BleepingComputer.com: Cloning Hard Drives Using A Usb Drive

Hello - I work in a small-medium business where one of our daily tasks is installing windows xp onto new laptops/desktops. We typically get about 3 computers of the same model at a time, then hand them out after they've been installed with our license of windows xp. We work on a small scale and we only order a few of each type of model. We'll order maybe 2-3 of model X laptop, then order another 2-3 of model Y desktop. I was thinking a convenient way to get them up and running quickly would be to:

1. install windows xp, with correct config onto 1st computer.
2. copy hard drive image to a usb external drive.
3. copy image to hard drives of computers of same model

Many of the hard drive cloning utilities I've used only support IDE/SATA hard drives. We do a lot of laptops, so USB would be ideal. Doing it via network would take more time to develop, so USB it is.

Any suggestions for good cloning programs that support USB?

My recommendation is True Image. I’ve been using it since version 8 release and it haven’t failed me yet. You will use the same laptops so the home version will do the job however Acronis True Image Workstation with Universal restore plugin can image on the machines with different hardware.

Is there anything you can recommend in the free and/or opensource aisles?

Frankly speaking I don't know any other options of clonning to different hardware.