Ghost stuck Configuring Computer after distribute disk image

Products

• Ghost Solution Suite

Issue/Introduction

You have distributed a disk image to a PC. The image has deployed and the PC has rebooted, now the Status for that PC in the Ghost console says "Configuring Computer" and does not change. 

Cause

If the agent is not installed in the image the task will never proceed past the "Configuring Computer" stage.

Resolution

In a Distribute Disk Image task there is a checkbox near the bottom that says "Automatically perform configuration task after completing this imaging task". 

If this checkbox is checked, after the image is deployed, it will reboot to Production Windows, then attempt to perform the following configuration tasks:

1. Rejoin the computer to the domain that it was joined to prior to the distribute disk image task
   and
2. Rename the computer back to the name it had prior to the distribute disk image task

This functionality is dependent on the following:

1. The user name and password that is configured in Ghost options is correct. 
   1. In the Ghost console click Tools - Options - Domain Accounts
   2. Verify that the domain account is correct. 
2. The machine must be on the domain prior to the deployment to be automatically rejoined to a domain
   (To join a "new" computer to a domain use a Modify Configuration task after Distribute Disk Image.)
3. The machine must exist in inventory (appear in the Ghost console) prior to the deployment
4. The Altiris Deployment Agent must be installed in the image - so when the client boots up after deployment there is an agent to respond to commands. There must also be an agent in the image that was deployed if you intend to use a Modify Configuration task after the deployment.

If you are distributing a disk image to a NEW PC, or if you are distributing a disk image that does not contain the agent, it would be advisable to uncheck the  "Automatically perform configuration task after completing this imaging task" checkbox.