need to image a lot of Laptops

up-smash · 09-12-2009, 01:36 AM

I have about 60 laptops I need to image quickly... any freeware I could use to get this done?

Situation: around 60 laptops, all the same exact configuration (Acer Aspire ones)
I need to get this done within the next week or so... or ASAP

any suggestions of freeware or linux applications I could use to get this job done would be great.

Thorn · 09-12-2009, 02:49 AM

Free Hard Disk Backup and Restore, Hard Disk Image and Cloning Utilities (thefreecountry.com)

Mak213 · 09-12-2009, 08:55 AM

FOG. CloneZilla, Acronis True Image. Any one of them can do it as long as they all have the same hardware. You could even use Sysprep from Microsoft.

up-smash · 09-12-2009, 02:21 PM

since all the laptops have different serial numbers and such... would I be doing anything illegal, or could anyone bust me for doing this?

Mak213 · 09-12-2009, 02:44 PM

Well yeah. If you are doing it for a school or business then you would need to make sure that you have a MAK or Multiple Activation Key that you could use for all laptops.

If not you are going to have to install each OS one by one using the proper serial. There would be no way that you could use 1 image for all laptops and have them all activate.

up-smash · 09-12-2009, 11:47 PM

When I unpacked the machines, I didn't have to enter any activation keys... does this mean that I don't need a MAK? If not how can I find out if I need a MAK?

Mak213 · 09-13-2009, 01:31 AM

That would be something that the Network Admin should know. Do the machines have the stickers on the side? You will have to talk to someone that placed the purchase order to see how it was done. cause if the machines were done with a MAK then you are fine. But if each machine got assigned its own serial then you will have to image each machine separately.

Jayce · 09-13-2009, 02:31 AM

Oh man... I've tried so many imaging solutions. Norton Ghost included. Nothing I've tried comes close to comparing the simplicity and efficiency of FOG. This summer I've imaged about 900 computers using FOG, and I imaged an additional 500 laptops last week during a 3 day period.

My setup is using a Dell laptop (Core 2 Duo, 4gb RAM, gigabit ethernet) with a 24 port gigabit switch. Running Ubuntu 9.04 64 bit + FOG 0.27.

If you need help setting it up, post back here. The Ubuntu/FOG combo is a fantastic imaging solution.

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