Applies To
Express Software Manager version 6.0 and higher

Summary
This note describes the conflicts encountered when trying to inventory ghosted machines, and offers a solution for users who want to include the Express client on ghosted workstations.

Ghosting and Express
Many companies use a process called ghosting to install a standard operating system by copying a single hard disk image and set of programs on multiple computers. This process can save time but there are potential complications if the Express client is included on the disk image.

When Express is installed, a hidden file, Wrqexp.id, is created at the root of the computer’s first fixed drive. This file uniquely identifies the computer in the library that the client was installed from. The installation of Express also creates a file called Hdc.ini that contains the path from the computer to the application library. If these two files are present on a disk image and copied to multiple computers, Express will not work correctly and any data you collect from those computers will be suspect.

Ideally, the Express client should be installed on each individual computer after the image has been copied to the computer. This will guarantee that the Express client is able to access the correct application library, and that no computers will have identical Wrqexp.id files. If you installed the Express client before creating a disk image, you will need to take some additional steps:

• Delete the Wrqexp.id file

  If you include the Express client as part of a disk image, you need to delete the Wrqexp.id file. Delete this file before you copy the disk image to any computer. If you have created computers using a disk image that included that file you need to delete the file from each of those computers.

• Update the library path in the Hdc.ini file

  If you installed the Express client to your disk image from a library that will not be used by the new computers (for example, you installed Express from a library in your IT lab that is not accessible to any computers) you will need to update the Hdc.ini file on each computer. The easiest way to do this is to run the Express Client Install program and force a reinstall of the Express client.

  Force a reinstall of the Express client by running Exinst32.exe on each computer, either manually, or via a login script. Run the Client Install program with the -A switch to force a reinstall the Express client, even if the client is already installed and up-to-date.

  To reinstall the Express client, use the following syntax, either from the Run line of each computer, or in a login script:

\\<server>\<library folder>\Clients\Exinst32.exe -A

After reinstalling the client, each computer will have a correct path in the Hdc.ini file.
• Reboot the computer

  When the Express client starts up it checks for the presence of the Wrqexp.id file. If the file is not found the client checks the application library for a record that matches two of the three following criteria: Machine Name, NIC card address, and hard drive serial number. The client then either regenerates the Wrqexp.id file or creates a new file.

Related Technical Notes

1337	Ghosted Computers and Express Software Manager 4.x through 5.x
9989	Express Software Manager 6.x Technical Notes