Hello!

Some questions to all you master image builders!

I have been making master images for all our dell laptops and desktops and now would like to combine them into 1 universal image.

I would not like to use a bootabe cd/dvd with the image on it.  Instead I'd like to continue having the image on a server and use a ghost boot cd to boot clients to the network and apply the image after logging onto the server, using ghost.  I have already created a ghost boot cd.

I am now creating the universal image on a Dell GX280 tower pc.  I have it set up to the point of now getting the drivers ready, working with sysprep etc.  I am using Vernalex's video guide as help.  I'm confused as to how to proceed.  He says to get all the drivers MANUALLY (that have to be certified by MS to work in sysprep) and put them into folders (c:\drivers\sound, etc.) and then use sysprep driver scanner to add them to the registry.  Then to add mass storage drivers by running sysprep -bmsd, and then to add things manually etc.

My questions (finally) are, can I extract the driver packs to c:\drivers INSTEAD of manually looking around for all the drivers for the dell pcs like Vernalex does?  I'm trying to follow "kickarse"s directions (universal image form topic - "How do you use driverpacks") and that's what he does.   I'm noticiing that many of the older Dell drivers aren't WHQL certified that I was going to manually download, so they wouldn't work in sysprep.  Are all the drivers in the driver packs WHQL certified?  Will it hurt my image to have all these drivers in the registry?

Lastly, I'll have to add PnP ids and there locations for all these dell laptops and desktops.  I'm not even sure where to begin and how best I should approach this.  But most importantly I'd like to know if I need to manually find drivers for these machines or if they will be covered by the 10 driver packs.

Much thanks in advance!

2

(4 replies, posted in Other)

I'm sorry if this question has already been answered.  (I couldn't find it anywhere)

I work for a medium sized company (400+ pcs) Right now I have a bunch of separate ghost images for each model, mostly Dell laptops and desktops.  I use a custom ghost boot cd to boot the client to the network to pull the image down to it. 

I'd like to make a master image that will work on all pcs (dells, some compaq and hp as well).  Without using a cd or dvd with the image on it like most of you use it seems, I'd just like to pull the image from the network like I have been doing.

I'm at the point right now of having a pc the way I'd like it to look, sysprep ready to go, etc.  A guide that I am using states the next step is to get all the drivers in one location, ie c:\drivers OR to use sysprep driver scanner which will save a lot of time.  After this I'd like to use Ghost console to create the image.

My question is (finally) will sysprep driver scanner work for me at this point?  If so, how exactly am I suppose to use it?  The tutorial/guide for it doesn't seem to apply as it is talking about creating a cd or dvd where the image will reside.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions on how I should proceed.

Bill G.
Seattle Genetics