Windows XP dissimilar hardware

[comprx]

I searched for this but couldn’t find anything. Technically this applies to vista and 7 as well, but I am pretty sure I have a work around for those if I cannot find an easier solution.

I want to make an xp image that I can then throw on any machine with any hardware. Is this possible?
I have a computer repair shop and this would make work much easier for the jobs requiring reinstalls

This way if a computer has a bad hard drive or something with windows XP, I just put in the new drive, boot FOG and grab the XP image. Obviously proper activation and other programs/drivers would be manually installed after the image is done, just wondering if anyone has had any success with a generalized xp image ? and if so how? can the concept be applied to vista/7/8?

[Hannylicious]

When I was reading through some of the documentation they referred to that as a ‘golden image’ or ‘hardware independent image’ - here is an excerpt:

[INDENT=1][I][B] Example: [/B] Your environment has 20 Dell Optiplex 760 Machines. Your environment also has 20 Lenovo ThinkCentre M91p Machines. [/I][/INDENT]
[INDENT=1][I]Since FOG allows you to group your host and apply the same image to all host in that group, it might be better for you to create a standard Dell Image and a seperate Lenovo Image. However if you have 5+ machines with different models, it might be time to create a Master Image that covers the hardware for ALL your machines. These are known as Hardware Independant Images or Master Images. They are also known as Golden Images. Regardless of the name used, they all mean the same thing. An image that works on any machine/hardware. [/I][/INDENT]
[INDENT=1] [/INDENT]
That was taken from here: [url]http://www.fogproject.org/wiki/index.php/Client_Setup[/url]
Hopefully that gives you a good starting point to jump in from.[I][/I]

[Zardan]

Read up on sysprep, this will return windows to the setup stage where it can install all drivers automatically. You will need to specify in the sysprep configuration file where it should try to find all drivers that are not included in your installation, this can be a share on a windows machine in your network.

[comprx]

[QUOTE]they referred to that as a ‘golden image’ [/QUOTE]

Does anyone have success with these “golden” images? I read about them too and it looks like vista and 7 are essentially golden from the get go, but XP needs a few tweaks.

[QUOTE]Read up on sysprep, this will return windows to the setup stage where it can install all drivers automatically. [/QUOTE]

Does this mean that I will need to know which drivers each machine needs? because I won’t be doing that if that is the case. (I would rather just install them after the imaging if that is the case) Is there some way to use driverpacks ect?

[Zardan]

Yes you can use driver packs, you don’t need to specify which machine that uses which driver.
It works similar to when you manually install a driver and use “search for driver software in this location:”

[comprx]

[quote=“Zardan, post: 4175, member: 185”]Yes you can use driver packs, you don’t need to specify which machine that uses which driver.
It works similar to when you manually install a driver and use “search for driver software in this location:”[/quote]

I understand how driver packs work, I was asking how to use them in a fog image

[SMoRZ3]

Hi comprx,

I don’t know if you’re still working on this, or if you’ve moved on, but I’m trying to work on something similar.
I’ve been following [URL=‘http://countscomputercorner.blogspot.com/2010/02/deploy-windows-xp-pro-with-all-post-sp3.html’]THIS[/URL] tutorial for basic guidance for just creating a “super” install disc for XP Pro OEM.
I basically use nlite to create an automated install file, integrate the service packs / hot fixes. Then after its done and at the “burn screen” I minimize it. I then use the driverpacks base to force all the drivers into the disc as well. I also make it keep all the drivers on the hard drive, even then ones that aren’t used. I then rip the disc to an ISO. This might be a pretty good way to go for a PC shop, except the automated install might be a problem. I also run the OEMScan.exe file located in [URL=‘http://fogproject.org/forum/threads/how-to-create-a-universal-windows-xp-image-using-mysysprep-exe-and-vm-ware.616/’]THIS[/URL] tutorial to activate my PC after XP is installed. I’m almost ready to complete the second tutorial to make a “golden image” of XP on fog, but I’m still tweaking the XP install.

Hope this helps. -SMoRZ3

[ssx4life]

Please check the tutorial forum. I have a start to finish guide on making a universal image - [url]http://fogproject.org/forum/threads/how-to-create-a-universal-windows-xp-image-using-mysysprep-exe-and-vm-ware.616/[/url]