Another way to do this is to build one laptop, install all the software, configure the settings and then sysprep the image. Use this image on the remaining laptops. Input XP key and computer name when needed. Start Office, insert key and finish. Save sysprep image for later use.
1. Having the restore CD is nice but also adds all the other stuff to the laptop. May or may not be an issue. If they do have the restore CD then it's a matter of pressing a few keys and waiting for it to finish. Very little actual hands on time. 2. When building the first laptop, if all are the same, you can install all the updated drivers and then sysprep. Some devices had vulnerabilities that needed updated drivers. Think Intel wireless NICs. 3. If you install Office using the OEM switch to the image you can activate after starting Office. That's if you have the OEM version of Office. Which I'm guessing you have since these are Dell laptops. I have a few images created this way and it makes redoing a machine pretty easy. Add your favorite tools and common software, Flash, Java, whatever, to the initial build and you can update as needed. Art From: John Aldrich [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:11 AM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: RE: OT: Time estimate needed Ok, I might have overestimated, but I figure the following: 1) Probably does NOT have a restore disk 2) Probably does NOT have the driver disk from Dell (says they're all Dell P4 machines) 3) I'm going to have to manually install Office on each one, and may have to call Microsoft twice for each machine to validate the reg code. I estimated $450 for all. Should be a nice check if we can come to terms. J John-AldrichTile-Tools From: James Kerr [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 11:04 AM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: Re: OT: Time estimate needed If all the machines are the same I would do that job for like 350-400 bucks. Its really a no brainer and doesn't have a lot of hands on work involved. ----- Original Message ----- From: John Aldrich <mailto:[email protected]> To: NT System Admin Issues <mailto:[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 10:55 AM Subject: RE: OT: Time estimate needed P4 machines is what he said. John-AldrichTile-Tools From: Richard Stovall [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 10:50 AM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: Re: OT: Time estimate needed Or SP3 :-) On Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 10:49 AM, James Kerr <[email protected]> wrote: A time saver also is to make an XP SP2 slip streamed CD so you don't have to install SP2, its installed when you install the OS. Two hours for each PC seems reasonable as long as they are not ancient. James ----- Original Message ----- From: Sean Houston <mailto:[email protected]> To: NT System Admin Issues <mailto:[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 10:42 AM Subject: Re: OT: Time estimate needed I think that's a fair estimate and probably a good basis to charge for a flat fixed cost. If it takes a little over you eat the time, if it takes less you still get the full pay. I would tell them 2 hours if all of the machines are identical and probably 4 hours if they are all different. I think it would depend a lot on the specs of the PC, but it could take anywhere from an hour to several hours to complete that. However, if you are able to clone them additional ones will only take 10 - 20 minutes to copy and change SIDs. Then however long to clean them & run diagnostics. If they are all different machines it will be significantly more time consuming. If they are all good machines it shouldn't take too long, but if some of them are very slow it could take a while. Either way you have to do everything 7 times, preferably all setup at the same time. Other things to consider... * do they want just SP2 or do they need SP3? Will you need to do all the windows updates after installing SP2? * If they do have licensing keys for Windows and Office how many times have they been activated? You may need to call microsoft to activate every copy of windows and office on every laptop. * Is the AVG the full or free version? If it is the free version it's a violation of licensing. If it's the full you need the licensing info. Just my thoughts on it, hope it helps! Thanks, Sean Houston On Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 10:28 AM, Jeff Brown <[email protected]> wrote: engineers formula: Best educated guess; double that; take to next time increment = actual time to complete. On Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 9:26 AM, John Aldrich <[email protected]> wrote: Hey, guys. I have a potential customer with 7 laptops he wants rebuilt. Here's what he wants: 1 Format Hard Drive [can be done at the same time as #2] 2 Install Win Xp with Service Pack 2 3 Microsoft Office Package [already advised he needs to provide install media and keys] 4 AVG Virus Software (Free Lifetime Updates) 5 Adobe Acrobat (Not sure if he wants Acrobat [non-free] or Adobe Reader [free]) 6 Laptop Cleaning of the keyboard, screen and other case. 7 Diagnostics of the entire system after to check hard, cdsrom, floppy, etc. I figure I can install Windows, Adobe Reader (unless he wants full acrobat, in which case for licensing purposes, I'll have to install it on each one separately) and such then create an image of the hard drive and install that image on the rest. I don't want to overcharge, but I don't want to short-change myself either. My thought was about 2 hours per laptop if I image it, maybe 3 hours if I have to install on each one individually. How long would you expect it would take (actual "hands on the keyboard" time) to do this? John-AldrichTile-Tools No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.425 / Virus Database: 270.14.61/2498 - Release Date: 11/12/09 07:38:00 No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.425 / Virus Database: 270.14.61/2498 - Release Date: 11/12/09 07:38:00 ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~
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