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Questions tagged [sysprep]

Sysprep is the name of Microsoft's System Preparation Utility for Microsoft Windows operating system deployment.

History

Sysprep was originally introduced for use with Windows NT 4.0. Later versions introduced for Windows 2000 and Windows XP are available for download from Microsoft and included in the Windows CD. Windows Vista marks the first version of Microsoft's NT operating system to include a hardware abstraction layer (HAL) independent version of Sysprep in the "out of box" installation.

Purpose

Desktop deployment is typically performed via disk cloning applications. Sysprep can be used to prepare an operating system for disk cloning and restoration via a disk image.

Windows operating system installations include many unique elements per installation that need to be "generalized" before capturing and deploying a disk image to multiple computers. Some of these elements include:

  • Computer name
  • Security Identifier (SID)
  • Driver Cache

Sysprep seeks to solve these issues by allowing for the generation of new computer names, unique SIDs, and custom driver cache databases during the Sysprep process.

Administrators can use tools such as SetupMgr.exe (Windows XP) or the Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows Vista/7/Server 2008) to generate answer files that Sysprep will process on new computer deployments.

Screenshot

enter image description here

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Win10 SysPrep ERROR: Failed DeleteInstance AntiSpywareProduct.instanceGuid

After tons of AppX and "Tile Data Model Server" service headaches, I've now found this in our Windows 10 (Enterprise) SysPrep logs: ERROR: Failed DeleteInstance AntiSpywareProduct.instanceGuid{GUID} We have paid support with Trend Micro so I opened…
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how do I disable "Allow your PC to be discoverable by other PCs and devices" blade

This posters issue is a good description of the issue I want to address. I'm building an image based on Windows 10 Enterprise IOT. When the devices with this image are built in the factory they show the 'make pc discoverable' blade. when they first…
Damo
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Recover from accidental Sysprep on only AD DC

Being total "genius" on newly deployed environment I ran: sysprep /oobe /generalize /mode:vm /shutdown on the wrong VM during creation of a new AD environment. To make matters worse it was run on the first/only domain controller. Sysprep was…
Sarenka
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Do I need to run SysPrep on a cloned Windows 8.1 image?

When using VMware Workstation to clone a Windows 8.1 image, do I need to run SysPrep? If so, where do I get that program?
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Prevent creation of default shortcuts and Favorites in Windows XP SP3?

(1) Whenever a new user is created on a Windows XP SP3 system running Internet Explorer 8, their Favorites folder is automatically populated with a "Microsoft websites" folder and several links in the links toolbar (such as "Customize links", "Free…
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sysprep: fix "no system BCD store to be generalized"

Now that I've identified why my sysprep is failing, what do I do to fix this error? There is no system BCD store to be generalized. This image will not be bootable unless a system store is later created.
MikeyB
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Choose time zone after sysprep

Is it possible to file unattend.xml setting to be able to choose a time zone from the list? Please give me some advice My file:
Mick
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Generalize an image without using Sysprep?

Without using sysprep, is there another way to generalize an image for use with Clonezilla? I created a sysprep image and forgot to add a few things. So when I tried to redo it, I get the failed to initialize sysprep log error. I've googled my head…
Joseph
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Sysprepping Windows Server 2012, how do I avoid plug and play drivers installed by VMware Tools being removed?

I am sysprepping Windows Server 2012 Standard to be used as a VM template. I want to preserve drivers installed by VMWare Tools such that the mouse won't lag in new installations. If I just run a normal sysprep /oobe /generalize, the drivers will…
arex1337
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Best way to integrate applications to windows 7 install.wim image

I have right now an unmodified .iso of a windows 7 32bit and 64bit installation disk. And I need to integrate to that some applications (office, adobe reader etc) and windows updates so that when windows are installed the above applications/updates…
cyph3r
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Sysprep and Capture task sequence failing using MDT 2010

I have created a Windows Deployment Services server in Windows 2008 R2. When I originally set it up I was able to successfully use MDT 2010 to create my boot images as well as creating task sequences that would sysprep and capture, and deploy my…
user89350
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To join, or not to join [to the domain before deploying VDI]?

I've seen conflicting suggestions on VMware's documentation as well as around the Internet on a best practice for preparing linked clones for VMware View (5) deployments. Should I join the parent VM to the domain prior to shutting down for a…
ceskib
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Sysprep on an already deployed system?

I've done some digging on the site and around, and I haven't seen anything that quite addresses my problem. I have recently deployed a WSUS 3.0 SP2 hierarchy to a new data center and a pair of remote sites. Approximately half of the machines…
David Broaddus
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automatically bring up a new virtual machine using a sysprep vhd in hyper-v

i have a VHD which has been sysprepped (it was created on Hyper-V itself), and i have the answer file too generated by sysprep. now i need to bring up a new VM using Hyper-V which will use the above generated VHD. When i bring up the VM it brings up…
Anirudh Goel
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Sysprep answer file to minimize disk changes

I going to be creating several Hyper-V virtual machines that are virtually identical (and all running on the same hardware). In the past I've done this by building a single VM, patching & installing software, then running sysprep and using the…
dmo
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