Tripredacus

If you have automatic updates on, and have the PC on a network with internet access, I can see how it would go out and grab something from online. Try testing when not hooked up to the internet. Also make sure you aren't sysprepping a PC that is not in Audit Mode.

Bret Michaels - Raine

Today on Google it has the logo of some Peas for Gregor Mendel. As usual, if you click the logo it does a search so you can figure out what their logo is all about. And I know that Google modifies search results for you when logged in, so not everyone gets the same results. But this was pretty funny, what I saw as the #1 result:

Volume License can do this.

You should be contacting your TAM, they can get you the correct information. FYI MSE v1 OPK is not compatible with Office 2010 on Win7. I haven't tested the new version as my company doesn't seem to care about it.

I wanted to do an update, as I'm still testing this. I did another deployment test. Here is the general summary: @ 13:52: The first program begins an install ( .NET Framework v4.0 ) and takes less than 1 minute. @ 13:56: The last program begins an install ( Realtek CardReader ) and takes less than 1 minute. @ 14:06: Windows Installer service is stopped ( MSIEXEC exits ) So even in this case, there is a 10 minute window of seeming inactivity. So I looked everywhere for anything that occurs between 13:56:55 and 14:06. Here is that info. @ 13:56: The last program begins an install ( Realtek CardReader ) and takes less than 1 minute. @ 13:57:28: LoadPerf (1001): Performance counters for WmiApRpl service were removed successfully. The Record Data contains the new values of the system Last Counter and Last Help registry entries. @ 13:57:29: LoadPerf (1000): Performance counters for the WmiApRpl service were loaded successfully. The Record Data in the data sections contains the new index values assigned to this service. @ 13:58:52: SCM (7040): The start type of the Windows Modules Installer service was changed from demand start to auto start. @ 13:59:?? There are 29 edb.log (and edb00xxx.log) files that have this datestamp in C:\Windows\System32\catroot2. I do not have the program to read these files. @ 13:59:52 - 14:00:18: This in CBS log 2011-07-20 13:58:52, Info CBS Reboot mark refs incremented to: 1 2011-07-20 13:58:52, Info CBS Scavenge: Starts 2011-07-20 13:59:59, Info CSI 00000030@2011/7/20:20:59:59.638 CSI Transaction @0x50f530 initialized for deployment engine {d16d444c-56d8-11d5-882d-0080c847b195} with flags 00000002 and client id [10]"TI6.0_0:0/" 2011-07-20 13:59:59, Info CBS Scavenge: Begin CSI Store 2011-07-20 13:59:59, Info CSI 00000031 Performing 1 operations; 1 are not lock/unlock and follow: Scavenge (8): flags: 00000017 2011-07-20 14:00:00, Info CSI 00000032 Creating NT transaction (seq 6), objectname [6]"(null)" 2011-07-20 14:00:00, Info CSI 00000033 Created NT transaction (seq 6) result 0x00000000, handle @0x198 2011-07-20 14:00:05, Info CSI 00000034@2011/7/20:21:00:05.847 CSI perf trace: CSIPERF:TXCOMMIT;457462 2011-07-20 14:00:05, Info CSI 00000035 Creating NT transaction (seq 7), objectname [6]"(null)" 2011-07-20 14:00:05, Info CSI 00000036 Created NT transaction (seq 7) result 0x00000000, handle @0x198 2011-07-20 14:00:12, Info CSI 00000037@2011/7/20:21:00:12.196 CSI perf trace: CSIPERF:TXCOMMIT;637418 2011-07-20 14:00:12, Info CSI 00000038 Creating NT transaction (seq 8), objectname [6]"(null)" 2011-07-20 14:00:12, Info CSI 00000039 Created NT transaction (seq 8) result 0x00000000, handle @0x198 2011-07-20 14:00:17, Info CSI 0000003a@2011/7/20:21:00:17.219 CSI perf trace: CSIPERF:TXCOMMIT;613345 2011-07-20 14:00:18, Info CSI 0000003b ICSITransaction::Commit calling IStorePendingTransaction::Apply - coldpatching=FALSE applyflags=7 2011-07-20 14:00:18, Info CSI 0000003c Creating NT transaction (seq 9), objectname [6]"(null)" 2011-07-20 14:00:18, Info CSI 0000003d Created NT transaction (seq 9) result 0x00000000, handle @0x594 2011-07-20 14:00:18, Info CSI 0000003e@2011/7/20:21:00:18.701 CSI perf trace: CSIPERF:TXCOMMIT;383598 2011-07-20 14:00:18, Info CBS Scavenge: Completed, disposition: 0X1 2011-07-20 14:00:18, Info CSI 0000003f@2011/7/20:21:00:18.717 CSI Transaction @0x50f530 destroyed 2011-07-20 14:00:18, Info CBS Reboot mark refs: 0 2011-07-20 14:00:18, Info CBS Idle processing thread terminated normally 2011-07-20 14:00:18, Info CBS Ending the TrustedInstaller main loop. 2011-07-20 14:00:18, Info CBS Starting TrustedInstaller finalization. 2011-07-20 14:00:18, Info CBS Ending TrustedInstaller finalization. @ 14:00:18: SCM (7040): The start type of the Windows Modules Installer service was changed from auto start to demand start. @ 14:00:18: SCM (7036): The Windows Modules Installer service entered the stopped state. @ 14:05:02 Windows Defender tries to get updates, as noted in WindowsUpdate.log: 2011-07-20 14:05:02:762 3792 e08 Misc =========== Logging initialized (build: 7.5.7601.17514, tz: -0700) =========== 2011-07-20 14:05:02:762 3792 e08 Misc = Process: c:\program files\windows defender\MpCmdRun.exe 2011-07-20 14:05:02:762 3792 e08 Misc = Module: C:\Windows\system32\wuapi.dll 2011-07-20 14:05:02:762 3792 e08 COMAPI ------------- 2011-07-20 14:05:02:762 3792 e08 COMAPI -- START -- COMAPI: Search [ClientId = Windows Defender] 2011-07-20 14:05:02:762 3792 e08 COMAPI --------- 2011-07-20 14:05:02:762 924 af4 Agent ************* 2011-07-20 14:05:02:762 3792 e08 COMAPI <<-- SUBMITTED -- COMAPI: Search [ClientId = Windows Defender] 2011-07-20 14:05:02:762 924 af4 Agent ** START ** Agent: Finding updates [CallerId = Windows Defender] 2011-07-20 14:05:02:762 924 af4 Agent ********* 2011-07-20 14:05:02:762 924 af4 Agent * Online = Yes; Ignore download priority = No 2011-07-20 14:05:02:762 924 af4 Agent * Criteria = "(IsInstalled = 0 and IsHidden = 0 and CategoryIDs contains '8c3fcc84-7410-4a95-8b89-a166a0190486' and CategoryIDs contains 'e0789628-ce08-4437-be74-2495b842f43b')" 2011-07-20 14:05:02:762 924 af4 Agent * ServiceID = {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000} Third party service 2011-07-20 14:05:02:762 924 af4 Agent * Search Scope = {Machine} 2011-07-20 14:05:05:601 924 af4 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072ee7. 2011-07-20 14:05:05:601 924 af4 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr = 80072ee7. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes used : <> 2011-07-20 14:05:05:601 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestUsingProxy failed for <http://download.windowsupdate.com/v9/windowsupdate/redir/muv4wuredir.cab>. error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:05:601 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation MakeRequest failed. error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:05:601 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation failed with 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:05:601 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: ShouldFileBeDownloaded failed with 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:08:222 924 af4 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072ee7. 2011-07-20 14:05:08:222 924 af4 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr = 80072ee7. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes used : <> 2011-07-20 14:05:08:222 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestUsingProxy failed for <http://download.windowsupdate.com/v9/windowsupdate/redir/muv4wuredir.cab>. error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:08:222 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation MakeRequest failed. error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:08:222 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation failed with 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:08:222 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: ShouldFileBeDownloaded failed with 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:10:843 924 af4 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072ee7. 2011-07-20 14:05:10:843 924 af4 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr = 80072ee7. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes used : <> 2011-07-20 14:05:10:843 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestUsingProxy failed for <http://download.windowsupdate.com/v9/windowsupdate/redir/muv4wuredir.cab>. error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:10:843 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation MakeRequest failed. error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:10:843 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation failed with 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:10:843 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: ShouldFileBeDownloaded failed with 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:13:464 924 af4 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072ee7. 2011-07-20 14:05:13:464 924 af4 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr = 80072ee7. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes used : <> 2011-07-20 14:05:13:464 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestUsingProxy failed for <http://download.windowsupdate.com/v9/windowsupdate/redir/muv4wuredir.cab>. error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:13:464 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation MakeRequest failed. error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:13:464 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation failed with 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:13:464 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: ShouldFileBeDownloaded failed with 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:13:464 924 af4 Misc WARNING: DownloadFileInternal failed for http://download.windowsupdate.com/v9/windowsupdate/redir/muv4wuredir.cab: error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:16:085 924 af4 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072ee7. 2011-07-20 14:05:16:085 924 af4 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr = 80072ee7. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes used : <> 2011-07-20 14:05:16:085 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestUsingProxy failed for <http://download.microsoft.com/v9/windowsupdate/redir/muv4wuredir.cab>. error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:16:085 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation MakeRequest failed. error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:16:085 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation failed with 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:16:085 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: ShouldFileBeDownloaded failed with 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:18:705 924 af4 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072ee7. 2011-07-20 14:05:18:705 924 af4 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr = 80072ee7. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes used : <> 2011-07-20 14:05:18:705 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestUsingProxy failed for <http://download.microsoft.com/v9/windowsupdate/redir/muv4wuredir.cab>. error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:18:705 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation MakeRequest failed. error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:18:705 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation failed with 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:18:705 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: ShouldFileBeDownloaded failed with 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:21:311 924 af4 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072ee7. 2011-07-20 14:05:21:311 924 af4 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr = 80072ee7. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes used : <> 2011-07-20 14:05:21:311 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestUsingProxy failed for <http://download.microsoft.com/v9/windowsupdate/redir/muv4wuredir.cab>. error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:21:311 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation MakeRequest failed. error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:21:311 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation failed with 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:21:311 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: ShouldFileBeDownloaded failed with 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:23:931 924 af4 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072ee7. 2011-07-20 14:05:23:931 924 af4 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr = 80072ee7. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes used : <> 2011-07-20 14:05:23:931 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestUsingProxy failed for <http://download.microsoft.com/v9/windowsupdate/redir/muv4wuredir.cab>. error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:23:931 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation MakeRequest failed. error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:23:931 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation failed with 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:23:931 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: ShouldFileBeDownloaded failed with 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:23:931 924 af4 Misc WARNING: DownloadFileInternal failed for http://download.microsoft.com/v9/windowsupdate/redir/muv4wuredir.cab: error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:26:552 924 af4 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072ee7. 2011-07-20 14:05:26:552 924 af4 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr = 80072ee7. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes used : <> 2011-07-20 14:05:26:552 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestUsingProxy failed for <http://www.update.microsoft.com/v9/windowsupdate/redir/muv4wuredir.cab>. error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:26:552 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation MakeRequest failed. error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:26:552 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation failed with 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:26:552 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: ShouldFileBeDownloaded failed with 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:29:173 924 af4 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072ee7. 2011-07-20 14:05:29:173 924 af4 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr = 80072ee7. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes used : <> 2011-07-20 14:05:29:173 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestUsingProxy failed for <http://www.update.microsoft.com/v9/windowsupdate/redir/muv4wuredir.cab>. error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:29:173 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation MakeRequest failed. error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:29:173 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation failed with 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:29:173 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: ShouldFileBeDownloaded failed with 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:31:794 924 af4 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072ee7. 2011-07-20 14:05:31:794 924 af4 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr = 80072ee7. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes used : <> 2011-07-20 14:05:31:794 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestUsingProxy failed for <http://www.update.microsoft.com/v9/windowsupdate/redir/muv4wuredir.cab>. error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:31:794 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation MakeRequest failed. error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:31:794 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation failed with 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:31:794 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: ShouldFileBeDownloaded failed with 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:34:415 924 af4 Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072ee7. 2011-07-20 14:05:34:415 924 af4 Misc WARNING: SendRequest failed with hr = 80072ee7. Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes used : <> 2011-07-20 14:05:34:415 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestUsingProxy failed for <http://www.update.microsoft.com/v9/windowsupdate/redir/muv4wuredir.cab>. error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:34:415 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation MakeRequest failed. error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:34:415 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation failed with 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:34:415 924 af4 Misc WARNING: WinHttp: ShouldFileBeDownloaded failed with 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:34:415 924 af4 Misc WARNING: DownloadFileInternal failed for http://www.update.microsoft.com/v9/windowsupdate/redir/muv4wuredir.cab: error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:34:415 924 af4 PT WARNING: PTError: 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:34:415 924 af4 PT WARNING: PTError: 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:34:415 924 af4 PT WARNING: Initialization failed for Protocol Talker Context: 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:34:415 924 af4 PT WARNING: StartCategoryScan failed : 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:34:415 924 af4 Agent * WARNING: Exit code = 0x8024402C 2011-07-20 14:05:34:415 924 af4 Agent ********* 2011-07-20 14:05:34:415 924 af4 Agent ** END ** Agent: Finding updates [CallerId = Windows Defender] 2011-07-20 14:05:34:415 924 af4 Agent ************* 2011-07-20 14:05:34:415 924 af4 Agent WARNING: WU client failed Searching for update with error 0x8024402c 2011-07-20 14:05:34:415 3792 6a4 COMAPI >>-- RESUMED -- COMAPI: Search [ClientId = Windows Defender] 2011-07-20 14:05:34:415 3792 6a4 COMAPI - Updates found = 0 2011-07-20 14:05:34:415 3792 6a4 COMAPI - WARNING: Exit code = 0x00000000, Result code = 0x8024402C 2011-07-20 14:05:34:415 3792 6a4 COMAPI --------- 2011-07-20 14:05:34:415 3792 6a4 COMAPI -- END -- COMAPI: Search [ClientId = Windows Defender] 2011-07-20 14:05:34:415 3792 6a4 COMAPI ------------- 2011-07-20 14:05:34:415 3792 a40 COMAPI WARNING: Operation failed due to earlier error, hr=8024402C 2011-07-20 14:05:34:415 3792 a40 COMAPI FATAL: Unable to complete asynchronous search. (hr=8024402C) @ 14:05:37: Windows Error Reporting (1001): Fault bucket, type 0 Event Name: MpTelemetry Response: Not Available Cab Id: 0 Problem Signature: P1: 8024402c P2: EndSearch P3: Search P4: 6.1.7601.17514 P5: MpSigDwn.dll P7: Windows Defender @ 14:06:11: Windows Installer service is stopped ( MSIEXEC exits ) Note: I had tried doing some MSIEXEC debug/logging, however it was making the install take well over an hour on the first item. Not having the time (at the time) I skipped that and decided to look at the regular amount of info. So now, I am thinking that perhaps I should stop Windows Defender during the installation period, which should be fine and Windows Defender would start up automatically following the reboot. Also, I want to point out that this particular deployment does not include Windows Live Essentials. Installing that adds about 8 minutes of additional inactivity/slowness. Any ideas?

I checked their install instructions: http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/installation/windows/ Which doesn't say anything about command line switches, however (without downloading I can't confirm) one of the pictures shows the base installer is Nullsoft Install System v2.46. Some switches for that are here (its way down the page): http://unattended.sourceforge.net/installers.php And here is that project's page: http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Main_Page

If you know what changes you made, or had made a backup prior to those changes, you can mount the registry hive using the CMD option in WinRE.

Millencolin - Biftek Supernova

MDT seems pretty popular. SCCM is a good tool for the Enterprise as well. Take a look at these threads: I use a heavily modified version of the GimageX HTA for PE 3.x.

Closing this topic. Please use your original one!

Hope you've noticed all your customizing topics get moved to the Customizing sub-forum. Post these questions there.

Does a zero byte file (as reported by Windows at least) really mean there is no data in it? What if you opened one in a hex editor?

I'll skip to the point on this one. Office 2010 SP1 is not made for pre-release or Leaked (Warez) versions of Office 2010.

Don't forget to make a backup of that UFD!

Welcome to the MSFN!

Pearl Jam - Spin the Black Circle

Ah no they aren't (or don't have to be that is) but if you don't have one already maybe just skip this step... I wouldn't say you should just jump into using a Multimeter without some training or other things (besides motherboards or other expensive things) to test on.

No it is not correct. It plainly states what is required. The only product key that should be "pre-installed" is the install key, which gets removed during sysprep anyways. If the information I pointed to you is not present in your OPK Guide, contact your rep to get an updated copy. Also ask your rep if you should be using the OPK or if you should be using the WAIK.

You are not allowed to do this. Since you are using the OPK, open the Windows OPK User's Guide. Under OEM User Experience Guidelines, License Requirements click OEM Requirements. Read the second paragraph under the "Anti-Piracy Support" section. If you have any further questions regarding Microsoft licensing, you should contact your Microsoft Partner account rep. Since specific OPK documentation is communicated under NDA, I cannot post a quote from that guide.

Thanks I forgot about SCCM. MDT is pretty straight forward to learn and there is a lot of documentation and tutorials for it.

Video I made my sig pic from Samael - Slavocracy

The amount of info you are requesting is difficult to fully answer. A lot of the answers are already on the forum. WAIK is your base toolkit. You'll need this either way. It includes DISM and WSIM, and also gives you the ability to create a WinPE as well as contains the documentation on the WAIK, WinPE and Unattended settings. Get this and read through the WAIK guide to get started. DISM is the tool you use to service Win7 and WinPE images. You can mount volumes, add drivers and updates/packages to an image offline. WSIM is the tool you use to create answer files for installation or sysprep. MDT is an enterprise level tool that you can create lite and zero touch deployments from either a deployment server or from bootable media. MDT is not licensed for use by a System Builder or an OEM to assist in deployment of systems destined for resale. Everyone does their base image creation differently. I don't use VMs but I use actual test systems. My workflow is: 1. Create answer file to deploy to Audit Mode. 2. Use answer file with install media to install OS to system. 3. In Audit Mode, make changes as necessary, then sysprep /generalize /audit 4. Capture image to server using Imagex Then I can add drivers to the image for whatever hardware its going on, or add programs to it or put an answer file that covers the OOBE pass. Yes Generalize will remove system specific infos such as what hardware is installed. When you boot an image that has been generalized, Sysprep will redetect all hardware and look for drivers in the driver store to install. I keep track of what drivers go into what image, so that there isn't multiple drivers included for the same HwIDs. These things are not touched during Generalize. I don't know about your other questions. Look at our topic of help guides here:

Unless there is a severe bulge or leakage, yes. That type of cap is popular on boards now, the MSI and Intel boards I looked at just now use them. Maybe they are more resistant to the bulging? The only other way would be to use ye-olde-multimeter (and some math skills) to make sure you are getting the correct readings as marked on the caps.