Posted by Danny Hutton (10.128.11.165) on June 20, 2005 at 09:02:38:
When imaging a system using Ghost, usually one must make an image for each type of computer that will be cloned.
If you wish to use an image made from another system, restore the image onto the new system as normal. Once the computer boots, the machine will often fail showing the "blue screen of death."
Run a Windows repair install on top of the image that was just laid down on the new system. This process should reinstall necessary drivers and specific Windows files. Upon completion, the system should boot properly and all of the previously installed software should be usable.
The process takes more than an hour in most cases so it is not the optimal system for large numbers of systems. This would be effective for creating a new base image for the particular type of computer.
For example: An image made of Computer A could be transplanted to computer B. Computer B is repaired and made ready to use. Once the repair install finished, a fully operational Computer B system should be ready. At this point, the computer could be used as a base system for imaging other Computer B type systems.
Benefits gained using this procedure:
(1) the same software setup is transplanted to the new system making each software load identical to the other;
(2) A new load image can be made more easily from an existing image than by starting from scratch;
Disadvantages incurred by using this procedure:
(1) requires more time than an already formed master Ghost image;
(2) system still requires some individualized configuration (entry of Windows activation codes, assigning of network name, etc.)