2 exact comps with same stuff on hdd

[hoodedrat]

Hi there, I'm building 2 computers tonight, I gotta wait 20 mins before I can go pick up the parts so I thought I'd ask a quick question, both of the HDD are going to have the exact same stuff on them, drivers, everything the systems are 100% identical, so anyways, if I do one of the computers, install the OS, and all the software, and then do I have to do the 2nd hard drive too, or can I just like put it in the first one as a secondary drive and then copy the entire c: drive to that one and have it work? or should I just do the hole thing by itself

[Midknyte]

what OS?

[hoodedrat]

XP

[Midknyte]

you shouldn't just copy any nt-based OS. duplicate SIDs are bad mojo. you should use the sysprep tool first before you copy over the drives.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302577


You need to create a folder called c:\sysprep. copy sysprep.exe and setupcl.exe to this folder. This folder will be deleted after the sysprep is done. you can also create a script file, but it's not necessary. run sysprep then shutdown the computer. copy the hdd to the second hdd. when you reboot, sysprep will run a mini-setup wizard.

[Strawbs]

it should be possible to ghost the drives, but every BIOS setting and driver would need to be identical for it to boot without problems.

[Midknyte]

does the new version of ghost have a tool to pull SIDs out? I think it was called ghostwalker. that might be easier if you already have ghost.

if you don't have any 3rd party utilities, then you should do the sysprep method.

[Psycho Logical]

XP generates a unique random internal ID number when you activate (not just install) it, even on sysyem setups that are identical.

This is MS's way to make sure they get paid for every copy. :(

[BipolarBill]

Sorry, but this thread is closed.

I would appreciate it if our "regulars" would report this type of post in the future.