How to make custom unattended Windows 7 installations?

[WhiteHatHax0r]

So as the title says, I really want to find out how to make a custom unattended Windows 7 installation with all those customizations like custom background, theme, mouse pointer, icons?

So what I mean is all this stuff to be there when the Windows is installed. Not to put the stuff after...

 

[boogieboy]

There are softwares which slipstream softwares into windows installation. I once slipstreamed Service Pack 3 into Windows XP through nLite which creates a image ISO of the disc which i dont remember exactly it was several years ago there might be softwares which add softwares into the installation data by copying the original contents of the disc on the hard drive first than using some slipstreaming software to add your desired softwares, themes etc. (if that supports) im not sure either coz i never tried but i personally think after installing a fresh copy of OS and adding your favorite softwares, themes, icons etc creating a System Image must be a good way afterwards so in future you wont have to install each and everything again.

 

[WhiteHatHax0r]

There are softwares which slipstream softwares into windows installation. I once slipstreamed Service Pack 3 into Windows XP through nLite which creates a image ISO of the disc which i dont remember exactly it was several years ago there might be softwares which add softwares into the installation data by copying the original contents of the disc on the hard drive first than using some slipstreaming software to add your desired softwares, themes etc. (if that supports) im not sure either coz i never tried but i personally think after installing a fresh copy of OS and adding your favorite softwares, themes, icons etc creating a System Image must be a good way afterwards so in future you wont have to install each and everything again.

Yes, that's what I want to achieve. I'm bored of installing all my favorite fonts, registry hacks, wallpapers, themes...

 

[whs]

So as the title says, I really want to find out how to make a custom unattended Windows 7 installation with all those customizations like custom background, theme, mouse pointer, icons?

So what I mean is all this stuff to be there when the Windows is installed. Not to put the stuff after...

You could also image your system after your initial installation is perfect. Then you can use this "master image" as often as required - but only on the same system.

 

[WhiteHatHax0r]

So as the title says, I really want to find out how to make a custom unattended Windows 7 installation with all those customizations like custom background, theme, mouse pointer, icons?

So what I mean is all this stuff to be there when the Windows is installed. Not to put the stuff after...

You could also image your system after your initial installation is perfect. Then you can use this "master image" as often as required - but only on the same system.

So you think I should install a clean Windows release, modify it, and with those unattended Windows image making software make my own disk to use it for future purposes?

 

[whs]

So as the title says, I really want to find out how to make a custom unattended Windows 7 installation with all those customizations like custom background, theme, mouse pointer, icons?

So what I mean is all this stuff to be there when the Windows is installed. Not to put the stuff after...

You could also image your system after your initial installation is perfect. Then you can use this "master image" as often as required - but only on the same system.

So you think I should install a clean Windows release, modify it, and with those unattended Windows image making software make my own disk to use it for future purposes?

Correct - but I would place the image on an external disk rather than on DVDs (although that is possible, only a bit more messy).

 

[boogieboy]

You can also create the system image right inside the hard drive you're using for your ease by creating a new drive named "Recovery" if you have or can spare some space out of your current drive... here's a example below the way i did. The size of the drive for recovery depends on the size of softwares and add-ons you want along with the actual size of the OS i.e. Windows 7 + Office 2007 + Nero 7 Essentials + few drivers takes around 9 to 10 Gigs hardly so the rest of the space needed for the softwares you want well you can do the math and then adjust the size of recovery drive accordingly only if you want to make it short otherwise like whs mentioned that creating image on external drive rather than burning dvd's would be best also to prevent failure or any other problem that could happen to the system or hdd your using.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Create your base install the way you want it, and then run Sysprep before creating the image.