XP pro deployment

[Fubarian]

Ok, need some insight.

the situation --
40-50 machines, 2 days (no more possible, absolutely has to be done in 2 days). All have specialty software (Platinum if you've heard of that, FrX and some other accounting stuff).

the problem --
each and every machine needs their OWN key and some of them are the same. IE 20 of them are 1 model, 15 are another, etc.

possible solutions --
1. someone told me that a version of ghost will set it so you can enter the key AFTER you do a copy, which would be perfect; however, I can't find it documented anywhere.

2. do a kind of 'OEM' deployment -- I just have no idea where to start on that

Other ideas? Better ideas?

[Radical Dreamer]

Easy way would be make a copy of the disk for each machine, place on in every machine and let er go, since its the licence that matters not the media it is legal to make the copies just make sure that you hit the mofos with a big hammer after you are done.

[NooNoo]

I think <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/itpro/default.asp" target="_blank">this is your way forward</a>

[The Rifleman]

Another thing I have done is stop the install after the file copy, during the reboot, and boot to a ghost floppy and image the drive to CD.
This was with 9X. It cut about 20 minutes off the install time of a 400MHz machine.

[Cave_Dweller]

Originally posted by NooNoo
I think <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/itpro/default.asp" target="_blank">this is your way forward</a>

Thanks NooNoo, that's an awesome resource.

[Garak]

Originally posted by NooNoo
I think <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/itpro/default.asp" target="_blank">this is your way forward</a>

I did something simular with Win2k on Dell Machines..