If you want to REALLY automate the process, you should try looking at ALTIRIS.

Very powerful automation. Can even schedule periodic "sysdiff" type images of the user's computer so that even the user can repair, replace his/her image without your assistance. They also have PC Transplant Pro which is a very powerful utility that allows you to save almost every personal file and setting and apply it to a new computer. i.e. You could convert a user from Windows 95 to 2000 or XP and aside from the logon screen they would hardly even know their computer was switched out.

In my opinion there is no other company that has as complete a solution as they do. They have their bugs and issues I'm sure, just as every other product out there does, but I also feel it is the best one out there period.

If you can, have someone come out and to an in-house demo, I've been to their SMS/Altiris seminar in Las Vegas, and what this system can do is simply amazing. Supports the PXE boot and imaging as Lonkero is talking about, but so much more. We use Ghost 7.5, but that is only a small picture of what Altiris can do.

Heck, if I ever lost my current job, I wouldn't mind working for them, and working with that type of technology on a day-to-day basis.