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Installation points would be good for any applications that are needed. However I have to disagree with the statements about Ghost and sysprep. I have heard about using Ghostwalker to replace the SID, but using sysprep does the same and allows you to install the same image on varying hardware platforms. I know this works, because that is exactly what we do at CVM, the only characteristic that must be the same is the HAL (ACPI or Non-ACPI, single or mutli-processor). I have even read about how some people have gotten the same image to work on differing HALS, but haven't tried it myself. While the process is a little tricky with Win2k (What we use) it is much easier with the version of sysprep used by WinXP. If anyone has any questions about how to create a multi-platform (as in hardware) image, please feel free to contact me. ________________________________________________ Stephen Bogdanski Network Support, MSU-CVM Michigan State University [log in to unmask] A227 VetMed Center Phone: (517) 353-5551 East Lansing, MI 48824 Fax: (517) 432-2937 >>> Chris Wolf <[log in to unmask]> 05/19/04 12:17PM >>> Some people have mentioned Ghost, which may not be quite what you're looking for. The hardware you're installing on has to be substantially identical in order for this technique to work. (We do use Ghost, incidentally, without using Sysprep, instead just using Ghostwalker to reset the SID.) An alternative, and complementary, technique is to automate installs by setting up "installation points" for your software. We do this for a number of our programs, including Microsoft Office, WordPerfect Office, Eudora, and Norton Anti-Virus Corporate Edition. These let you preselect the options you want for the install so that you don't have to insert CDs and then answer the same questions every time you install. Not every program has the inherent capability to do this, however. For programs that don't, you would have to use another program, such as Microsoft SMS to do it. At 11:04 PM 5/18/2004, Mccormack, Andrew wrote: >What methods do you use to setup a new system? I need to reinstall windows XP and load a bunch of software. It is taking too long to manually load all the software and OS. I like to image or setup a system that can load the software for me without having to insert several cds one by one. > > >Thanks >Andrew McCormack ><mailto:[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask] > --Chris ============================================== Chris Wolf Computer Service Manager Agricultural Economics [log in to unmask] Michigan State University 517 353-5017