How to copy OS setup, configuration, data and applications

[bhuiyan]

Dear Experts

Recently I bought six ThinkPad T42 to be used by my students for a course that I shall teach. I already loaded all the IBM drivers, Windows XP updates, Office Pro 2003, and all the specific applications that my course students will need. I need to do the same set up into all the other five machines. Should I use IBM System Migration Assistant version 4.2, or Norton Ghost (I have Norton System Works 2003) or Acronis True image trial version for this purpose? Please remember that the other machines are still unopened. Any tips on what steps do I need to go through will really help.

I have not yet loaded the anti virus software even on the master machine. The machine came with 3 month license of NAV which makes it very slow. So I uninstalled it. We have license for Norton corporate edition. I have good experience with AVG antivirus too. Which one is preferable? And should I load the antivirus software before starting to Image the hard on the first machine?

Regards

Shoaib

[bhuiyan]

Dear Experts,

Well, to reply to my own query, I have applied true image to the C drive. I got a single file of around 10 GB, which I hope will help me restore the prorams and applications to the other five T42. However, I am still confused about the role of IBM's ThinkVantage Sytem Migration assistant. It's suppose to help in migrating to new machines. So what's the difference with Disk imaging/cloning programs like Acronis True image.
If anyone knows, please drop a hint.

Regards

Shoaib.

[PaulB]

As far as I understand the System Migration Assistant is only useful when you are upgrading from an old to a new machine. It allows you to easily move your Windows settings and your user data to the new machine. (You would not want to save an image of your old machine and install it on the new one).