Prepping Pre-installed OS image

[hansaplast]

Hi,

For a customer I'll have to install 20+ PC's with Windows 7. Before I deliver them to this client I want to pre install, drivers, office and other software used by this client.

If I buy factory ready PC's (HP or DELL), W7 is already installed on them. These machines also have a lot of nonsense software installed which I don't want.

I thought of buying PC's without OS and separately buy Windows 7 OEM. Then use the MS OPK tool for prepping the systems. But then again, HP and DELL charge me €200,00 per PC extra for one without OS. Pay more for less ??? :sarc:

So what I want now is preparing one factory ready PC with (only) the software my client needs. Then create an image of that PC and deploy it to all the other PC's.

Is this possible and if so, how to proceed?
HP and DELL deliver their factory ready PC's with a CD containing an image of their installation.


Best Regards

 

[valtonray]

try this vLite - Windows Vista configuration tool it works great with windows 7 even though it is a vista tool

 

[computersplus]

try this vLite - Windows Vista configuration tool it works great with windows 7 even though it is a vista tool

yes with V-lite you can customize your install disk to contain drivers and add-ons etc. plus remove unwanted features from Windows itself

 

[hansaplast]

vLite looks like a great tool to customize Windows. I will definitely try that one.

But my question really boils down to the Windows 7 license which is linked to the system. If I buy 20 PC's the system builder/dealer has already installed Windows on all of them. Is the following then possible?

1. Use the system builders Windows installation and customize 1 PC to fit my needs (install software etc.).
2. Create a new image
3. Burn that image on all the other PC's effectively overwriting the system builders Windows installation.
4. Register all systems without the need of a new license.

It is my understanding that when Windows is installed it is somehow linked to the hardware. The above should be possible if the Windows key/license is somehow stored on the MBR in the BIOS or online. But not on the Windows partition. Because that will be overwritten with the custom image.

My knowledge in this is poor. Maybe someone can enlighten me
Thanks!

 

[valtonray]

yes, contacting the system manufacturer they have to give you the proper serial codes so that you can do a clean install if you choose. this may taake some jumping through hoops though as they will often have various excuses for why they can't. but if your diligent they will give them to you.

EDIT: i think it's also possible to use vlite with the iso from a system recovery disk as well.

 

[hansaplast]

yes, contacting the system manufacturer they have to give you the proper serial codes so that you can do a clean install if you choose. this may taake some jumping through hoops though as they will often have various excuses for why they can't. but if your diligent they will give them to you.

Seems like a lot of hassle to me :huh:. Does anyone have successful experience with my approach with HP or DELL systems?

Or is there a better/easier way to deploy a custom OS setup to multiple systems?

 

[AnarchyCow]

I've worked with deployments a few times, with numbers in excess of 1,000.
Most of the time, we'll build a custom image, with drivers, and any applications the the client wants. Usually, we do this manually, but I understand that can be time consuming.
As far as the serial codes. I've never actually heard of such thing. I've done clean installs on business class PC's from Dell and HP with no issues at all, not even using their OEM key. An OEM key only covers one system (If I remember correctly).

You might be able to take the OEM Reinstall disk with Windows 7 (considering they don't use Ghost on those CD/DVD's) from the manufacturer and customize that using vLite. If they all have Windows 7 installed, there is no reason to go out and buy a copy. Try using the OEM Reinstall disk from one of the PC's in vLite, because I'm pretty sure that it'll be a valid key for all of them (as long as you don't have to enter the key manually, which most OEM companies don't make you manually enter the key as far as I remember).

Worst case scenario, buy an OEM Copy of the same Windows 7 that is installed, and customize that image, then, during install, enter the OEM key that should be on the stickers on those PC's.

 

[hansaplast]

Seems like it's going to work. Thank you all for your support!