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Thread ID: 84440 2007-11-05 10:00:00 installing xp from an image Term_X (560) Press F1
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608669 2007-11-05 10:00:00 hi team

normally after i install xp on my pc i install all the usual required drivers etc and ms office, the adobe stuff and my music editing software and nero. this is a time consuming process!

on the next install i want to create an image so that next time i can just boot this image cd so everything is done already. googled and found the "sysprep" command will do what i want.. or will it? :illogical

can someone outline the easiest way to do this?

thanks in advance!
Term_X (560)
608670 2007-11-05 10:12:00 This is what sysprep does (support.microsoft.com)

Can Nlite install programs? Or just SP's/drivers/Windows?
Speedy Gonzales (78)
608671 2007-11-05 19:35:00 You don't want to use sysprep - thats designed for PC's that are being sent out to end users and depending what parameters you enter, you will have to re enter your product key name etc. It wont image a drive.

What you mentioned in your question :
on the next install i want to create an image so that next time i can just boot this image cd so everything is done already. This is exactly what you do - Install all the programs, that you want then simply create an Image (Exact Copy) of that install, and store it on some other media, it can be CD if its small enough- DVD , removable drive.

There is plenty of free disk imaging software available, simply do a search on google for " Free Disk Imaging Software" then select the one you want. Since it would be going back to the same hardware you shouldn't have any problems. Some advice, if you have a spare HD, try installing the image back to that - its no good if it doesn't work.

What you are asking is what I do about every couple of months on the workshop PC, reinstall from an image, takes about 20 minutes and then its all back to a clean system again, just have to install any updates or programs I want after the Image was made.
wainuitech (129)
608672 2007-11-06 00:53:00 I did this with seagates disktools with a 9G install of xp pro x64.
The image was half the size of the original, and after I deleted the partiton and experimented a bit, it restored to fully operatonal in 6mins !

It's free to download from seagate, and is basically acronis with a few features disabled.
dugimodo (138)
608673 2007-11-06 04:27:00 thanks guys! really helpful i will have a go :)

so once i have the image burnt to a dvd or cd, i can boot from the burnt image disk and a few minutes later, its all done? and i just carry on as normal?
Term_X (560)
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