Server Fault Stack Exchange
Server Fault Stack Exchange

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

185 questions
2
votes
2 answers

Packer - AWS Windows 2016 SysPrep returns exit code 1

When attempting to SysPrep an AWS Windows Server 2016 instance using Packer the following error is thrown: Build 'amazon-ebs' errored: Script exited with non-zero exit status: 1. Allowed exit codes are: [0] I'm calling the SysprepInstance.ps1…
Castrohenge
  • 390
  • 1
  • 6
  • 12
2
votes
1 answer

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
  • 21
  • 3
2
votes
2 answers

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?
Jonathan Allen
  • 337
  • 1
  • 3
  • 7
2
votes
1 answer

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…
hpy
  • 835
  • 3
  • 18
  • 28
2
votes
1 answer

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
  • 38,725
  • 10
  • 102
  • 186
2
votes
1 answer

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
  • 347
  • 3
  • 14
  • 27
2
votes
2 answers

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
  • 293
  • 2
  • 6
  • 14
2
votes
1 answer

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
  • 435
  • 2
  • 13
2
votes
2 answers

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
  • 123
  • 1
  • 1
  • 5
2
votes
4 answers

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
2
votes
1 answer

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…
BenC
  • 751
  • 1
  • 9
  • 24
2
votes
2 answers

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
  • 23
  • 3
2
votes
3 answers

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
  • 137
  • 10
2
votes
0 answers

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
  • 2,100
  • 1
  • 16
  • 22
2
votes
2 answers

How to fix 7B stop errors when cloning Windows images to different HBA types

When Windows is installed it searches it's driver database and installs the appropriate HBA driver so the boot loader can access the drive and boot the system. When an image is taken and cloned to a machine of an incompatible HBA type, Windows will…
Andy Arismendi
  • 1,168
  • 4
  • 16
  • 27
1 2 3
…
12 13