Windows 7 sysprep

[mwthomas]

Hi all

The last few weeks I've done loads of research about making an unattended installation of Windows7.

Because I need to install a big amount of computers.

This resulted in a pretty good autounattended.xml file.

Now in most tutorials I've done, you come across a 'sysprep' screen with the first time you boot.

And I was just wondering if it is really necessary to run sysprep for a complete unattended install?

What exactly does Sysprep do?

Thanks for all your help!

Greetz

Thomas

Edited May 24, 2010 by mwthomas

[arwidmark]

You need to run sysprep when creating images to deploy to multiple computers. Sysprep prepares the machine for cloning, removes the identifiers, sets permissions, cleans out event viewer and a bunch more of additional house-cleaning. In the past (Windows 2000 days) there have been many attempts to run all sorts of hacks to achieve the same thing, don't do that... it's not supported by Microsoft and will just result in pain in the end.

[Tripredacus]

To put it simply, Sysprep prepares Windows for the end-user. If you install your OS and when it is done you have the sysprep box on the screen, it means you are in Audit mode. Unfortunately, you wouldn't want to use your computer in Audit Mode as some features of Windows are disabled. Some of which include Aero and it will also hide some pop-up messages, although they still get logged to the Event Viewer.

[mwthomas]

You need to run sysprep when creating images to deploy to multiple computers. Sysprep prepares the machine for cloning, removes the identifiers, sets permissions, cleans out event viewer and a bunch more of additional house-cleaning.

I don't want to clone.

I have to put a cd in the pc with the answer file.

Do I have to do it than too?

To put it simply, Sysprep prepares Windows for the end-user.

So, it is really necesairy.

[cluberti]

So, it is really necesairy.

Only if you're installing Windows, capturing it via imagex, and trying to deploy it to other machines. If you're using the original WIM file and simply using an unattend file to change settings and/or deploy applications, the original WIM file is already sysprep'ed from Microsoft. However, if you're installing Windows to a template machine, adding apps/drivers/etc, changing settings, and then capturing THAT to re-deploy, then yes, you must run sysprep.

[mwthomas]

Lol thank you sooooo much!

You're a lifesaver