How can I use a System image for all machines?

Cronjob1 · Feb 11, 2014

Basically what I am trying to accomplish is to use one master system image on all of my machines.

They are all identical and about 50 of them.

I made the system image right and have used it on the same machine but while trying to use it on other machines it wont identify as an option.

just to clarify I can only use existing network software. so im using the win7 backup and restore system.

This is what I've found on Microsoft's website.

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To restore a backup made on another computer

You can restore files from a backup that was created on another computer running Windows Vista or Windows 7.
1.
Open Backup and Restore by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Backup and Restore.

2.
Click Select another backup to restore files from, and then follow the steps in the wizard. Administrator permission required If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

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I've tried this both locally to the test machine and also through the network using the advanced options in the sys restore prior to operating windows.

ideas?

shaqblogs2011 · Feb 11, 2014

firstly, you will need an OS with appropriate licensing. (some kind of corporate volume license?)
If you also want to push software along with it, like Office, you will need to consider appropriate licensing for them too. (not sure how this can be achieved)

Norton Ghost has this feature..
http://www.techrepublic.com/forums/questions/can-i-use-norton-ghost-for-several-computers-at-a-time/#.

Google around, you should find lots of users who have asked the same Question

hang-the-9 · Feb 11, 2014

You need to do a bit of work to use one image on multiple systems, you can't really just clone and dump the image on them.

Look up how to use sysprep. There is a lot of info from Microsoft about doing multi-system installations.

Cronjob1 · Feb 12, 2014

business package for all software including OS, all on universal serials.

all hardware and drivers identical.

cant use Norton ghost, can only use existing software. ( which is limited to the OS )

have been googleing and the answer is usually the same, just use third party software.... trust me I wish I could.

am researching sysprep currently.

hang-the-9 · Feb 12, 2014

You will need 3rd party software, the default Windows 7 tools are not made for multi-system deployments. You'd at least need the Mircosoft tools for this.

Run sysprep on the system, image it with any of several free imaging tools.

James Mason · Feb 12, 2014

Err, well the windows DOES have tools for this:
ImageX:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc722145(v=ws.10).aspx
And doing a PXE boot: (loading the system image from a server)
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/2008.07.desktopfiles.aspx

Third party harddrive imaging software DOES make the process alot simpler, like Acronis True Image, but it's a manual, take the hard drive out, clone it, put the hard drive back in, process.

Cronjob1 · Feb 12, 2014

Thanks James,

Im looking into that right now, so heres a different question.

I have win 2008 R2 for my server, does anyone know if there Is a way to push the generic system image to all machines?
because that would obviously be ideal.

Thanks for the input folks

hang-the-9 · Feb 13, 2014

Cronjob1 :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_Installation_Services

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Center_Configuration_Manager

This is not a super simple setup, especially if you did not know about these tools before as it shows you are pretty new to the whole network admin thing. You'll have to learn about how to setup PXE boot server and so on.

WinOutreach2 · Feb 19, 2014

The best way to handle this would be to use the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) and Windows Deployment Services (WDS). What you are describing is a very basic deployment of a standard image. There is a great video outlining the process here and walkthrough here from the Springboard Series on TechNet.

You would start by Installing MDT on your server and creating a Deployment Share to hold your image. You will want to have installed the Windows Assessment and Deployment Toolkit (Windows ADK) before installing MDT to provide the base tools on which MDT operates. You would also want to install WDS and configure it for PXE support so that you can boot to WinPE and MDT without additional media. You will need to copy the \\severname\deplymentshare$\boot\LiteTouchPE... boot image into WDS as outlined in this blog. In your case, you would want to create a Sysprep and Capture task sequence which you would run on the reference machine. This would prepare the environment for deployment to multiple systems and capture an image of the system to the Deployment Share, which would be hosted on the server.

You would then want to create a Standard Client Task Sequence to deploy that image down to the destination systems. If your image is prepared in full, you would then boot to each system via PXE and run the sequence to deploy over the network. You can also provide information in the answer file to respond to the prompts which would otherwise require manually being entered on each system. This can include things like Domain or Workgroup, Administrator password, users, computer name, update configuration, etc.

With more advanced configuration of MDT, you could even deploy directly from the install.wim from the installation media and configure drivers, applications, and settings all with automated configuration. With this ability, you can manage a central deployment share with a minimum of images which can service a various departments with different application needs and systems with heterogeneous hardware configurations. There is a good article on the types of images used in deployment and how to move towards better practices here on TechNet.

The best place to keep up to date on the deployment technologies available from Microsoft is the Springboard Series on TechNet, specifically the Deploy Windows 8 page which lists a variety of documentation, videos, and guides.

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How can I use a System image for all machines?

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