PC that imageing Windows 7 works on???

[dholland]

Is there a OEM computer: HP, Lenovo, Dell, etc. That imaging windows 7 works on???
By works, I mean works like it did in the "good old days" with XP! You guys know what I mean. Put a disk in, take an image, put that image on another machine! No scripting for OEM partitions, no custom this or that..... In my case I work for a public school and deal with computer labs. I want to simply build a machine and clone it! Currently it seems I have to fix boot partitions when the machine comes back up, Then register for ZCM etc... Heaven forbid the image be a couple of ZCM updates old and there are 42 reboots before the system is up and going.

I know imaging is just a small part of what Zenworks now does for us, but I want it to simply work!

[ketter]

On Tue, 09 Apr 2013 19:26:03 GMT, dholland
<dholland@no-mx.forums.novell.com> wrote:

>
>Is there a OEM computer: HP, Lenovo, Dell, etc. That imaging windows 7
>works on???
>By works, I mean works like it did in the "good old days" with XP! You
>guys know what I mean. Put a disk in, take an image, put that image on
>another machine! No scripting for OEM partitions, no custom this or
>that..... In my case I work for a public school and deal with computer
>labs. I want to simply build a machine and clone it! Currently it
>seems I have to fix boot partitions when the machine comes back up, Then
>register for ZCM etc... Heaven forbid the image be a couple of ZCM
>updates old and there are 42 reboots before the system is up and going.
>
>I know imaging is just a small part of what Zenworks now does for us,
>but I want it to simply work!

I use HP Elite 7100 and 8200 PCs. If you buy identical ones, you can
just take an image of one and apply it to another of the same model.
Just like the XP days.

[CRAIGDWILSON]

I would recommend seeking some "Imaging Best Practice Advice".

#1 - For Legal Reasons MS Licensing Reasons, this is considered illegal.
You may not distribute an OEM Copy of Windows across multiple PCs via
Imaging. You MUST use a Multi License version of Windows.

#2 - You will need to setup an MS Licensing Server so that imaged
devices can get one of your Licenses during Sysprep.

#3 - Maintaining One Image Per Device is HARD Work. Build a Single
Image that has all the drivers for all your PCs. Using Add-on images to
pull down updates or edit the ZMG file directly and drop drivers into
the drivers folder.

#4 - Do not Pre-Install the ZCM Agent, have it install during Sysprep.
The Current Agent can be dropped down via an addon or editing the ZMG
directly.

And once you are down to your master image, you can even take time to
keep it up to date with the latest Windows Patches etc... and reseal it
on a regular basis so that you do not have 42 reboots........



On 4/9/2013 4:05 PM, KeN Etter wrote:
> On Tue, 09 Apr 2013 19:26:03 GMT, dholland
> <dholland@no-mx.forums.novell.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> Is there a OEM computer: HP, Lenovo, Dell, etc. That imaging windows 7
>> works on???
>> By works, I mean works like it did in the "good old days" with XP! You
>> guys know what I mean. Put a disk in, take an image, put that image on
>> another machine! No scripting for OEM partitions, no custom this or
>> that..... In my case I work for a public school and deal with computer
>> labs. I want to simply build a machine and clone it! Currently it
>> seems I have to fix boot partitions when the machine comes back up, Then
>> register for ZCM etc... Heaven forbid the image be a couple of ZCM
>> updates old and there are 42 reboots before the system is up and going.
>>
>> I know imaging is just a small part of what Zenworks now does for us,
>> but I want it to simply work!
>
> I use HP Elite 7100 and 8200 PCs. If you buy identical ones, you can
> just take an image of one and apply it to another of the same model.
> Just like the XP days.
>


--
Craig Wilson - MCNE, MCSE, CCNA
Novell Knowledge Partner

Novell does not officially monitor these forums.

Suggestions/Opinions/Statements made by me are solely my own.
These thoughts may not be shared by either Novell or any rational human.

[spencapl]

Hi

Save yourself a lot of headaches and restricting yourself to one OEM have a chat to these guys - www.engl.co.uk

They've saved us a load of effort with regards Windows 7 imaging and all integrates in our existing ZENworks environment.

Cheers

Spencer

[ketter]

On Wed, 10 Apr 2013 06:36:04 GMT, spencapl
<spencapl@no-mx.forums.novell.com> wrote:

>
>Hi
>
>Save yourself a lot of headaches and restricting yourself to one OEM
>have a chat to these guys - 'www.engl.co.uk' (http://www.engl.co.uk)
>
>They've saved us a load of effort with regards Windows 7 imaging and
>all integrates in our existing ZENworks environment.
>
>Cheers
>
>Spencer

I saw their stuff at Brainshare this year. Definitely considering
them.

[AndersG]

Dholland,
> Put a disk in, take an image, put that image on
> another machine!

Yes, but that was Xp. With Windows 7, MS decided to add "features".
With Win7 you need to do a sysprep. More work yes, but it works.

--
Anders Gustafsson (NKP)
The Aaland Islands (N60 E20)

Have an idea for a product enhancement? Please visit:
http://www.novell.com/rms

[gleach1]

windows 7 needs sysprep done, you can't get away with doing it the same way as in the XP days

save yourself a heap of hassle, frustration and scripting and just by the engl software

[gshaw0]

Even better, build it in a VM so you can snapshot and revert before you sysprep or do anything that makes major changes to the image. Makes life a lot easier 🙂

[nop19832]

gshaw0 wrote:

>
> Even better, build it in a VM so you can snapshot and revert before
> you sysprep or do anything that makes major changes to the image.
> Makes life a lot easier 🙂

Yes, thank God for VM 🙂 Took forever before....

--
Niels

A true red devil...