A question for people who build or sell computers

[davidmmac]

Just a quickie:

When you get an order for a new pc from a customer, do you install windows ect manually, or do you just get a pre prepared image?

[Blam]

I don't sell/build computers to earn money, but if I did I would probably create an automated Nlite install and stick it on a fast memory stick.

I've done it with Windows 7 and it takes only around 20mins to install!
Might be around 25mins for XP

Blam

[Rob99]

I install windows automaticly. I try to include all the drivers and updates at the same time. Thanks vLite/nLite.

[pcuser42]

Generally for XP I use a slipstreamed disc with SP3, Firefox etc., but no drivers as I use it on multiple PCs (volume licensing). With Vista, I don't bother making an image as all three of our Vista machines have different software etc.

[CYaBro]

I like to install Windows from scratch as it is a pretty good hardware stresser and you find out pretty quickly if any of the parts used may be faulty.
This doesn't happen very often when using good parts like Asus, Kingston etc.
It doesn' take that long and most of the time I can be doing other things while it is installing.
If we have rush on and need to build a few in a day, like more than one or two, then I do have an automated install to use.

[Sweep]

Just a quickie:

When you get an order for a new pc from a customer, do you install windows ect manually, or do you just get a pre prepared image?

It depends. I install the O/s they ask for. If they ask for Windows any version I will install what they ask for. I can install a version of Linux or whatever. Windows etc?

If windows they have to pay for and get the original version I installed.
The person will have the option as to how many hard drives go into the box and how partitions are set up.

The question you ask has multiple answers.

[Chilling_Silence]

I used to just do a build from scratch, as CYaBro said it was a nice way of finding faulty RAM etc

I'd alway slipstream the latest updates though. We never got any funky requests like multiple partitions or whatever.

Could have done an unattended install, but for the amount of time it takes to do a regular install, I just never bothered

[Bantu]

I like to install Windows from scratch as it is a pretty good hardware stresser

It can also be a User Stresser at times too:-)
"Windows needs to reboot" over and over again as it gets drivers and updates.

But for a first time on a new non OEM PC then the only way to go.

[pctek]

I install it from scratch with their disk. Doesn't take long, O/S, drivers, additional s/w, tweaking etc..........

[wratterus]

I like doing a clean install off a normal XP Disc. It normally takes me about an hour to get XP up and running, drivers installed and most of the windows updates on.

Its a good way of making sure the PC is running well, and the actual working time it takes to sort out is not much more than using n-lite, just it sits on the bench for longer as it installs updates etc.