Somken Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Hello, I know this can be done for linux, but I don't know about windows. I want to be able to install Vista or XP off the same thumb drive without changing anythign off the thumb drive. Just plug in and go. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaKo Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2008 will allow you to create unattended XP and Vista installs that run from a USB stick. You can have both on one stick, for a time I had one that installed XP, Vista and 2008. You can also pre-install your drivers this way, along with applications etc. 100% scriptable, and unlike the hacker boot discs this is how Microsoft says you should do it, and its bloody brilliant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Somken Posted January 27, 2009 Author Share Posted January 27, 2009 Will the microsoft tool allow me to have both of them on the drive and pick which one to boot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaKo Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Will the microsoft tool allow me to have both of them on the drive and pick which one to boot? Yes, it has a full gui and allows you to choose which OS to install, which applications to install, what the home page is etc. It then installs your choice of OS, then starts up a series of scripts which install applications and fully update the system. Its designed for use with WDS or SMS so you capture an image of your install to save time. And then (if Vista) you can install the same image, but add the updates to the install process so when you re-image its already up-to-date. You can pre-stage drivers, in groups, which is useful for things like depolying dells. But if you know your hardware you can just add what you need. Nlite et al, they are good tools but this puts them all to shame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Somken Posted January 27, 2009 Author Share Posted January 27, 2009 Cool. I'm starting work at a company that refurbishes computers. Some are XP and other are Vista. Just wanted to get the installs off the CD/DVDs and move to a thumbdrive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentknight329 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 and where could we find this deployment kit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaKo Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/solutio...s/bb963909.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentknight329 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 thanks a bunch that is awesome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Somken Posted January 28, 2009 Author Share Posted January 28, 2009 Now that i got the images all done, how do i load onto thumbdrive and get it to boot XP or Vista? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaKo Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 You create a Media depolyment point, and copy the contents onto a Fat32 formatted USB stick. PE2 should boot automatically. To format a USB stick: diskpart select disk 1 (where disk 1 = usb stick) clean create partition primary select partition 1 active format fs=fat32 assign exit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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