Best Way to Clone PC's

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greggpb

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HI guys I am in a bit of a pickle...

I have +- 15 different pc's all with different specs that all need windows XP SP3 installed on them and some other software.

If I understand cloning properly you cannot clone for different hardware ?

How would you guys recommend i do this ?

Thanks so Much
 
simple, download the free trial version of symantec system restore. It clones to pretty much any hardware, if it fails which on the odd occasion it does, you can use Acronis True Crypt, there are loads of, dear I say it, "ripped" versions available wiff crack that will do the job. Check the Bay for downloads.
 
I installed XP SP3 on one PC (cancelling all the "found" hardware prompts), which gave me a "generic" clean copy of XP - then installed Office and a few other common apps. I then used Acronis True Image to make an image of this hard drive, and rolled out the image copy to my 3 other different-specced PC's.
When each was booted, each picked up on the specific hardware and I then installed each hardware driver. Any further non-common software was then installed on each seperate PC.

Took a bit of time, but worked a treat...
 
howardb said:
I installed XP SP3 on one PC (cancelling all the "found" hardware prompts), which gave me a "generic" clean copy of XP - then installed Office and a few other common apps. I then used Acronis True Image to make an image of this hard drive, and rolled out the image copy to my 3 other different-specced PC's.
When each was booted, each picked up on the specific hardware and I then installed each hardware driver. Any further non-common software was then installed on each seperate PC.

Took a bit of time, but worked a treat...
Click to expand...

smart plan I like it :)
 
+1 to Acronis, use it for years and always works like a charm, acronis come with a universal restore function, so do an image of a system and when doing a universal restore it unlocks/unloads system specific drivers which allows you to restore onto any other computer! Iv used this loads on servers that go on the blink, restore onto a temp server while the problem gets fixed, saves alot of time and money!
 
this thread is relevant to my interests;)

A lab I'm running is to be upgraded, roundabout 50 pcs. Would like to do cloning over the network (boot from lan).

This is want I'd like:
1. I'd set all pcs to boot from lan in bios. So 50 pcs then see some kind of server they can boot to/from/whatever
2. Pcs are put into queue, and server sets up each pc one at a time.
3. Server then disregards a computer that has installed already, and proceeds to next pc.

Major plus:
4. If server can be set in some kind of broadcast mode or (alternatively client pcs be put in promiscuous mode) so that all pcs can be installed at the same time.

Is this possible? if so what is the best type of software for this (paid for software would be fine as well).

PS. I understand that one pc will have to be setup, then the image of that drive needs to be cloned. That cloned drive image is then placed onto server. something to that effect...
 
If the server is running Linux, you can have a look at FOG.

Sent from my Desire HD using MyBroadband Android App
 
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