Imaging Scripts

Do I have to edit the initrd file to have a script auto-run once at the
bash prompt? I am playing with scripts to allow me to automate the process
of imaging 500 new laptops that are comming into the school district. I
have had problems getting the initrd uncompressed using SLED10 and would
like to know if there is any other way of getting this accomplished.

Thanks for the help.

Rich