Load windows everytime?

I was just wondering how many techs out there do a fresh Windows install on PC's vs. using Ghost or some other proggie to get the job done. I've not used Ghost before.

There must be an easier way to get this done.

Can you use Ghost to create a "one size fits all" windows load?

Say load up a hdd with everything you are going to load on a pc - Office, service packs, windows and windows updates but just don't load the drivers for that particular computer? Then use that cd to load each pc and then load that pc's required video, sound, motherboard drivers, later?

Also, what's a good proggie to use to backup a customers hard drive when they trade in a PC but don't want to lose all of their data and how do you get all of the original files and not just "snapshots" of files that won't be there later?

Thanks,

Frustrated and burned out

I take 1 build of all the current motherboards we are using, load all the chipset drivers, update those and then put all the windows updates, etc. I then re-seal the image with sysprep and using Ghost corporate I put that image on one of the servers.

Boot to a ghost boot disk with the proper NIC drivers and using the multicast option, I can ghost the image back to dozens of machines at one time.

Most of my builds are all similiar machines using Windows XP.


Also, using sysprep to re-seal forces the new user to enter the Windows key, which releases me from any legal aspect.

Well you can always slipstream the service pack into the CD or image.

In answer to the customer back up, you have two choices, image the entire drive with all the data or slave the old drive to the new one and copy over the data files. If they want their programs reinstalled then they will have to give you the cds.