samcory
asked on
how to clone windows 10 laptops
Please help i have to prepare identical Windows 10 laptops all with the same workgroup domain is there a quick way to clone them
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
SYSPREP is not the official way to duplicate a PC - it's a REQUIREMENT for duplicating ANY Windows system using ANY method. It prepares windows so that the network sees the installation as unique - a requirement for certain Microsoft technologies and helps ensure no future odd issues occur.
Second, cloning (or what is more accurately called, imaging) requires the use of a Volume License. You don't need 10 - JUST ONE - but you must use the volume license to create the Windows install which you plan on copying, provided the laptops all come with Windows Pro (Home is not eligible for imaging).
As for the tools you use, you can use whatever you want to image, but you *MUST* sysprep. And I recommend using Microsoft's server based and deployment tools - Windows Deployment Server (free role in Windows Server) and the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit.
I would recommend you google "Windows Deployment" - there's TONS of information on it.
That said, if you want to do this CORRECTLY, you need to learn it properly. Doing so will take time - 20-40 hours or more. For deploying 10 laptops ONCE, it's better to just set them up on a table and walk around the table sequentially clicking next, etc. If you expect to do this frequently, learn the proper methods of deployment.