Apr 03, 2014 only utility is sysprep, you find it in. The system preparation tool sysprep, is meant for system administrators and oems, to automate the deployment of windows 108 7 operating system. System preparation tool for windows server 2003 service pack. Sysprep on windows 7 vm question vmware communities. This software is present in all windows installations, and it is very important to prepare a system for cloning and distribution on multiple machines in the same network. Using sysprep on win 10 operating system is quite easy. It saves a lot of time for businesses to quickly deploy large numbers of computers. After that, the sysprep tool refuses to start, therefore always start from your original reference image. Mar 12, 2007 microsoft windows server 2003 sp1 and windows server 2003 sp2 include an updated version of the system preparation tool sysprep. When running sysprep in windows 7 with the unattend. Enter system outofthebox oobe and enter system audit mode. Sysprep is microsofts system preparation tool intended to duplicate, test and deliver new installations for the windows operating system based on an established installation. Doubleclick the generalizationstate key change the value to 7 and click ok then, doubleclick the cleanupstate key and set the value to 2 click ok.
Run sysprep generalize on the computers that are used to build the custom windows vista image. Sysprep is the microsoft system preparation tool used by system administrators often during the automated deployment of windows server. Upon executing the tool, you are prompted to choose from two options. Jan 02, 2016 there are two ways to carry out the sysprep procedure on a computer, either from the outset when you install windows 7 by entering audit mode or on a system that is already running.
I will do this from my win 10 drive and perform it on the newly cloned win 7 drive. I want the end user to get the computer with all the updates and programs installed with windows activated. With windows vista20087, you can run microsoft system preparation tool sysprep on the operating system only three times. Sysprep removes pcspecific information from a windows installation, generalizing the installation so it can be installed on different pcs. This ensures that after you take an image, once you load the image onto other machines, the image will boot more successfully without being dependant on having the same underlining hardware. Later versions introduced for windows 2000 and windows xp are available for download from microsoft and included in the windows cd. The sysprep generalize command removes unique information from your windows installation, which enables you to reuse that image on different. Before you can capture an image using any of microsoft tools you must first prepare it by running the system preparation tool sysprep. When you try to run the system preparation tool sysprep in windows vista or windows 7, and you use the generalize option, you may receive the following error message. In windows 10, sysprep also includes a vm mode, which generalizes a vhd that you deploy as a vhd on the same virtual machine or hypervisor. Running sysprep on windows vista20087 operating systems. Fog image sysprep windows 7 guide 3264 bit docv1 its notes. An error message occurs when you run sysprep generalize.
Have two computers of the exact same model, i will call them machine a and machine b. I have cloned a windows 7 vm and it will be used as a template for the remainder of my machines. When windows completes the installation process, the computer boots into audit mode automatically, and the system preparation sysprep tool appears. A common scenario for windows xp was to make a master image on a system, sysprep it, create the image, and build on that master image for the next version of that image. Microsoft windows server 2003 sp1 and windows server 2003 sp2 include an updated version of the system preparation tool sysprep. System preparation tool for windows server 2003 service pack 2 deployment x64 as with previous windows server 2003 releases, administrators intending to deploy windows server 2003 service pack 2 may want to use this tool.
Then i run sysprep to prepare the machine for delivery. Deploying windows 7 image using sysprep audit oobe results. If youre creating a new image of windows 7 from scratch, it would be a good idea to start preparing the system directly from audit mode to avoid any problems. You cannot run sysprep on a computer that has been upgraded from a previous operating system. On a single system image, you can run sysprep up to 8 times. Sysprep can only be run 3 times on a windows 7 install if the skiprearm is not used. So to clone 10 computers you have 10 oem licences as attached to the computers and 1 full licence that is used to build the sysprep image. One example of these features is the extension of a partition to utilize the total amount on the disc to be.
The system preparation tool sysprep is designed for system administrators and oems to automate the use of windows operating systems. System preparation tool sysprep in microsoft windows 1087. Windows vista is the first version of windows nt to include a version of sysprep that was independent of the hardware abstraction layer hal, in the out of box installation. Jan 15, 2020 with sysprep system preparation tool, you can easily duplicate windows systems. This is great so you can sysprep a virtual machine copy the vhd or vhdx file and use it for the first boot of different vms. You run sysprep to d eploy a windows 7 image using sysprep audit and sysprep oobe system outofbox. The computers with the same hardware in an environment can save time by replicating seamlessly by modifying the sid numbers of user accounts with sysprep. Mar 20, 2018 for example, in windows 7 you could use sysprep to remove computerspecific and operating systemspecific installation data from windows 7, configure windows 7 to boot in audit mode, configure windows 7 to boot to the windows welcome screen, or reset windows product activation wpa on the system up to three times.
In modern operating systems it can be found on your windows computer in the %systemroot%\system32\sysprep folder usually c. After performing the initial installation steps on a single computer, you can run the sysprep tool to prepare the sample computer for cloning and automate deployment on other computers. In windows server 2012 and windows 8, microsoft added an addition to sysprep called the mode switch mode. Its a great tool but like most things from microsoft, there is a bit of a learning curve. Boot the pc with a winpe cddvd or with a third party imaging application. Microsoft does not support the use of sysprep to create images of an installation that has been upgraded sp installation is not considered to be an upgrade.
I do not want the end user to have to enter a product key or activate windows 7 when they obtain this machine. Sysprep system preparation overview microsoft docs. Uiu support case example using sysprep to extend disk partition in windows 7. After each reboot and logon the sysprep program starts again. Mar 26, 2012 deploying windows 7 image using sysprep audit oobe results inaccessible network printers. However, its come to the point where it would be highly advantageous to be able to sysprep with windows 7. Sysprep disables the default administrator account so if you use, you need to enable in the unattend. The system preparation tool sysprep, is meant for system administrators and oems, to automate the deployment of windows 10 8 7 operating system. Depending on your windows license, you may be able to reset this counter. Once you have performed the initial setup steps on.
Windows 7 made this difficult as you can only sysprep better said, rearm the license of a system only 3 times. This tutorial is a short introduction to the wonderful world of sysprep. Lets say that in our case the reference installation is complete and ready to be imaged. Nov 14, 2019 to run the rearm process in windows vista and windows 7, use one of the following methods. How to sysprep a windows 7 master image more than 3 times. Deploying windows 7 image using sysprep audit oobe results inaccessible network printers. Sysprep a windows 7 machine start to finish v2 theitbros. Sysprep on windows 7 is much simpler than on windows xp. Using sysprep when migrating boot camp twocanoes support.
Well that is because the icons are not part of the users profile. Close any open applications and type the run command in the windows vista20087 start search command prompt when the run command prompt opens, browse to the sysprep executable file and click ok. Care must be taken when using sysprep, as it has some limitations. A fatal error occurred while trying to sysprep the machine. Figure below shows the sysprep tool gui with the typical selections used to prepare a system for imaging.
How to use the system preparation tool sysprep in windows 1087 tutorial the system preparation sysprep tool is used to prepare a. Preparing a system with sysprep windows 7 tutorial sourcedaddy. This can cause sysprep to fail, or to fail to boot after restoration. Windows system32 sysprep i was not entirely sure what this was supposed to do but when i restarted my computer after running sysprep. Alone it can do quite little, basically only two tasks. Install the reference image you created in step 1 that is destined for your customer. If you try to run sysprep on an upgraded system, it will refuse to run.
Nov 04, 2011 how to sysprep a windows 7 or server 2008r2 machine. To run the rearm process in windows vista and windows 7, use one of the following methods. May 31, 2016 or, you can configure windows to boot to the outofbox experience oobe. How to run sysprep on upgraded windows windows os hub. An error message occurs when you run sysprep generalize in. In the previous article, we discussed what is sysprep.
Sysprep is a system preparation tool that allows you to edit windows images to bring them to a generalized state. Although this tool can be used on win2000 and above systems, in fact, the support for win xp is not very good, and it will cause various unforeseen minor problems. Choose oobe enter system outofbox experience and select generalize. For more information about using the sysprep tool in audit mode, see sysprep generalize a windows installation. I am aware that with windows7 the sysprep tools are built in and that i can use a preset customization spec in vsphere to enter appropriate data but what i am wondering is the following. Solved a proper way to sysprep a windows 7 machine. Sysprep a windows 7 machine complete tutorial theitbros. The above steps also work with sysprep in windows 7. Using sysprep on the source partition can fail for a number of reasons.
After you update the windows installation, at the command line run the sysprep audit generalize. My understanding is sysprep can be a dangerous tool to use for novice users because of the risk of data loss. Sysprep was originally introduced for use with windows nt 4. You can always sysprep with default unattend, making windows 7 unattend files can be tricky. My understanding is sysprep can be a dangerous tool to use for. Take reference image in windows7 using sysprep youtube. Relaxing rain and thunder sounds, fall asleep faster, beat insomnia, sleep music, relaxation sounds. How to sysprep sysprep is a great and powerful tool and.
Basically you need to create an answer file for sysprep. I create win 7 image then run default sysprep, with no special unattend file. Sysprep generalize a windows installation microsoft docs. When you connect to a print server and double click on a network printer to create a mapped queue on a windows 7 and windows vista client. Now install windows 7 on a computer and use the domain account, this. Use the new modelspecific reference image to install windows on a new computer. Sysprep has been the goto utility for a long time for preparing windows images for deployment.
Nov 30, 2012 this site helped me understand the windows 7 sysprep features. Download system preparation tool for windows server 2003. Easiest way probably is to use a virtual machine and snapshot it right before sysprep. As long as you know that a computer with windows 7 has all available updates, applications, and everythings working, you can use sysprep any time. Windows 7 image customize in audit mode with sysprep. It is used to prepare an operating system for cloning.
Windows 7 image capture demonstration utilize windows. How to use the system preparation tool sysprep in windows. Here is another great tutorial on how to sysprep windows 7 machine from start to finish. Windows 7 only allows sysprep to be run 4 times on a single image. A fatal error occurred while trying to sysprep the. Creating windows pe preinstallation environment boot disk. Prepare the reference system sysprep before we capture our reference computer image, we should run sysprep tool on it. This is the old version, please see the new sysprep a windows 7 machine start to finish v2 note i highly recommend creating a boot or rescue disk before starting any windows 7 technical projects. How to use sysprep in windows 10 sysnettech solutions. Stepbystep guide for windows 7 sysprep eddie jackson. Preparing a system with sysprep windows 7 tutorial.
I believe if you are going to sysprep clone a windows computer, you are also required to have a full windows 7 licence key that you use to build the sysprep d images with. Sysprep system preparation prepares a windows installation windows client and windows server for imaging, allowing you to capture a customized installation. Used options enter system audit mode, generalize, reboot. How to sysprep a windows 7 installation dimitris tonias. What you need to do is open the executable file sysprep. Windows sysprep for virtual machines thomas maurer.
There are two ways to carry out the sysprep procedure on a computer, either from the outset when you install windows 7 by entering audit mode or on a system that is already running. Macrium reflect is free and easy to use, check these tutorials. Or, you can configure windows to boot to the outofbox experience oobe. To deploy a windows image to different pcs, you have to first generalize the image to remove computerspecific information such as installed drivers and the computer security identifier sid. I then use mdt to push image which creates the unattend for me an automates the joining to domain and processing windows.
Sysprep is microsofts system preparation tool for windows operating system deployment. In a nutshell, sysprep puts the windows state one step back in the installation phase without affecting the data or software loaded. The builtin windows system preparation tool, sysprep to put it short, is a tool not very well known outside the geek circles although it is quite easy and simple to use. Deploying windows 7 image using sysprep audit oobe. Many features of windows operating systems that are accomplished natively by sysprep are included in the various imaging solutions available on the market. You can only run it on clean installations that have been installed by choosing custom during the installation process.