When to create the useraccounts

[eagle00789]

When would be the best possibility of creating the useraccounts?

• At cmdlines.txt
  
• at the beginning of runonceex.cmd
  
• at the end of runonceex.cmd
  
• After runonceex.cmd
  

I ask this because i always have the trouble of moving a lot of startmenu-items around

[prathapml]

Well, if this is for Windows XP, I prefer this method instead:

oobeinfo.ini method

That method, will get your users created in EXACTLY the same way the first-run "Welcome to Windows XP" wizard creates - just before first-login. Least difficult, and no worries.

And then after first-login, you can run commands to set user groups and passwords (through batch-files from RunOnce). That (oobeinfo.ini) is the recommended method by MS too, and OEMs use that.

[mockranger]

@prathapml

Correct me if I'm wrong., but that method wouldn't work if you've resealed the installation to go into Mini-setup on next boot would it? I thought OOBE was ignored if you went that direction. Kinda an Either this or that switch.

[Tsunami]

I think the only way it will not be processed if you have OOBE removed completely. If you tell it not to show up from winnt.sif, it will still run, you just don't see it.

[prathapml]

@Tsunami

Right.

@mockranger

No you're not wrong.

But then, user accounts are usually desired to be created during setup or shortly after - so oobeinfo.ini is an easier and simple solution for users creation. Also, not too many people use SysPrep.

[Anderz]

Eherm ... when in the Windows XP installation timeline is OOBE run? T-13? I currently use a cmd via cmdlines.txt....

[prathapml]

*in hoarse croaking voice*

the guide.... the guide.... please look that up... T-13 is for svcpack.inf (http://unattended.msfn.org/xp/timeline.htm

OOBE runs just before first-login. You know... the point where "windows welcome" comes and asks you to {give names of people who'll be using this computer} and asks you to register with microsoft, etc. - that is OOBE.

To be more precise, Let's describe the scenery as in a detective novel:

Windows setup finishes after doing everything...

reaches T-1, then T-0, then re-boots...

Then you see the boot-screen for the first-time, and then a screen resolution resizing....

Right?

Just after that point. (that's when OOBE runs)

And its perfectly suited to our purpose.

Hoping this helps....

[Anderz]

Hehehe ... Mr Prathapml! I checked the guide and didn't see it there. When saying T-13 I meant around that time ... anyway .. your information is golden! Thanks!