Ghost Solution Suite

Hi All

I have the latest GSS 2.5.1.2266 installed, have working boot disks, my client pc and server can see each other. I made up a sample machine with the software I want and then did sysprep /generalize/ oobe /shutdown so I expect I _might_ have a good image (Windows 7 Pro 32 bit) to cut from.

So here are my questions ...

1) If I make an image file from my main partition (not the System Reserved partition) is that not all I need to send my in a multicast to the other pcs?

2) Are there any command line switches I need in making up (or sending to the server) this base image file?

3) Are there any special switches I need on the other lab pcs so they will receive this image file properly, and lay it in place without ruining the System Protected partition on the hard drives of those pcs?

Am I on the right track for this?

Thanks
Steve  
 

Hi,

Windows 7 System comes with the deafult  Reserved Partition and without which you can not start the OS.

Ghost by default does not save the System Reserved Partition which is  created during Windows 7 operating System installation. An image of
this partition has to be created separately.
During the system restore, the System Reserved Partition has to be restored before restoring the OS partition.

BEST PRACTICE: Take a disk image (default create image task settings) of a Windows 7 machine.

Restoring an Image that has multiple partitions
If the image restore fails for an image that has multiple partitions, please try the -szee switch, this forces all the partitions to be of
same size on restore.

I am trying to image a workstation(s) with Win7 using GSS2.5 (updated) using a task that uses a hidden partition on the local machine.  The gho file is located in the hidden partition.  Are there any special steps to do this in Win7?

In XP, what I would do is

- capture the image from the workstation
- create a hidden partition on the workstation and deploy the image to it
- create a task that uses 'partition restore' with 'destination drive':1 and 'destination partition':1
- for the image, 'image is located on the client machine' is checked
- the task can be initiated at the client as well

I tried the same in Win7 and now I have no O/S

It is possible to install and boot Win 7 without that small partition if you manually create the partitions before install.

It would mean a reinstall of the OS and you wouldn't be able to use the drive encrypt stuff, but may be easier to image.

Where would you use this switch?  I'm down to  my last few options here to try and get this working.

Okay, so I seem to have finally got the the workstation to image via the local hidden image, but it is very slow.  Slow meaning 30 minutes compared to <10 previously with XP.  It's local so it should be very quick.  Where it is slowing down is between the 'To Virtual Partition' process and 'Clone' process.  This is taking almost 20 minutes.

I am attaching a Word file with the steps I take.  Please have a look and comment on why this could be taking so long.

Thanks.