loading a disk image at every boot?

supasoaker

supasoaker

supasoaker

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14 Oct 2008
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107
is it at all possible to capture a windows installation in a disk image for example and have that image loaded at every boot?

system restore isn't an option, is there anything that provides this kind of service?

Much obliged for any help.
 
What's the reasoning behind it? Why would you want the image loaded at every boot?
Is this for use in a personal or business environment?
 
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It can be done from PXE but it would be a pain in the backside to setup and do - I know Citrix Xen Desktop does it this way.



M.
 
I had a feeling it would be a pain in the backside and its for my personal environment.

my computers always run best after a fresh install, so since i will never install any programs and have a setup i want this to load everytime..........

originally I had thought of simply saving a copy of the registry and copying this before windows loads - is this an easier option?
 
supasoaker said:
I had a feeling it would be a pain in the backside and its for my personal environment.

my computers always run best after a fresh install, so since i will never install any programs and have a setup i want this to load everytime..........

originally I had thought of simply saving a copy of the registry and copying this before windows loads - is this an easier option?
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Memphis said:
What on earth do you use your computer for if you 'never install any programs'? :confused:
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+1
 
If you are actually not installing anything, then nothing will change, so your computer environment will remain the same.

You won't need to refresh it at each boot.
 
supasoaker said:
my computers always run best after a fresh install, so since i will never install any programs and have a setup i want this to load everytime..........
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So do everyone's I imagine. You will never install programs?? is there any reason for you to have a pc? :confused:
 
well i am thinking of a number of things...........primarily my personal work environment. I need it to be clean, quick and reliable. Once i get all the software installed i need it is ready, if i need to install anything at a later date I can add it in a secure environment but i will always have the initial backup to load if need be......

it shouldn't degrade in performance over time either.............I suppose I can do the same with basic disk images, but was wondering about adding this dynamic to it all.........
 
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http://www.faronics.com/en/Products/DeepFreeze/DeepFreezeCorporate.aspx

Deepfreeze, you can do what you like to the PC when it's turned off and back on again it's back the way it was, any changes have been lost. You can enable changes obviously but you need the password. I used it in libraries where the public would be using the PCs, had to enable changes now and then to get the AV up to date though.

It's a fantastic product, but remember you have to keep windows etc updated, so you will have to occasionally enable changes to be saved, also - remember to enable them before downloading games on steam.. :)
 
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Personally I'd use two drives and select which with bios hotkeys at startup.
One safe and robust, one for general/casual.

Indeed, I always run multiple hard drives all bootable and a bootable pendrive with Puppy Linux and Windows Portable Apps is always in my pocket too.
 
Halfmad said:
http://www.faronics.com/en/Products/DeepFreeze/DeepFreezeCorporate.aspx

Deepfreeze, you can do what you like to the PC when it's turned off and back on again it's back the way it was, any changes have been lost. You can enable changes obviously but you need the password. I used it in libraries where the public would be using the PCs, had to enable changes now and then to get the AV up to date though.

It's a fantastic product, but remember you have to keep windows etc updated, so you will have to occasionally enable changes to be saved, also - remember to enable them before downloading games on steam.. :)
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thanks for that! was exactly what I was looking for! shame you have to pay though :(

I am currently learning Linux and love puppy, only problem is learning the shell......don't know if I want to trust it but turbopuppy i would like to try, only 10Mb apparently!

2 drives is a very good idea though.........,

i currently have my internet temp files in a ram-disk - makes surfing quicker and safer as everything is forgotten on reboot, even then damage can be had to your system so is only a precaution and now way a cure.........Firefox plug in container is giving me a problem now though - 100% CPU sometimes, apparently I am not the only one..........but i digress.........
 
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supasoaker said:
well i am thinking of a number of things...........primarily my personal work environment. I need it to be clean, quick and reliable. Once i get all the software installed i need it is ready, if i need to install anything at a later date I can add it in a secure environment but i will always have the initial backup to load if need be......

it shouldn't degrade in performance over time either.............I suppose I can do the same with basic disk images, but was wondering about adding this dynamic to it all.........
Click to expand...

Can't possibly see the benefit. Be selective about what you install and there'll be no reason for performance degradation, under Windows 7 at least. All you're going to be doing is constantly reloading an image of an OS and software that aren't kept properly up-to-date, which is going to be potentially far more catastrophic than losing a little performance over the course of 12 months or more.
 
TheVoice said:
Can't possibly see the benefit. Be selective about what you install and there'll be no reason for performance degradation, under Windows 7 at least. All you're going to be doing is constantly reloading an image of an OS and software that aren't kept properly up-to-date, which is going to be potentially far more catastrophic than losing a little performance over the course of 12 months or more.
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this is true..........but one of the things you would obviously have to live with, many IT departments don't always keep up to date with all the updates because of the work involved........
 
hot on the trail - an accident at work did prompt my investigating this......not necessarily porn related unfortunately.........
 
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You're doing it wrong if you feel the need to constantly refresh Windows. Even XP and Vista were fine for years if you looked after it.

Sounds like you will be putting in as much work refreshing Windows as you would looking after it in the first place.
 
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