Ghosting

[Merlin]

Hi all,

I'm taking over the computer admin' for a small training company.

The last guy was absolutely clueless and the computers are a bit of a mess.

It's a really simplistic setup and doesn't involve - or need - networking, etc.

Unless someone works on them, they do not have Internet access.

My idea is to set one of them up properly and to then ghost the machine.

Ideally I'd love to have the machines partitioned [image on one partition] and then have the machine automatically ghost itself every time it boots up, perhaps via an option in boot.ini.

It's been MANY years since I last ghosted something. Is there a freeware [or very cheap] option available these days?

Is my booting idea feasible, and if so, how would I go about it?

Thanks.

 

[guest2013-1]

google dude. **** ton of free ghosting apps out there.

 

[warchylde]

A long time back we use to run Zenworks imaging from novell - that worked really well (key sequence to boot of TFTP server and image the workstation). I think someone started with an opensource stream to it a while later but I am speaking under correction.

 

[Jah]

We use clonezilla + external hdd in the lab I run. Nice and easy, works on a livecd. Only issue is whether the computers have identical hardware, if not research sysprep.

Edit
Didn't see you want it every bootup, clonezilla images can be deployed via a network, would have to research it a bit tho.

 

[Merlin]

Thanks chaps.

The computers are not all identical. I'll look up SysPrep...

I'd like to run the image from a partition as it will seriously cut down on the time needed to maintain each one.

These computers are unpacked and set up every time, so complicating matters by needing a server and a network is highly undesirable.

I'm sure someone's done something similar before. I foresee a boatload of Googling ahead of me.

 

[Terencek]

Very user-friendly freebie is Macrium Reflect Free, takes images quickly and with minimum fuss, and using a rescue disk it creates makes emergency recovery very simple.

 

[Merlin]

Thank you, Terence.

Much appreciated.

 

[kilobits]

Maybe look at Deep Freeze ? It is not free, but sounds like what you intend to do...

Bulletproof Your PC

Faronics Deep Freeze makes your PC indestructible. It protects your computer by freezing its original configuration, which prevents unwelcome or unwanted changes made while in-session from sticking. With a simple restore-to-reboot, your system integrity is maintained helping your machines to run smoothly and efficiently giving you more up-time and boosting user productivity.

The Eternal Fountain of Youth

By ensuring 100% workstation recovery with every restart, your computer can hang onto its ‘new computer smell’ much longer. In addition to enjoying the efficiency of running a clean, lean machine, Faronics Deep Freeze extends the life of your PCs from an average of 2.5 years to 4-5 years, creating substantial operational savings.

http://www.faronics.com/en-uk/enterprise/deep-freeze_en-uk-2/?

http://www.hochstadt.com/protecting-your-computer-using-deep-freeze

 

[Merlin]

That sounds like exactly what I want!

Thanks, kilobits.