Playing Computer 3
The lease is up on the computers I use in my training classes and that my employer uses in trade shows. Eight new laptops arrived, so one of my colleagues and I had fun today getting them ready.
They did not come with Windows software installation CDs. Dell may be the last company that actually provides installation, as opposed to “recovery” CDs.
These did not even come with “recovery” CDs. They came with the capability of burning “recovery” CDs. We did that once. Six CDs..
But we don’t need recovery. We need disk images. One each for the different training classes we conduct. So this is how we prepared them:
Create a new D:\ partition with Partition Magic.
Configure the C:\ drive as desired:
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Set the Windows Explorer options to show hidden files, not hide file extensions, show the full path in the address bar.
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Remove a bunch of stupid stuff from the menu (such as MSN Messenger).
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Install Adobe Acrobat Reader.
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Install two printer drivers.
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Mute the speakers.
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Set up logon passwords.
Create an image of that configurati:on, saving it to the D:\ drive.
So, now, whenever we need to start the computers from scratch for a new class or a new sho, we simply restore the image from D:\, overwriting C:\, and we are ready to start again.
Boy, I love messing with computers.
March 14, 2006 at 9:33 pm
I was just sitting with someone yesterday with a ThinkPad and you know what I like about them? The pointer ‘button.’ I don’t like the touchpad pointers as I find they take a trick to get used to whereas the little red button is so much easier and nicer to use.
Imaging. That’s something I need some practice on. Not that I don’t understand how it works, but I’ve only done it a few times. What I really want to learn is how to migrate OS or other s/w license keys between images.
March 14, 2006 at 11:44 pm
What did you use to create the images? Norton Ghost?
March 16, 2006 at 6:30 pm
To Opie: Power Quest ImageCenter, which I think by now has been absorbed by Norton.
To Phillybits: I loathe touch pads. I’ve only met one I liked, and it was attached to a junk computer. I find the trackpoints much easier to use, and I have to say that the trackpoints on new computers are better than those on the computers they are replacing.