VMWare Images and Acronis Universal Restore

[CTech]

Has anyone had success is creating up-to-date virtual machines in VMWare workstation with pre-installed apps and then using Acronis Universal Restore (AUR) to image them to Nuke & Pave jobs?

We don't fancy building a PXE server and I'm trying to work out if having AUR on disc and ALL images stored on a large SSD via USB or even one of those SanDisk Extreme 128GB sticks would be quick enough?

We don't do N&P often (it's a last restort) so wouldn't need to use it on more than one machine at a time...

Any experience doing this?

Thanks!

[EDIT]
Could we even scrap the disc and have something like Easy2Boot or YUMI boot True Image and have the .tib/.vhd files stored ina folder on the E2B drive?

 

[mikeroq]

I'm currently doing that with Windows 7 and imagex. No apps installed though, sometimes I need to do clean installs, and it's not much hassle to run ninite.

Make sure you use sysprep and generalize the installation. Also make sure no AV is installed. I found out the hard way when I sysprepped with an AV installed, it all went fine until I tried to use the image. Would never boot fully.

 

[jft135]

Just out of curiosity, does this still violate the EULA since you're not using the original disks/restore partition? I'd love to do restores this way, but I'm trying to follow the rules.

 

[CTech]

Just out of curiosity, does this still violate the EULA since you're not using the original disks/restore partition? I'd love to do restores this way, but I'm trying to follow the rules.

I have absolutely no idea...

I've got Vista HP and Windows HP (32 and 64) virtual machines with NO keys entered.

So it'd be restore the .tib to the drive and then enter the serial ON the machine?

That should be okay.... right?

 

[Markverhyden]

Just out of curiosity, does this still violate the EULA since you're not using the original disks/restore partition? I'd love to do restores this way, but I'm trying to follow the rules.

The EULA's are very vague about this. But a few things stand out. There is no specific reference to disks - just software. Second, the license is actually between the EU and the OEM with some carry over to M$. So my interpretation is that as long as you have the version of OS, Home, Pro, etc, that the machine COA covers and you have the "software" from the OEM you are good to go for running a restore of the type mentioned.

I can tell you that rolling up a P2V using an OEM load is probably a EULA violation. The EULA's specifcially state that the OEM software must be run on a OEM machine of the same make (and maybe model).

 

[trevm999]

Microsoft males it clear that if you selling a refurbished computer, the original recovery media has to be used, or else you need to get a new license for it ( in which case, you are encouraged to make your own image).

It is also expected that large companies use their own custom images on computers.

If you are reloading as a service and not selling the computer itself, then the refurbishing requirements do not directly apply. I can't imagine it being against the EULA since Microsoft doesn't have a problem with it being the norm for large companies, it is even a part of various Windows certification training.

 

[jft135]

Microsoft males it clear that if you selling a refurbished computer, the original recovery media has to be used, or else you need to get a new license for it ( in which case, you are encouraged to make your own image).

It is also expected that large companies use their own custom images on computers.

If you are reloading as a service and not selling the computer itself, then the refurbishing requirements do not directly apply. I can't imagine it being against the EULA since Microsoft doesn't have a problem with it being the norm for large companies, it is even a part of various Windows certification training.

A company up the road from us that we are on friendly terms with got smacked for this about a year ago. They were told that even on repairs, they were required to use original media, or buy a refurb license for the computer.

 

[CTech]

Microsoft males it clear that if you selling a refurbished computer, the original recovery media has to be used, or else you need to get a new license for it ( in which case, you are encouraged to make your own image).

It is also expected that large companies use their own custom images on computers.

If you are reloading as a service and not selling the computer itself, then the refurbishing requirements do not directly apply. I can't imagine it being against the EULA since Microsoft doesn't have a problem with it being the norm for large companies, it is even a part of various Windows certification training.

A company up the road from us that we are on friendly terms with got smacked for this about a year ago. They were told that even on repairs, they were required to use original media, or buy a refurb license for the computer.

Yeah the re installs would be service only - we don't do refurbs at the moment.

I used to work for National Grid and when we had staff laptops or desktops in for a "wipe" after employees left, returned them after changing roles etc, we would use a universal, totally unattended disk. Installed citrix stuff and branded the whole thing, was pretty useful!

I'm assuming this may have been a VLK being used but surely the same principal applies, using a retail copy with NO key prior to installation and then just using the one from their machine (assuming it's readable/recoverable, if not then you'd need a new licence anyhow)

May just have to actually contact them and ask the question.

 

[jft135]

Yeah the re installs would be service only - we don't do refurbs at the moment.

I used to work for National Grid and when we had staff laptops or desktops in for a "wipe" after employees left, returned them after changing roles etc, we would use a universal, totally unattended disk. Installed citrix stuff and branded the whole thing, was pretty useful!

I'm assuming this may have been a VLK being used but surely the same principal applies, using a retail copy with NO key prior to installation and then just using the one from their machine (assuming it's readable/recoverable, if not then you'd need a new licence anyhow)

May just have to actually contact them and ask the question.

The hard part is a) Getting a real person on the phone, and b) their answers are rarely consistent from call to call. I'd hate to have to start using crapware-infested manufacturer recovery media if I don't have to, but this other company up the road was told that they had to stop using non-original media. They mostly do refurbishing, but they used to have a service depot as well. I think that may have something to do with it. I don't see how it is enforceable for the average tech though. These guys didn't get caught until they submitted an application to become a MAR and got audited shortly thereafter.

 

[trevm999]

Yes, I bet the guy who deals with the refurbishers will tell you something different than the guy who deals with enterprise stuff.