How to create an image of Windows XP?

Question

Windows

You need to create an image with integrated updates, drivers for different machines and two pre-installed programs, as well as system settings (change the theme, edit startup), then this thing needs to be installed on 10 machines. What is the easiest way to do this? distributions are licensed, but you don’t want to enter the code every time. You also need to install all updates for XP sp3, but from the official site (I don’t know how to do it easily).
Conditions:
1. computers can be of different configurations
2. they will not be in the same local network
3. the Internet on these PCs will either not be available or will be slow, so installation is mandatory from the image.
I think the simplest and most logical algorithm for this task is the following:
1. Inject the necessary drivers into the original image using nLite.
2. Install this image on the virtual machine without installing additional software required for the virtual machine (for example, vmware tools).
3. Install all the updates, the necessary software, make the necessary settings
4. Make a disk image with some software and then download this image from an autoloading flash drive.
If I think correctly, then 2 questions:
1. What program can make a disk image and then restore it by booting from a USB flash drive? Acronis true image can do this? the documentation shows how to restore from a booted OS.
2. Do I need to remove installed drivers before creating an image or something else?

Answer 1

I am facing the same problem.
I plan to install a server that will distribute installations over the network (something like PXE).
While I was looking, I found OPSI (Open PC Server Integration) - a program that allows you to control Windows machines on a Linux server, including installing an OS and other software.
More details - www.opsi.org/en/features/features (in Russian - www.amatiks.ru/solutions/open-pc-server-integratio... )
Available as a ready-made virtual machine opsi4.0-servervm.ova).
If your business goes uphill, please write here or me at [email protected]