This was originally posted on Windows Server forum, not knowing there was a forum more specific to my need.
Hi all. This is a rather broad question. On the Windows 7/Server 2008 R2 platforms, what is the simplest but most effective set of technologies from Microsoft to enable me to simply re-image a Win7 client machine in situations where it needs to be refreshed?
A common scenario is that a person's computer contracts a virus or they otherwise screw it up so badly it needs a clean start, and rather than spend 3-4 hours rebuilding the system manually, I'd like to be able to simply re-image the machine - most ideally from the Win 2008 R2 server.
However the environments I work in typically have a variety of hardware mixes - various Dell, HP, Lenovo laptops and desktops. I don't know if one single image per organization would do, or if I have to create an image for every type of computer.
Also how are these images deployed, is it done over the network, or am I to create a bootable disc, or do I attach a USB external hard drive since I imagine the image is bigger than a 4.7GB DVD? Given that I don't have a background in doing this, I am hoping to find all-inclusive prescriptive guidance on how to go about this system imaging process. I work in IT, but am new to this particular aspect of things. Thank you
