NoteAudit Mode is a very practical way to prepare a system image without any user specific information like usernames or computer name. With it you can create a General System Image that gives you always when used a fresh, clean Windows 7 setup as if it were a virgin, fresh install, only difference being your software, drivers and updates are already installed. Using System Image recovery is a much faster method to start fresh than reinstalling everything.
When recovering image created with this method, computer will start in so called First Run OOBE mode without any user accounts but all drivers, software and updates installed, stopping to ask for initial username, computer name, language (if additional languages installed), time zone, network and homegroup settings. An image includes no user accounts, no activation information and no SID so you always start fresh.
This tutorial takes you through following steps:Step 1: Install Windows 7
- Installing Windows 7 and entering Audit Mode during first boot after the installation
- Installing drivers, software, software updates and additional languages (Ultimate and Enterprise editions only)
- Creating a system image
- Booting to Windows Welcome (OOBE)
NoteNotice that Windows Update does not work in Audit Mode.
Step 2: Install drivers, software and updates
- Beginn installation of Windows 7 as told in this tutorial
- When you reach step 11 in above mentioned installation tutorial, DO NOT ENTER USERNAME AND COMPUTER NAME! Instead press CTRL + SHIFT + F3:
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.- This reboots Windows 7 now in so called Audit Mode using built-in administrator profile. There's no need to set up user accounts for now
- Continue installation from installation tutorial's step 15
- Finally Windows 7 starts in Audit Mode. Click Cancel to close System Preparation Tool for now:
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Notice: Installing drivers, updates and software might cause your computer to reboot several times. As long as you have not selected to exit Audit Mode, Windows reboots always automatically back to Audit Mode. In this case just close the System Preparation Tool as told above in Step 1.5.
- Install all third party drivers needed (audio, video etc.)
- If using Ultimate or Enterprise editions, install additional language packs if needed
- Install your software (third party browsers and mail clients, MsOffice, PhotoShop, Flash Player, PDF reader etc.)
- Install software updates
- If you want to change where all future User accounts will be located, you can relocate the main Users folder now as told in this tutorial: User Profiles - Create and Move During Windows 7 Installation
- When ready, continue from Step 3
Step 3: Create a System Image
When you are ready with customization, close all open applications and Explorer windows, and open an elevated command prompt. Give the following command:
Windows will now run the System Preaparation Tool (sysprep) and shut down.Code:%windir%\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe /oobe /shutdown
Now the only thing missing is creating the image. Boot the PC with the boot disk of your chosen imaging application and create the image. You can use any third party imaging application, my choice is the free edition of Macrium Reflect. Here you can find an easy to read, complete tutorial showing you how to do it with Macrium
Step 4: First boot (Welcome or OOBE boot)
When image is done, shut down the PC. Remove the boot disk of the imaging application, turn the PC on to start Windows . It will now boot to a so called First Run OOBE (Out-of-Box Experience) boot, stopping to ask initial user profile name and computer name as told in this tutorial, Step 11 and further. If language packs are installed (Ultimate or Enterprise only), initial first boot also asks user in what language he / she wants Windows to be set up.
Now you have your Windows 7 set up, with a System Image that you can use anytime you want to get fast back to fresh Windows.
Have Fun!
Kari