Community Newsletter: Q&A: 10/27/06 Can I make a desktop restore CD/DVD like HP or Dell does?
- 10/26/06 4:23 PM
Nice answer, Will
by cachupin - 10/27/06 4:49 AM In reply to: 10/27/06 Can I make a desktop restore CD/DVD like HP or Dell does? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I want to compliment you on the complete and informative rundown on backup strategies you gave. It's true, it's a lot more involved than one might think at first glance. I particularly agree with you on not using proprietry backup programs for regular data files - that can be a real hassle when you want to migrate to another machine, etc.
One other thing: I have successfuly used Norton Ghost to backup and completely restore an entire machine (Windows XP). If you do it right, CD #1 is bootable and you don't need anything pre-installed on your hard drive to execute the restore. (My image had several large applications included and was actually 13 disks - it all ran smoothly.) I'm sure other products work well, too. But I mention this because this was not a test - I had truly corrupted my registry and other things to the point where I really needed an image - and it worked! Really saved my shorts!
Restore cd
by steve.coult - 10/28/06 8:57 AM In reply to: Nice answer, Will by cachupinHi i have been following this topic and would like to ask how do you get norton ghost to make a bootable cd and then put the image on the same cd please
Well that is a long winded answer that doesn't answer the q
by thinhban101 - 10/27/06 5:12 AM In reply to: 10/27/06 Can I make a desktop restore CD/DVD like HP or Dell does? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
You can create those partitions and discs using such programs as Norton Ghost, Symantec Drive Image. Its not overly complicated and if you are used to being a system builder already most of the tools that you need are already in place for you to accomplish the job quickly.
There are other programs that will allow you to make the restore discs as well as the hidden restore partitions on the hard drive like HP does (the F10/F11 restore function) such as Acronis TrueImage.
XML Image for XP/2003 freeware
by goodpack - 10/27/06 6:07 AM In reply to: Well that is a long winded answer that doesn't answer the q by thinhban101I have successfully imaged many XP and Server2003 systems using this handy little XML image creator. http://www.runtime.org/dixml.htm Since its XML the data is not in a proprietary format. You can use task scheduler to created timed or off hour backups. The image files can also be compressed to save space.
Its freeware so you have to be ready to support it yourself, however I think you’ll find it pretty easy to use.
The downside is it’s not bootable. The website has instructions and a plug-in for bootPE which is bootable cd creator which is also free. Tech savvy folk can also add their network card drivers to bootPE so you can store the xml images on network shares, boot to the PE disk and restore the hard drive.
Lots of other good tools described in this thread…thanks for sharing, for those of you who are mad that the thread didn’t stay on task and talk about only images…please relax its how we learn.
Yes, you can make the CD you want-easily
by PromptCritical - 10/27/06 5:20 AM In reply to: 10/27/06 Can I make a desktop restore CD/DVD like HP or Dell does? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Mervin,
It is easy. It just takes the knowledge. But like a previous answer, you need to be aware of licensing.
Now the good news. It is easy to make the CD and the instructions are on Microsoft's site and the CD you create will produce a load that PASSES MUSTER WITH THE GENUINE ADVANTAGE VALIDATION ROUTINE.
Go to Microsoft support and search on Remote Installation Services (RIS). There are a lot of articles to go through. The "secret" is in there.
I don't want to put the tweak in a public forum however because I do not know how the fine folks as Microsoft will respond. See if Lee will forward your info to me or vice versa so I can give you the particulars. This was my senior research project for my computer science degree.
Lotta good that was
by cesareDH - 10/27/06 11:09 AM In reply to: Yes, you can make the CD you want-easily by PromptCriticalWe're not doing research for a degree, we're looking for an answer. If you have the answer, I'm sure MS wouldn't mind if you put it in this forum seeing as they've made it public anyway.
You say we can make the CD 'EASILY"; how?
I agree
by jclevel1 - 10/27/06 1:14 PM In reply to: Lotta good that was by cesareDHI absolutely agree with the previous response to this post. I normally don't rant on these types of forums, but I must say that it is very unimpressive to post that you did this as a research project if it was something that is "easy" to do. Are you bragging that your work did not really justify the degree that you received. By the way, I am not just ranting. I actually did post what I think is the real answer that 'Mervin M.' was looking for.
The real answer
by PromptCritical - 10/28/06 10:27 PM In reply to: I agree by jclevel1Rant? No, it sounds like you are skirting the level of flaming. No, I am not bragging that the work was easy. Microsoft is cryptic at best in its answers. The project was to actually get RIS to work with full documentation that anyone could follow since the MCSE books, if followed word for word, RIS would not deploy or function.
We also deployed the project in a real time environment and successfully reloaded 112 computers with a fresh load in 16 minutes, all simultaneously. So, yes, my degree is deserved.
From the original stated question, Mervin did not want to have to use third party software to clone machines. He wanted a CD to put into a machine and install the OS. This answer does that, not yours.
The reason the answer did not give all the answers is that to understand how to build the CD fully, it takes a lot of knowledge to build the answer file (for a CD winnt.sif). It is extensive.
Utilizing a build in this manner you can take full control of the installed OS and put in all defaults, example, the default home page. That way when Microsoft sends out the next mandatory security update (a couple of weeks ago) it will not nuke your custom settings and reset your homepage or Microsoft.
Here are some links to start learning how to build the CD:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/298750/en-us
See Section: Installing Clients By Using Remote Installation
And pay attention to this-
NOTE: This step can be avoided by specifying the product key in the .sif file. You have successfully configured and installed a remote operating system by using RIS. Refer to the following section for additional information about configuration options.
Next go here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/155197/en-us
Here is the key: You must have a volume license number for the answer file. Legally to make your own install CD it must be your number. However, all computer manufacturers have their volume license number in their CD's. That little label that is affixed to the case of these computers is what gives you the license to do this.
If you do not have a license of your own this is illegal. If you legally utilize a volume license number, it will pass muster with the Genuine Validation Tool.
Also note: Any created CD/RIS installations cannot cross service packs.
Now, this, I believe, is the answer Mervin was looking for.
Again, this procedure must follow copyright and licensing laws.
This may be the missing links?
by roadstr01 - 10/27/06 8:10 PM In reply to: Yes, you can make the CD you want-easily by PromptCriticalSound like his ''secret'' is sysprep, which I read somewhere else in this discussion.
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Note The Sysprep.exe utility is located on the Windows XP distribution CD-ROM in the Support\Tools folder in the Deploy.cab file
While I've never used it, it sounds very much like what the question is asking for. Perhaps someone with knowledge using this can chime in.
Extract file from CAB file?
by cesareDH - 10/27/06 9:24 PM In reply to: This may be the missing links? by roadstr01How does one extract a specific file out of a CAB file?
Extracting file from cab
by scootertrashtx - 10/28/06 8:22 AM In reply to: Extract file from CAB file? by cesareDH'WinRAR' will do it...
http://www.rarlab.com/
So will extract.
by PromptCritical - 10/28/06 10:10 PM In reply to: Extracting file from cab by scootertrashtxExtract.exe will also extract from CABs. It is on the Windows CD and will run in a command line. But a windows utility will do it much faster.
Which Windows utility?
by cesareDH - 10/29/06 2:21 AM In reply to: So will extract. by PromptCriticalWill do it faster? and where is that utility located?
Thanx
This utility
by PromptCritical - 10/29/06 9:21 AM In reply to: Which Windows utility? by cesareDHExpand.exe is located in the \I386 area of a windows install CD or in \Windows\system32 for an installed Windows OS.
Here is an article on it:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888017/en-us
Yes you can make a Restore Cd/DVD.
by hhjones43 - 10/27/06 5:36 AM In reply to: 10/27/06 Can I make a desktop restore CD/DVD like HP or Dell does? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
There are many ways of doing what you are asking, I assume you are not asking "How to backup" the system but "How to restore" the system to it's original build state. This is a very complicated process and requires scripting, and knowledge of the hardware that this "Build" will work on. I have done this, the command you really want to know about is "SYSPREP", look it up on Microsoft's site there is a lot of info about this. Some tips, not all software will function from a syspreped image (That's why some software installs the first time you use it on HP, eMachines, Dell ect...). I hope this helps. Good luck 
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