Preparing a System with Sysprep

Before you can capture an image using any of Microsoft's tools, you must first prepare it by running the System Preparation Tool (Sysprep). The Sysprep tool is located in C:\Windows\system32\sysprep.

You cannot run Sysprep on a computer that has been upgraded from a previous operating system. You can only run it on clean installations that have been installed by choosing Custom during the installation process. If you try to run Sysprep on an upgraded system, it will refuse to run.

You launch Sysprep from the command line:

You can also browse to the C:\Windows\system32\sysprep folder with Windows Explorer and double-click the Sysprep file. Figure below shows the Sysprep tool GUI with the typical selections used to prepare a system for imaging.

The Sysprep GUI includes two primary sections: System Cleanup Action and Shutdown Options. The available options in these sections are as follows:

• Enter System Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE): This option causes the system to mimic the first boot screens you'll see when performing a normal installation. It starts by running the Windows Welcome program and initializes settings on the computer. You must select this option to prepare a computer for imaging.
• Enter System Audit Mode: Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) use System Audit mode to bypass the Windows Welcome program and install additional programs and applications. Once the programs are installed, you run Sysprep again, selecting the OOBE choice. If you do not run Sysprep again, it will never enter the Windows Welcome phase but will instead continue to boot into System Audit mode.
• Generalize: The Generalize check box causes Sysprep to remove system-specific information from the computer. You must check this option to prepare a computer for imaging.
• Quit: This option quits Sysprep but doesn't shut down the computer.
• Reboot: This option reboots the system. It is useful with System Audit mode, but not when using the OOBE choice. If the Windows Welcome program starts before you've captured the image, you'll have to run Sysprep again.
• Shutdown: This option shuts down the computer and is the most common choice when running Sysprep to prepare the system for imaging. Once the system is shut down, you can use any available technique to capture the image, including using ImageX (described later in this tutorial), or Windows Deployment Services.

You can also run Sysprep from an elevated command prompt (a command prompt run with administrative permissions). The following command mimics choosing Enter System Out-of- Box Experience (OOBE), Generalize, and Shutdown from the GUI: