Configure Dual Boot Lab Question

[teren]

We have moved to primarily dual boot iMacs in our campus computer labs, but are looking for an automated way to recreate the "student" use side from a protected "master" side.

What I mean is that they currently re-image the machines on a regular basis to remove any junk etc. that may have been left by student use on the machines.

So what I would ideally like to do is to have a cloned master PC (Windows 7) and cloned master Mac (OSX 10.6) at 2 separate partitions on the hard drive and also a student use PC and student use Mac partition that the clones would install the OS, apps, etc. from on an automated basis.

What I am envisioning then is a 4 partition on the iMac hard drive.
Partition 1 - Mac OSX 10.6 plus Office, etc. master
Partition 2 - the one that would be re-imaged on, e.g., a monthly cycle, preferably automatically on a set schedule, using Partition 1 Mac master
Partition 3 - Windows 7 plus Office, etc. master
Partition 4 - the one that would be re-imaged on, e.g., a monthly cycle, preferably automatically on a set schedule, using Partition 3 Win master

Is this doable, and if so, what would I need to do it? Any cautions, alternative advice, etc.?

 

[Quad5Ny]

I'm not going to comment on the best way to backup and restore everything up (If you were only running Windows, I would have suggested VHD containers seeing as Win7 can actually boot from them now).

Anyway, Windows might have trouble with >4 Primary Partitions because of the emulated MBR type setup. Just installing OS X and Windows 7 creates 4 partitions right off the bat (EFI, OS X, System Reserved and Windows Partition).


See This: http://replay.web.archive.org/20090...he-intel-mac-partitioning-system-efi-and-gpt/