To use Sysprep to image multiple machine hardware types
Sysprep is a program that prepares Windows 2000 and Windows XP machines to be imaged by partimage or ghost. It strips the individual identification out of the workstation including Computer Name and GUID. It then gives you an option of running a "mini-setup" after reboot in order to put this information back in again. You can choose to completely automate the process or you can set it up to ask you what to enter.
Personally I have everything automated except the computer name. I prefer to enter that myself rather than having to rename the computer afterwards.
You can modify sysprep.inf manually or using setupmgr.exe. Setup Manager is available on the Windows XP CD Rom. Personally I prefer to use the setupmgr.exe to open my existing sysprep.inf instead of editing manually.
There is a section of the sysprep.inf that setupmgr.exe does not add though. This section is a section which loads ALL of the Harddrive drivers for all different hardware configurations. It allows you to put your image on computers with different hardware configurations. It is the SysprepMassStorage section and can be copied from below or by downloading the sysprep.inf file above.
Once you run setupmgr.exe it creates a C:\Sysprep folder on the Harddrive of the machine to be imaged and puts in there the new sysprep.inf. You NEED to also copy the sysprep.exe and the setupcl.exe files to the C:\sysprep folder. This folder is deleted after the mini-setup runs.
Run sysprep.exe from C:\sysprep and choose to tick "Mini-Setup" and "Pre-Activated". I prefer not to use the PnP (Plug-n-play). What I found is that if you are using a USB keyboard and you tick the PnP then most of the time the keyboard won't load and you cannot progress. Windows XP installs drivers automatically anyway.