slipstream ALL the applications into the OS.

ghost won't solve his activation problem unless hes has a volume license key. Which one would hope he was using to build his base system and not the OEM or a retail cd.

Here's what I usually do. Every new computer we get comes with a restore CD. I usually just use any restore cd and restore the OS, the I have to go the network to install all the applications that are used on each computer. I used Acronis to clone the image and saved it to the network. Then When it's time to restore a computer, I would boot with the Acronis CD go to the network and download the image. Decompress and boom! new OS. Only problem is that it need activation.

Right now I'm looking into creating a Windows XP CD and slipstream ALL the applications into the OS.

So all your computers are identical? Are they Dells, HPs, Acers, etc...? If that's the case, and you use the restore CD on one computer, then make all the changes you want, you should be able to clone it onto the other computers using Norton Ghost. OEM CDs from Dell or HP usually don't have to be activated as they only install on their (Dell, HP, etc) provided hardware.

This is the problem. All the computers are Dell but when I clone I end up having to activate. I've seen an XP CD where after the OS installs, you are presented with an Options menu at the end and you can select which programs you want to install. If I can create something like that, I would be set. Because some people need certain programs and others don't. Managers need the professional version of Office and others don't.

Another question is....With Ghost, can I create an image and save it to a network location? Then boot the new computer with a CD and pull the image from the Network?

Edited August 10, 200620 yr by bbbngowc

I tried the SysPrep but every time i copied the image I was prompted on the new computer to enter a new serial number and then to register.

Did you use the -activated switch?

You never have to "register".

If you're using Acronis, switching to Ghost won't magically solve it.

Although they're all DELLs, are they all identical espl. w.r.t HAL?

There're some threads in the UA Windows forum on OEM pre-activation...

Edited August 10, 200620 yr by Takeshi

I tried the SysPrep but every time i copied the image I was prompted on the new computer to enter a new serial number and then to register.

Did you use the -activated switch?

You never have to "register".

If you're using Acronis, switching to Ghost won't magically solve it.

Although they're all DELLs, are they all identical espl. w.r.t HAL?

There're some threads in the UA Windows forum on OEM pre-activation...

They are mostly identical.

Did you use the -activated switch?

And did you include product key in sysprep.inf?