windows 7 sysprep keep asking for username

Kari · 13 Jan 2015

Yes.

You can create as many users as you want to following the instructions in my previous post. If the passwords are also given in answer file, they will by default (default value for variable <PlainText> is FALSE) be encrypted so even if the answer file remains with the deployed image, the passwords cannot be found out. Here's an extract from an answer file created according to instructions in my previous post, notice the encrypted password:

Script:


<UserAccounts>
                <LocalAccounts>
                    <LocalAccount wcm:action="add">
                        <Password>
                            <Value>VABpAHQAeQBzAG8AZgB0ADEAUABhAHMAcwB3AG8AcgBkAA==</Value>
                            <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                        </Password>
                        <Description>Main user</Description>
                        <DisplayName>An Angry Old Man</DisplayName>
                        <Group>Administrators</Group>
                        <Name>Kari</Name>
                    </LocalAccount>
                </LocalAccounts>
            </UserAccounts>

More about Sysprep and Answer Files, see these two Seven Forums tutorials:

A bit more theoretical tutorial, Sysprep and Answer Files explained: System Preparation Tool - Use to Customize Windows
A complete walkthrough in image customization: Windows 7 Image - Customize in Audit Mode with Sysprep

Kari

rkhuprus · 13 Jan 2015

Below is what i have in my Answer file for Windows 7 Enterprise x64 unattend installation

My goal was to;

Enable Hidden Administrator Account
Auto-activate Windows 7 Enterprise x64
Set the language and input locale settings for the system and the user to "en-us"
Set Registered Organization\Owner Information
Set Timezone to "Central Standard Time"
Bypass or automatic acceptance of End User License Agreement
Only ask for "Computer Name" during initial start-up/setup.

Does the below Answer file fulfill my objective? Should i do something different?

Obviously, I have removed my Product Key and Passwords for security reasons.

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
    <settings pass="generalize">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <SkipRearm>1</SkipRearm>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="specialize">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Deployment" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <RunSynchronous>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>1</Order>
                    <Path>net user administrator /active:yes</Path>
                    <Description>Enable Hidden Administrator Account</Description>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
            </RunSynchronous>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <CopyProfile>true</CopyProfile>
            <ShowWindowsLive>false</ShowWindowsLive>
            <TimeZone>Central Standard Time</TimeZone>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="oobeSystem">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <InputLocale>en-us</InputLocale>
            <SystemLocale>en-us</SystemLocale>
            <UILanguage>en-us</UILanguage>
            <UserLocale>en-us</UserLocale>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <AutoLogon>
                <Enabled>true</Enabled>
                <LogonCount>5</LogonCount>
            </AutoLogon>
            <FirstLogonCommands>
                <SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>1</Order>
                    <CommandLine>cscript //b c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX</CommandLine>
                    <RequiresUserInput>false</RequiresUserInput>
                    <Description>Set Product Key</Description>
                </SynchronousCommand>
                <SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>2</Order>
                    <CommandLine>cscript //b c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ato</CommandLine>
                    <Description>Online Activation</Description>
                    <RequiresUserInput>false</RequiresUserInput>
                </SynchronousCommand>
            </FirstLogonCommands>
            <OOBE>
                <NetworkLocation>Other</NetworkLocation>
                <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>
                <ProtectYourPC>1</ProtectYourPC>
            </OOBE>
            <UserAccounts>
                <AdministratorPassword>
                    <Value>XXXXXXXXXXXXX</Value>
                    <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                </AdministratorPassword>
                <LocalAccounts>
                    <LocalAccount wcm:action="add">
                        <Password>
                            <Value>XXXXXXXXXXXXX</Value>
                            <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                        </Password>
                        <Description>Temporary Local Administrator Account</Description>
                        <Group>Administrators </Group>
                        <DisplayName>Temporary Administrator</DisplayName>
                        <Name>TempAdmin</Name>
                    </LocalAccount>
                </LocalAccounts>
            </UserAccounts>
            <RegisteredOrganization>XXXXXX Organization</RegisteredOrganization>
            <RegisteredOwner>XXXXXX Owner</RegisteredOwner>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="wim:c:/sysprep/win7/install.wim#Windows 7 ENTERPRISE" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

Kari · 13 Jan 2015

A quick read through reveals no errors, also the answer file validates OK. I cannot see any issues.