Installing numerous PCs from a master build - Is this possible

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  1. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #41

    I build and sell PC's to small businesses.
    As an OEM System Builder, you are being paid to build & support your builds.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       #42

    Post 2,3,4,6, I have read again and see no misguiding information. They all give you ways of doing it and of course mentioned buying a Product key for each build. In your later post you find out you can't install all the operating system on different computers without a proper different Product key for each computer, which has been mentioned many times. You mentioned in one of your post that you wondered why Microsoft didn't put this little piece of information in the first part of the agreement instead of at the end. I think most of your problems mount to you not understanding the agreement with Microsoft that you need. I think using post #2 and a proper Builders License from Microsoft would guide you in the right direction. When you get the License agreement that you like and have problems come back and see us. We will help. Being a builder of computers for retail market you should have no problems sorting through a few post that don't quiet give you the information your looking for.
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  3. Posts : 30
    win 7 hp 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #43

    Well, posts as follows:

    1. My initial question.

    2. Good information.

    3.a Wrong information, you cannot clone/image to dis-similar hardware,
    as correctly stated in paragraph 9 of the link. You need to generalize
    in some manner.

    3.b Correct.

    4. Wrong information, you cannot clone/image to dis-similar hardware, see 3.a.

    5. My response to 4 which referrs to 3.a.

    6. No, It's not a partitioning error I made, it was my incrrrect and failed
    attempt to try to clone to dis-similar hardware.

    7. I get an error when trying to view these links.

    8. Another response I made.

    9. Wrong information. There are PCs with the 100mb partition
    and PCs without. I'm in the second class. And no I don't have
    a hidden 100mm partition that I am not aware of.

    What does this have to do with dis-similar hardware any?

    10. I'm confused.

    11. Good detect, Yes the TeraByte product does an image. See my
    admission in 6.

    12. Good information.

    13. I didn't make these mistakes either.

    14. End of story, failure to understand that I'm
    looking for reliable help.

    15. What is a SEVENFORUMS BUSINESS ACCOUT?
    This still has not been answered.

    16. Peace out, possibly asking me to quit asking for proper
    information when I know for a fact that have recieved
    some incorrect information.

    17. SEVENFORUMS BUSINESS ACCOUNT question again.

    =====

    I understand that I need to be using the propr licenses.

    =====

    From here out this forum has been good.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 30
    win 7 hp 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #44

    Post 2,3,4,6, I have read again and see no misguiding information.
    They all give you ways of doing it

    You cannot IMAGE/CLONE to dis-similar hardware which is a lot of the things
    I am being told to do in 2-6. You JUST CANNOT. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THIS.
    Please see the other post.

    and of course mentioned buying a Product key for each build. In your later post you
    find out you can't install all the operating system on different computers without
    a proper different Product key for each computer,

    NEGATIVE NEGATIVE NEGATIVE

    I didn't discover any such thing. I am asking for a way
    to install a master to dis-similar hardware.

    To state it another way, my question involves hardware and software.
    Not licenses. I will properly license my PCs.

    I fully intend to get the proper licenses.

    The problem at this point is my question of HOW TO
    perform a MASTER INSTALL and then I will properly
    license it. I haven't even gotten to the license
    installation yet.

    My problem is dis-similar hardware and how to properly
    and legally install things.

    You seem to think, that PROPER LICENSES will
    make it possible for me to install to dis-similar
    hardware. THIS IS NOT TRUE. Sorry.

    which has been mentioned many times. You mentioned in one of your post
    that you wondered why Microsoft didn't put this little piece of information
    in the first part of the agreement instead of at the end. I think most of your
    problems mount to you not understanding the agreement with Microsoft that
    you need.

    What MS needed to do was to put the licensing first, before the install instructioins.

    The alogrithm below (simplified) is not a good one, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

    1, MS is not reresponsible ...
    2, Perform step 1.
    3, Perform step 2.
    4, Perform step 3.
    5, Perform step 4.
    6, Only a type AA license is acceptable for this procedure.
    If you have any other license type then you may not
    finish. Steps 2-5 have been a waste of time for you.

    A better aloghrighm follows ...

    1, MS is not reresponsible ...
    2, You need a type AA license, if you need one please purchase it before continuing.
    3, Perform step 1.
    4, Perform step 2.
    5, Perform step 3.
    6, Perform step 4.

    Congradulations you are finished.

    I think using post #2 and a proper Builders License from Microsoft
    would guide you in the right direction. When you get the License
    agreement that you like and have problems come back and see us.

    Why do you continue to beat on this license thing.
    My first post stated clearly (please read) that I
    wanted help with dis-similar hardware.

    We will help. Being a builder of computers for retail market you
    should have no problems sorting through a few post that don't
    quiet give you the information your looking for.

    Sorry but you have totally mis-understood the issue, repeatidly, repeatidly.
    And nobody else has stepped clarify my question.
    I will continue in this forum until things get straightened out.
    Or you people may just telly me to go away.

    ==========

    Could someone else please step in and put this
    thread back on proper course?

    Thank you all, Steve Broshears ...

    PS, I thought this might be a language issue but you seem to be in OHIO.

    PS, I took 2 hours to write my initial post and I don't think it is confusing.

    Steve ...
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 2,528
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #45

    w3a537 said:
    You cannot IMAGE/CLONE to dis-similar hardware which is a lot of the things. I am being told to do in 2-6. You JUST CANNOT. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THIS. Please see the other post.
    One of the benefits to the way Microsoft has re-written the driver model of the OS (since Vista) and changed sysprep is so you *can* clone to dissimilar hardware. You just have to do it right (JIT driver injection, build your template machine into a VM, use Microsoft's tools to capture/distribute the OS, etc.). If you don't do it right, you can (and likely will) end up with an OS that doesn't work once re-applied to other hardware (especially older imaging/driver management tools designed around XP - these always seem to break imaging, and they're just not necessary anymore). Also, you *will* need to re-activate the OS, and provide a valid product key, no matter what type of OS it is.
    w3a537 said:
    I am asking for a way to install a master to dis-similar hardware. To state it another way, my question involves hardware and software. Not licenses. I will properly license my PCs.
    Anything that requires a driver to survive sysprep will require you to do things a very specific way (persistalldeviceinstalls). I don't know for sure what specifics you're trying to achieve here (if anything - again, it's still not 100% clear what you are and aren't doing, and what specifically your issues are. If I missed them in a previous post, I do apologize.
    w3a537 said:
    The problem at this point is my question of HOW TO perform a MASTER INSTALL and then I will properly license it. I haven't even gotten to the license installation yet. My problem is dis-similar hardware and how to properly and legally install things.
    This can be done, but it's not as simple as install, inject a gigantic driver pack, sysprep, and reboot anymore - nor should it be. If you're comfortable with XP imaging, you're in for a somewhat rude awakening (especially if you skipped Vista at all), unfortunately - things have changed (for the better, but you'll have a learning curve).
    w3a537 said:
    Could someone else please step in and put this thread back on proper course?
    Be careful with your attitude - folks are trying to help, and in reading this thread, I came to the same sorts of conclusions others did about what was and wasn't working until I read between the lines. I can help, but you need to calm down a bit. You're probably a little (or a lot) frustrated, and I can empathise, but you have to keep a level head if and when possible, especially on the internet .
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  6. Posts : 30
    win 7 hp 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #46

    Please re-read my first post.

    Please note that in my initial post I stated that
    I would supply all the necessary licenses.

    Is true (factual), Steve...

    Do it right, certainly. In my first post I asked you people "how do I do this"?
    This applies several times.

    I have stated that what I am asking for is good (correct) information.

    I have tried to enhance my explination several times

    Please re-read my initial post as a starting point.

    How did this thread get this way?

    Steve Broshears ...
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 519
    Windows 7 Ultimate (64)
       #47

    I know I’m going to get smacked for this but you might consider an attempt to sharpen your own skill set before selling your services. Not understanding system prep, how Win7 partitions your drives, or removing drivers from your image file suggest that you may be somewhat in over your head. These are all very basic concepts and hardly something that requires MS Support, or for that matter, SevenForums support. There are great people here willing to help you, but remember they are offering their support free, you’re not purchasing it. So a little appreciation and a little less aggressiveness goes a long way here.
    Best Regards:
      My Computer

  8.    #48

    Couldn't have said it better. No clutz are you.
    Steve, I never thought you were planning to run afoul on licenses and never thought OEM partner was at all an option here, so I sought to clarify that you are planning to use retail licenses and that your best approach is to use SysPrep.

    Carl may have a better solution from which we can all learn as he is one of the top teachers we have here.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 2,528
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #49

    w3a537 said:
    How did this thread get this way?
    Good question. However, I did re-read your first post, and it's just not thick on the details. However, instead of beat you up on it, I'll just answer the questions you posed in order, and wait for your response:

    w3a537 said:
    Is this possible? How?
    Yes, indeed. If you're doing onesie-twosie customer installs (rather than gigantic enterprise rollouts), I recommend using MDT for this.

    w3a537 said:
    I've seen a few references to commercial software that does this. Recommendations?
    There are software packages (like Macrium and Acronis) that do this, but they are in the mold of backup/disaster recovery imaging, rather than business rollout image maintenance. Also, given the way they work, they can sometimes have issues with imaging to dissimilar hardware from the original source, keeping the image updated, etc. Make no mistake that there's nothing wrong with either of those software packages, but they really are designed for home use or business disaster recovery (and have to be licensed as such if you do - very expensive per seat that way), rather than a more business scenario (images to put on multiple machines, keeping the image updated easily, etc). I still suggest MDT for this. It's free, uses Microsoft's tools, is supported (officially) by Microsoft, and the tool is not that difficult to use and understand once you take the time to learn it.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 30
    win 7 hp 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #50

    And I came here to ask you people for help in sharpening my skills.

    One more thing, I am a retired mainframe system manager.

    Before this next subject comes into question, I have always understood
    cloning and imaging to be as described in the following link.

    Disk cloning - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    Thanks, Steve ...
      My Computer


 
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