booting from a floppy loading a tcp/ip stack and connecting to a samba server share?
Yep. I image my stations using this method. Creating the boot disks is a bit of a fiddle, but it does work. You'll need the MS Client for DOS which is included on the NT Server 3.51 CD, although it may be available elsewhere. The procedure is as follows: 1) Install DOS on a machine (or VMWare) and then install MS Client, adding a driver for the card you want to boot. Add the TCP/IP protocol and remove all others. 2) Copy required files to a DOS bootable floppy - this will include Autoexec.bat, Config.sys and some files from the Net folder. Lack of space is the main problem you will hit, but here is a directory listing of one of my disks (the ne2000.dos file is the driver and so will depend on which card you are using). /: autoexec.bat config.sys net/ /net: connect.dat dhcp.prm emm386.exe emsbfr.exe himem.sys ifshlp.sys lmhosts ndishlp.sys ne2000.dos nemm.dos net.exe net.msg netbind.com neth.msg networks nmtsr.exe protman.dos protman.exe protocol protocol.ini setup.inf shares.pwl system.ini tcpdrv.dos tcptsr.exe tcputils.ini tinyrfc.exe umb.com wcsetup.inf wfwsys.cfg 3) Modify the SYSTEM.INI file on the floppy to reflect the new locations of the files (i.e. c:\net to a:\net). 4) Once you are at this stage, creating a new boot disk (i.e. for a different network card) is easy. Just install the card under MS Client by running setup again. Now copy PROTOCOL.INI, SYSTEM.INI and the driver into the Net folder on your floppy. Change the relevant paths in SYSTEM.INI (i.e. c:\net to a:\net) and you're done. You can now include NET LOGON and NET USE commands in your AUTOEXEC.BAT to launch your imaging software from the server, All the best, Nial.