sysprep has locked me out of my computer

[Brudus]

I have a Dell Optiplex 740 that I was testing a newly made unattended answer file installation. Right at the beginning when it said "starting your computer for the first time" it got some kind of error message. I forgot what it said. Now when I try to turn on the computer it goes to the "starting your computer for the first time" and it just automatically restarts without any kind of error message. I can't even get into safe mode. When I try to get into safe mode the same thing happens when I try to start normally. Last known good configuration doesn't work. Startup repair from the disk also doesn't work. I'm really stuck here and would very much like to not have to re-install windows.

Here is the unattended XML file

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">

<settings pass="generalize">

<component name="Microsoft-Windows-PnpSysprep" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS"



xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

<PersistAllDeviceInstalls>true</PersistAllDeviceInstalls>

</component>

<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP" processorArchitecture="x86" 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-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" 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>

<TimeZone>Central Standard Time</TimeZone>

<ProductKey>TD664-C64V6-7H3Q2-HXG6D-7GM8V</ProductKey>

</component>

<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Deployment" processorArchitecture="x86" 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">

<Path>net user administrator /active:yes</Path>

<Order>1</Order>

</RunSynchronousCommand>

</RunSynchronous>

</component>

<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP-UX" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral"



versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

<SkipAutoActivation>true</SkipAutoActivation>

</component>

</settings>

<settings pass="oobeSystem">

<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" 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>

<Password>

<Value>VgBlAGMAdAAwAHIAUABhAHMAcwB3AG8AcgBkAA==</Value>

<PlainText>false</PlainText>

</Password>

<Enabled>true</Enabled>

<LogonCount>5</LogonCount>

<Username>administrator</Username>

</AutoLogon>

<OOBE>

<skipmachineoobe>true</skipmachineoobe>

<skipuseroobe>true</skipuseroobe>

<HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>

<NetworkLocation>Work</NetworkLocation>

</OOBE>

<UserAccounts>

<AdministratorPassword>

<Value>VgBlAGMAdAAwAHIAQQBkAG0AaQBuAGkAcwB0AHIAYQB0AG8AcgBQAGEAcwBzAHcAbwByAGQA</Value>

<PlainText>false</PlainText>

</AdministratorPassword>

<LocalAccounts>

<LocalAccount wcm:action="add">

<Password>

<Value>VgBlAGMAdAAwAHIAUABhAHMAcwB3AG8AcgBkAA==</Value>

<PlainText>false</PlainText>

</Password>

<Description>Local Administrator</Description>

<DisplayName>Administrator</DisplayName>

<Group>Administrators</Group>

<Name>Administrator</Name>

</LocalAccount>

</LocalAccounts>

</UserAccounts>

<RegisteredOrganization>XXX</RegisteredOrganization>

</component>

</settings>

<cpifflineImage cpi:source="catalog:c:/users/administrator/desktop/install_windows 7 professional.clg" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />

</unattend>


The <skipmachineoobe>true</skipmachineoobe> and <skipuseroobe>true</skipuseroobe> were added by me after the fact. It did not fix my problem.

 

[Maguscreed]

Go ahead and just repair install.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

It's not going to let you in. A process was unable to complete during initial setup. I doubt even if you could get around this one problem more would pop up.

 

[Brudus]

I can't do that upgrade install. I can't get into windows. When I try to boot from the CD and do and choose the upgrade option it says I can't and that I have to open windows and then run the upgrade there. Is there any way I can force it or just fix it enough so I can get into windows so I can do the repair install.

 

[Maguscreed]

You can actually do a clean install using an upgrade disc.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html
All you will need is the key from the previous version. rest of the details are outlined at the link.