I am almost certain that you will have to continue entering certain information during this process, unless you purchase a Microsoft Select agreement. The Select CD's do not require a license key and other information you refer to above. However, they are significantly more expensive than the typical Open License agreement.
I have the same issue. There are two types of Ghost software; Norton Ghost and Symantec Ghost. Norton Ghost products are typically for home users. Symentec Ghost typically includes Multicast software which allows one to apply images to workstations over the network via TCP/IP. You can also write images from machines to an NTFS partition over the network. You sound like you are already using this feature and are just looking for a way to image a workstation and go to work?
In my example, I use images I created using the green Windows XP Professional CD-ROM that comes with a new Dell OptiPlex machine. I create the image without ever joining the machine to the domain. I configure it the way I want, perform all updates, etc. I use sysprep for XP Professional SP-2: http://www.microsoft.com/d
I then dump it from the machine to the server using Ghost Multicast software. I always use the -split=650 switch so I can burn the image to CD-ROM if necessary.
I then use Ghost Multicast to write the image to multiple machines. When they boot, I have to go through initial configuration with each of them and I use the license key on the sticker attached to the machine.
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by: boris711Posted on 2006-05-03 at 17:38:03ID: 16601791
Check out this link for an overview of the MS Windows XP Resource Kit:
http://www.microsoft.com/t
Also, Microsoft has an Operating Environment referred to as the Windows XP OEM Preinstallation Kit which uses a utility called SysPrep. It is designed primarily for OEMs to do scripted OS installations that will leave the machine in a state that prompts the new user/owner to enter the information that you mention above. Like the initial state of a new retail machine. But, I have used the OPK in the past in a corporate environment to do just what you require. In that case you would prepare an "answer" file, which is a specially configured text file that provides the values that you'd like inserted into the final configuration. And some versions of ghost, as I recall, are able to send the SysPrep answer file to the machine during the imaging process. The trick is acquiring the OPK, it was available for a time as a free download from Microsoft, but I was able to obtain a copy from the OEM from which we purchased our machines.
http://www.microsoft.com/w
To explain the process a little better:
You'd create your vanilla image (with SysPrep installed in it) that has been stopped at the point of requiring the information that makes it unique. Then you image your target machines providing the answer file that SysPrep will require to apply your settings. I have seen situations wherre the answer file is provided on a floppy, over the network or during the imaging process.
BTW, the SysPrep process does require a bit of a learning curve, but there is no other tool, that I am aware of, that has the same flexibility.
Hope this helps.