Cloning/Imaging PCs for school lab

[bobothesmart]

I am setting up some new (donated) PCs for my school's computer lab. I have fully set up one of the PCs and I would like to be able to just copy that hard drive to all of the others, since they will all have the same hardware configuration (they are the same PCs). However, I'm getting confused with this whole cloning/imaging thing.
My original idea was to hook up the hard drive of one of the other computers as the slave to the computer I have ready to go and then clone the hard drive. However, when I open the case, the cable that is hooked up to the hard drive is not the usual slave/master cable I was expecting, but rather a smaller blue cable that connects to a "SATA0" hookup on the motherboard. Therefore, I don't know how I would hook up a second hard drive.
Then I thought that maybe I would try to clone/image the hard drive to CDs or DVDs via a DVD burner. However, I don't quite know the difference between imaging and cloning and if this method would even work. Are there any free programs that allow you to do this? I downloaded EASUS Partition Master, but it seems I would have to purchase the full version to do this. Also, if I copy the hard drive to disks, is it as simple as booting from the disks on the new PC or is there more to it than that? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Aaron_8015]

If the PC you have running uses a ribbon cable for the hard drive and the others use SATA, why not move the 'ready' HDD into the 'non-ready' PC's? Most if they have SATA will also have IDE ports.

[GroundZero3]

Cloning/imaging is the same thing. Dont let it confuse you.

Usually most computers have several SATA ports, just plug in the drive that has the finished os install and the other drive that you want to clone to.

https://secure.cecn.mtu.edu/cecndocs...timage_Imaging

If you have the resources to image over the network I would recommend doing that. You can image all the machines at once (talk to the school network admin before attempting this)

Me personally I recommend Norton Ghost

[bobothesmart]

Unfortunately, I can't clone across the network because our network is puny - only 20 GB and the drive I want to clone is 40 GB. Also, I can only find one SATA port on the motherboard, and the finished HDD and the one I want to clone it to look like they only have SATA interface. Any other ideas?

[Aaron_8015]

What computers are they? (make and model) Only thing you can really do is buy an externel HDD adapter or buy an SATA PCI card.

[bobothesmart]

They are Dell OptiPlex GX280 in the slim case.
If it's not possible to hook up both hard drives at the same time for cloning, is it possible to create image disks of the HDD on DVD or CD and then somehow copy them to the new HDD by booting from them?

[Nude_Lewd_Man]

Hi,

Just a quick response before I head off...but if you clone the 'live' drive then you will prolly be breaking licensing agreements - as you would effectively be using one license on all images... As some licenses are also based on them being a single (or free to non-corporate environment) install, you may find that you break more too.......

I would advise that you use Sysprep to prepare the original install for what you want, then use another computer (with Ghost/similar installed on that, rather than the Sysprep'ed one) to close the Sysprep'ed image...

I have found this to be a very straight forward explanation: http://www.answersthatwork.com/Downl...P_PC_setup.pdf

[usslindstrom]

One thing that you might also want to consider in this (of course taking in NudeL's advice about the licensing - especially if you're using a retail version as once it detects the new hardware's crap it will lock out the OS until you reactivate it through MS) - but definately one thing you might also want to check out is...

Clonezilla

Completely free. Definately can't beat the price. But it lets you boot the machines from a CD and image the entire unit to a USB thumb drive, and of course restore the other units from that same thumb drive.

Personally, I prefer Altiris/Ghosting - but you have to pay for those products. If you're looking to do something on the "pay absolutely nothing" spectrum, then go for the Clonezilla path.

But seriously - watch out for the licensing issues.