Re: Windows default settings
=?Utf-8?B?Q21wVGNoOQ==?= <CmpTch9@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote in
news:556C1518-0F04-4F36-984A-241592625F32@microsoft.com:
> Thanks for the reply. Could you please tell me more about
> this? The one machine I'd like to model the others after,
> does not have a CD writeable drive, just a CD-R. Does this
> procedure copy the entire C: drive? How much space does
> this image take up, in case I need to move it to a 3rd
> machine just to burn a CD? Does it take with it all the
> applications programs, data, and related files, or is it
> just all the settings and defaults? All the machines are
> using the same hardware and system configurations.
>
> Thanks again.
Yeah, I realized after I posted that I should have told you
more.
1.
The application to do this is either Norton Ghost or (IMO
better) Acronis True Image. An older version is just fine, in
fact better. You can probably find an old version of Acronis
free if you look around. I got "Acronis TrueImage Deluxe" free
on a British computer magazine CD about 4 years ago and it has
eliminated the need to worry about just about anything except
hardware. Anyway, it's well worth the reasonable price. But the
earlier versions ARE better (I know, it's weird). And MY version
is a few MB while the latest versions are almost a hundred MB.
You can get an old version of Norton/Symantec Ghost here:
http://www.oldversion.com/program.php?n=nortonghost
I have never used Ghost, so I can't tell you much. The version
from that site may or may not need a serial number. I'll let you
figure out what to do.
[Acronis (
www.acronis.com) also have a new(er) product call
Migrate Easy which is only $40 (T.I. is $50) and possiby even
more suited to what you want to do. But I'll let you read all
the small print and decide.]
Anyway, these applications will make an exact image of "a"
partition (look it up if you don't know the difference between
"drive" and "partition").
The size of the image will be exactly the same as what you have
or you can use compression. I have never used compression and I
have always managed to fit everything on one CD. Your mileage
may vary.
(BTW, you can do basically the same thing by copying things
either in DOS or Windows once you have your "source" computer
all tweaked and clean, but it's a LOT more hassle, takes 20 or
50 or 500 times longer and mistakes WILL be made.)
2.
A CD-R unit *will* write a CD-R. CD-R or CD-RW stands for a CD-
writeable drive (or disc). A "CD" drive will only *play* CD's
and CDR's. So I think you're OK there. Anyway, if not, get an LG
CD-RW drive. They're excellent and only about 20-30 dollars if
that.
3.
The imaging program makes an EXACT image of the partition, with
EVERYTHING (*EVERYTHING*) that is on it. It is a good idea to
have ANY computer divided into partitions. You can use the
program just for the C partition or you can actually use it to
make backups of the other partitions, although that's not its
real intent. (There are hundreds or thousands of backup programs
available.)
See this link for why you should have more than one partition:
http://www.theeldergeek.com/hard_drives_02.htm
If your machines are running Win98, 1.5 GB should be more than
enough for the C partition. Divide the rest of the drive as you
wish. I have 7 partitions on an 8.4 GB drive and 16 on a 40GB
drive and I am happy as a clam.
4.
It would be a good idea to really tweak the system nice before
you do the image - i.e., you should download Microsoft's
"TweakUI" for Win98 (Google), also get the tiny program from
http://www.iconsaver.com/index.html
so your icons don't go for walks and get lost (this tends to
happen even with TweakUI), and "Display Set" from PC magazine to
make your colors and text and windows etc. just the way you want
them - if you can find it.
But you can spend an infinite amount of time tweaking a Windows
machine, so just do what you feel is necessary for your
situation. Basics should be fine. I just like to fiddle.
It is essential to defragment the C drive before you create the
final image.
5.
I don't know what your exact situation is but if you actually
have 25 identical (this makes it SO much easier, too) machines,
even if you have to spend about $75 on Acronis and a CD-R drive,
it's more than worth it IMO. Every time a computer gets screwed
up by some smartass, you just put the Acronis-made disc into the
CD drive and in 10 minutes you're back to perfect (or as perfect
as you managed to make it in the first place, anyway).
DO be aware that ANY data on the C: drive created AFTER you
made/installed the image originally will be GONE. That's one of
the reasons why it's good to have partitions and keep ALL the
data on other partitions than C. IOW, NO "My Documents".
If you need any more advice, don't hesitate to ask.
t.
--
"This is not nuclear. This is just a test."
- illyria
