Document ID:2000081610075225

Last Modified:05/22/2003

How to use Sysprep with Ghost

Situation:
You want to use Microsoft's System Preparation tool (Sysprep) on a Windows 2000 computer
to change the computer's configuration.

Solution:
Sysprep prepares a computer for cloning (imaging) and customization. When you restart a
computer after using Sysprep, Windows 2000 detects the attached devices such as the hard
disk and CD-ROM. That is, Sysprep indicates to Windows that Windows must rebuild its Plug-
and-Play driver database the next time Windows is started.

NOTES:

• Windows NT: Because Windows NT does not support Plug-and-Play, do not use Sysprep with
Ghost to create an image of a Windows NT installation.
• Windows XP: If creating an image of a Windows XP installation, use the Windows XP version
of Sysprep (found on the Windows XP CD), rather than the Windows 2000 version. There are
two versions of Sysprep for Windows XP:
o Windows XP without Service Pack 1 installed: Version 5.1.2600
o Windows XP with Service Pack 1: Version 5.1.2600.1106. Click here to download a
copy of version 5.1.2600.1106 from Microsoft.
• Differing hardware:The operating system affects how well a cloning operation will work when
cloning between computers that have different hardware. For more information about these
hardware differences and about using Ghost to rollout Windows NT, Windows 2000, and
Windows XP installations, see the documents Introduction to cloning a Windows NT, Windows
2000, or Windows XP computer, How to clone a Windows NT or Windows 2000 workstation
and How to change the SID on a Windows XP, Windows 2000, or Windows NT computer.

Ghost Walker and the SID Change option in the Task in Ghost Console can also change the
computer configuration, but they do not prompt Windows to rebuild the Plug-and-Play driver
database. For an image of a Windows 2000 or Windows XP installation, use Microsoft's
Sysprep instead of Ghost to change the computer's configuration.

Sysprep versions
Windows provides at least three versions of Sysprep for Windows 2000. Symantec Ghost 7.5
works with version 1.0, build 5.0.2149.1 and with version 1.1, build 5.0.2195.1:

• Version 1.0: The original Windows 2000 installation CD has Sysprep version 1.0. Do not use
this build of version 1.0 with Ghost.
• Version 1.0, build 5.0.2149.1: This build is available on later Windows 2000 installation CDs. In
testing, Ghost works with this version of Sysprep.
• Version 1.1: Microsoft has two versions of Sysprep 1.1. Symantec Ghost 7.5 works with the
earlier version, which is build number 5.0.2195.1, and not with the later version, build number
5.0.2195.2104.

There are two versions of Sysprep for Windows XP. Both versions will work with Ghost.
 • Windows XP without Service Pack 1 installed: Version 5.1.2600 (Included on the Windows XP
CD)
• Windows XP with Service Pack 1: Version 5.1.2600.1106 (Click here to download a copy of
version 5.1.2600.1106 from Microsoft.)

Consumer Ghost versions

Consumer versions of Ghost include Norton Ghost 2000, Norton Ghost 2001, Norton Ghost
2002, and Norton Ghost 2003. If using a consumer Ghost version, note the following:

• The Consumer Ghost versions Norton Ghost 2002 and earlier do not include the features
Ghost Console, Ghost Multicast, and Ghost Walker. Instead, use the file Ghostpe.exe to create
and restore image files.
• Norton Ghost 2003 does not include Ghost Console and Ghost Multicast, but does include
Ghost Walker. Note that the executable file for Norton Ghost 2003 is Ghost.exe, and not
Ghostpe.exe.
• The model computer, as it is referred to in the following instructions, is the source computer.
This is the computer that you want to create an image of.
• The client computer, as it is referred to in the following instructions, is the destination computer.
This is the computer that you want to overwrite with the image.
• The Ghost client is a feature that is available only in the enterprise Ghost versions. It is used
only with the Ghost Console. The consumer Ghost versions do not require a Ghost client.

To use Sysprep with Ghost to create an image of a Windows 2000 or Windows XP

installation and roll it out to many computers:
1. Prepare Sysprep. See the section "Creating Sysprep configurations."

o If you want to use the Ghost Multicast Server to pull the image from the model
computer before rolling that image out with the Ghost Console, continue with Step 2.
o If you want to use the Ghost Console to pull the image from the model computer before
rolling that image out with the Ghost Console, and you are using Symantec Ghost 7.5,
prepare the model computer as in Step 2, and then configure an Image Dump Task to
run Sysprep automatically. See the section "Configuring Ghost 7.5 to run Sysprep."

2. Prepare the model computer:

A. Log on to the model computer with a user account that is a member of the
local Administrator security group but is not the Administrator account. Do the
following:

 Install and configure applications on the model computer.

 If the client computers have devices that the model computer does not have,
add the driver files for those devices to the hard disk. When you add driver files
for devices that will be attached to the client computers, such as network
interface cards or hard drives that are not on the model computer, then the
operating system on the client computer will configure itself automatically to
the new hardware environment.
 Do not install the Ghost Client. Note that only the enterprise Ghost versions
use the Ghost Client. These include Symantec Ghost 7.5, Symantec Ghost
7.0, and Norton Ghost 6.5.

B. Log on to the model computer with the Administrator account. Do the

following:
a. Copy the contents of the user profile folder that is for the user account
you used in Step 1 to the Default Users folder.
b. Remove configuration information that is not applicable to the target
 computers, such as mapped drives, event logs, and so on.
c. Install the Ghost Client. Skip this step if you are using a consumer
version of Ghost. Only the enterprise Ghost versions use the Ghost
Client. These include Symantec Ghost 7.5, Symantec Ghost 7.0, and
Norton Ghost 6.5.
d. Remove the computer from the domain. Skip this step if the computer
is not a member of a Windows domain. Stand-alone computers (that is,
computers that are not connected to a network) are not members of a
Windows domain.
C. If using Symantec Ghost 7.0 or earlier, or Norton Ghost 2003 or earlier, log
on to the computer with the Administrator account and then run Sysprep. After
running Sysprep, do not restart the computer into Windows. Restarting the
computer into Windows at this time causes Windows to rebuild its Plug-and-
Play database on the model computer instead of on the client computer.
D. If using Symantec Ghost 7.5 and the Ghost Multicast Server to create the
image file before rolling it out, perform step 2.C and then continue with Step 3.
E. If using Symantec Ghost 7.5 and the Ghost Console to create the image file
before rolling it out, do not run Sysprep. Instead, continue with the instructions
in the section "Configuring Ghost 7.5 to run Sysprep."
3. Create an image of the model computer.

o If using Norton Ghost 2003 or earlier, start the computer from a Ghost bootable floppy
disk, and then create the image file. Note that you cannot run Norton Ghost 2003 from
the Ghost Basic and Backup options because the computer is shut down. Restarting
the computer into Windows at this time (to use the Ghost Basic and Backup options)
would cause Windows to rebuild its Plug-and-Play database on the model computer
instead of on the client computer. To use these options rather than starting the
computer from a bootable floppy disk, run Sysprep in step 2.D with the switch
-noreboot. This switch prevents Sysprep from shutting down the computer. For more
information on this switch, consult your Sysprep documentation.
o If using Symantec Ghost 7.5 or earlier:

a. Restart the model computer from a Ghost Network Boot Disk (also known as
a Ghost Multicast Boot Disk).
b. Use Ghost Multicast Server to create an image file of the model computer.

4. Roll out the image to the client computers.

o If you use Ghost Console to roll out the image, create a new Task. Do not check the
SID Change option in the Task.
o If you use Ghost Multicast Server to roll out the image, do not use Ghost Walker after
rolling out the image.
o If you use Norton Ghost 2003, use Ghost.exe to write the image to the destination
computer.
o If you use Norton Ghost 2002 or earlier, use Ghostpe.exe to write the image to the
destination computer.

5. Restart the computers. Windows 2000 Professional and Windows XP will detect the
hardware, install the new drivers as appropriate, and assign new SIDs.

Creating Sysprep configurations

Running Sysprep correctly prevents problems restoring the image file.

Sysprep has several options for configuring the computer, such as whether to have Sysprep
automatically change the name of the computer or to have Sysprep change the Security
Identification number (SID) of the computer. Each set of options is a separate Sysprep
configuration.

NOTE: Symantec provides the following information as an aid to using Sysprep. This
information is a suggestion only and is not intended to replace information from Microsoft.

To create a new Sysprep configuration:

1. Create a new folder. This folder will contain the Sysprep files. Ghost 7.5 does not
require this folder to be on the root of the C drive. If you run Sysprep manually,
Windows might require this folder to be on the root of the C drive.
2. Follow the Microsoft instructions for creating a Sysprep.inf file and copy that file
into the new folder. The options available for configuring Sysprep.inf depend on the
version of Windows with which you will use Sysprep.inf file.
3. Copy the Sysprep files into the new folder. For an image of a Windows 2000
installation, use Sysprep version 1.1 or later for Windows 2000. For an image of a
Windows XP installation, use a version of Sysprep that is for Windows XP (found on
the Windows XP CD).

NOTE: To configure Sysprep to assign a computer name that you specify or to randomly
assign a computer name, edit the ComputerName entry in the file Sysprep.inf. For details,
see the document Microsoft Windows 2000 Unattended Setup Parameters Guide, which is
available from Microsoft as part of Technet. Information on Technet is available at:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet

For information on configuring a Sysprep.inf file, consult your Microsoft documentation,

search for information on the Microsoft Web site, or see the following documents:

• "Microsoft Windows 2000 Unattended Setup Parameters Guide," which is available from
Microsoft as part of Technet. Information on Technet is available at:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet
• The Microsoft article "Automating Windows 2000 Deployments with Sysprep" at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/planning/incremental/sysprep11.asp

Configuring Ghost 7.5 to run Sysprep

Symantec Ghost 7.5 can run Sysprep for you. If you created more than one Sysprep
configuration, you can specify which configuration to use in the Ghost Image Dump Task.

To configure Ghost to run Sysprep:

1. Create a Sysprep configuration to be used with Ghost:
a. Obtain the Sysprep files and save them to a folder on the hard disk.

 The Sysprep files must include Sysprep.exe and Setupcl.exe.

 Ghost does not require that this folder be on the root of the C drive.

b. Create a custom Sysprep configuration. This step is optional. See the section
"Creating Sysprep configurations."
2. Assign a Ghost name to each Sysprep configuration:
a. Open Ghost Console.
b. Click Tools, and then "Sysprep Configurations..." This step opens the Browse
window.
 c. Type a name in the Sysprep Configuration Name box. This is the name that
you want to give to the particular Sysprep configuration that you will choose in
the next step. For instance, the name might be "Windows XP with SID" or
"Windows 2000 with automatic computer names"
d. Click Create. This step opens the "Browse for Folder" window.
e. Click the folder that contains the Sysprep files. If you created a Sysprep
configuration, use a folder that includes the file Sysprep.inf that is for this
particular Sysprep configuration.
f. Click OK, and then OK again.
g. Repeat Steps 2.a through 2.f for each Sysprep configuration that you want to
use with Ghost.
3. Configure the Sysprep tab for the Task:
a. Click File, New, and then Image Dump. This opens the "Properties for a New
Task" window. Do not choose Task rather than Image Dump. Choosing Task
opens a different "Properties for a New Task" window. Only the window for
Image Dump includes the Sysprep tab.
b. Click the Sysprep tab.
c. Check "Run Microsoft Sysprep on this computer before dumping the image."
d. Choose the name of a Sysprep configuration in the Sysprep Configurations
box.
e. Check the other options as needed:

 If you want Sysprep to assign a SID to each client computer, check "Tell
Sysprep to perform a SID change when loading this image to a destination
machine."
 If you created a Sysprep.inf file for this Sysprep Configuration, check "Run the
MiniSetup Wizard which processes the Sysprep.inf file (required for Windows
XP Professional)."
 If you want to add additional options to the Sysprep.exe command line, type
the options in the box "Extra Sysprep Command Line Arguments."

4. Configure the Network tab. This step is optional.

5. Configure the General tab.

o To save this Task to be run later, select "Create task definition."

o To run this Task now without saving the Task, select "Execute immediately."
o Click other options as desired.

6. Click OK. If you checked "Execute immediately," the Image Dump Task restarts the
model computer into a virtual boot partition and runs the Image Dump Task.

Ghost creates the image file and copies any necessary Sysprep files to image file. When the
process is complete, the computer is at a DOS prompt.

• To restart the model computer, type ctrl+c to exit Ghost and then type ngctdos -hide at the
DOS command prompt. This command hides the Ghost Virtual partition so that the next restart
will start from the Windows partition. When you restart the model computer, Sysprep runs
automatically.
• To push this image file to the client computers, create an Image Load Task in Ghost. Ghost
copies any necessary Sysprep files to the client computer and saves the files in a folder that is
in an appropriate location on the hard disk. When the Task restarts the client computer after
pushing the image to the client computer, Sysprep runs automatically.
Related documents
How to automatically provide setup information for SysPrep at the destination computers
Article Q302577, HOW TO: Use Syspre.exe Tool to Automate Successful Deployment of
Windows XP
Error: "ABORT 33050: Bad index collation sequence error" when using Ghost Walker
Ghost compatibility with Windows 2000
Article Q288977, The Computer May Stop Responding During the Shutdown Process When
You Use the Sysprep Tool
Article Q257813, Using Sysprep May Result in "Stop 0x7b (Inaccessible Boot Device)" on
Some Computers
Article Q259144, Computer May Hang After Using Sysprep on ACPI-Enabled Computer
Computer stops responding after restoring a Windows XP image to it

Translations of this document

Given the time needed to translate documents into other languages, the translated versions of
this document may vary in content if the English document was updated with new information
during the translation process. The English document always contains the most up-to-date
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Product(s): Norton Ghost 2001, Norton Ghost 2002, Norton Ghost 6.0 Enterprise, Symantec Ghost 6.5, Symantec Ghost 7.0, Symantec Ghost 7.5,
Norton Ghost 2003
Operating System(s): Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP
Date Created: 08/16/2000