Welcome to Altiris :)

You want to use the Sysprep option when creating the image. Otherwise the image will duplicate your Donner PC all over the place.

Another thing I do before capturing the image is to make sure the PC is current on all updates, run Disk Cleanup, and Defrag. That makes the image a bit cleaner and smaller too.

No they're not. Also, make sure that your Sysprep cab file matches the OS you're trying to deploy. For example, XP/2003 takes a different sysprep file than 2000. You will need to add another Sysprep file if that's the case. Let me know if you need help with that.

you can use Windows 2003 sysprep. it will work for both Xp and 2k3.
Luckily u need not to add sysprep for vista as it is already installed with it, but you can only sysprep vista thrice.
mabdelanbi, has pointed a good note for Another thing I do before capturing the image is to make sure the PC is current on all updates, run Disk Cleanup, and Defrag. That makes the image a bit cleaner and smaller too.
I would like to a point in it, try to delete your pagefile, may be by adding a reg value to delete pagafie after shutdown or by using ghost explorer.
this will help in long run, as it will save your time during deploy also will save your space in your central location.

rwells1987, are you using DS 6.9 or DS 7.1?

Hello everyone, I am new to this Altiris process also and need some serious help. I have been putting this project on hold for a bit because I travel a lot for my job. I only have a few more weeks to get this done before I go back on the road. So please if anyone can assist I would greatly appreciate it. I recently set up the system and started creating images to deploy to my brand new, never been touched, Lenovo Laptops T500,2gig, 160 gig, Dual core Cintrino 2.8ghz. and Think Center pc's with simular stats. So far creating the PC's images and deploying them seem to be ok. My problem exist witht he Laptops. I can get them to create the images but when the image is done and the sysprep begins to restart windows, I get the BSB (blue screen blues) and the system continues to reboot. The error message is Driver IRQ error and a code of 0x00000D1. have looked it up and it never fails the code make no sense as to what's happening or how to resolve the error ez. So the chase is on. Below are the steps I am using.

1. Start laptop
2. Switch the boot order to boot from lan
3. Once up, remove all non standard software (MS Office Promo and McAfee). Install all MS and IBM think advantage recommended update. Reboot. 
4. Install Aclient v6.9.366 x86 reboot.
5. Check connectivity to DS. Fire off the create disk image with Sysprep in place, to get the Base image. laptop comes back ok, so far.
6. Once done, Add standard Licensed Company software (trend micro,MS office,win zip,Secure remote, RAdmin viewer, Lotus notes 8.5, webshots, the basics.
7. Fire of another create image to capture the basic distribution.
8. At this poit the Image creates sucsessfully and the latop beging to reboot in to sysprep again.
9. it gives me the 52 fake out that it's booting into windows. Then it happens BSB and reboots begin.
10. I have even tried putting back the orginal image I created. You guessed it BSB again.

Did  I mention, I could use some serious help. I am almost at a stand still till I get pass this point.