I need to setup around 30 PCs with xp installed to join windows server 2003 domain and adding 4 networked printers (print servers) to the PCs. Is there anyway i can do a more automated task in joining the domain, as well as setting up printers for the PCs? thanks in advance for advice. Jemy

i'm a newb. but i think if you create an unattended XP cd with the domain inserted in the WINNT.SIF file this will work. then all you will have to do is change the key on each machine to the correct keys. i hope that helps im not dumb im just to lazy to google it!

This can all be done through RIS. Too big of a subject to discuss here but here is a link to get you started. http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/library/DepKit/7fab054b-e1f7-41a1-86f7-1fc3be99de1f.mspx Stick with it because once it's working it will save you loads of time.

If that doesn't work, there is a fairly quick way of doing it. 1.) Install XP on machines. 2.) Install printers to the Server. 3.) Join client machines to domain. 4.) If your server name is DUCK then type in "\\DUCK" (without the quotes) into a browser and you should see all shared folders and all shared printers (the printers need to be shared on the server). 5.) Drag & drop the printers from the server window to the "Printers & Faxes" window on your client machine. It should only take a second or two and the printers will set themselves up! "i woke up this morning and all of my stuff was stolen and replaced with exact duplicates."

If all of the hardware is the same, you could use images and deploy them that way if for some reason RIS is not an option.