Seeking Advice on Taking and Deploying Win 10 Image to 2 Devices


  1. Posts : 4
    Windows 10
       #1

    Seeking Advice on Taking and Deploying Win 10 Image to 2 Devices


    I'm tasked with configuring three total Windows 10 workstations for work next week. This is a pretty time-sensitive manner, so I'm planning on doing a full configuration, including applications, configuration of applications, and OS configurations on one device that I'd like to deploy onto two other devices. We do not operate in a Windows environment, so I won't have access to any Windows servers/AD, and I'm likely limited to free tools.

    To my knowledge, Windows 10 registrations are no longer bound to a CD key, but are instead tied to a hardware unique identifier. What considerations do I need to account for when attempting this process? I have previous experience and success using Macrium Reflect, but I'm unsure if going using an image is going to cause any activation issues. I believe these PCs are being acquired from a Dell vendor, but I'm not sure if the CD keys are OEM or general Windows 10 keys.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 18,432
    Windows 11 Pro
       #2

    As long as you have unique product keys to activate the systems with, you shouldn't have any problems getting one system set up, then copying the image to the other systems. You will just have to change the computer names and change the product key to the unique product key on the new computer. Before you make the image to transfer, I would run the command:
    slmgr /upk

    in a command prompt (admin) or Powershell (admin). That will remove the product key so it doesn't get transferred with the image. Maybe even change the computer name to a temporary name too before imaging.

    So, my suggested steps would be:
    1. Set up first computer with everything.
    2. Change the computer name to something temporary.
    3. Run slmgr /upk
    4. Make the backup image with Macrium Reflect.
    5. Restore the original computer name and product key on the first computer.
    6. Load image to next computer.
    7. On the activation screen, enter the unique product key for that computer
    8. Change the computer name to it's permanent name.

    Macrium Reflect does have a function to deploy to new hardware, but I've never used it, and it might be available only in the paid version.
      My Computer


 

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