Windows 7 Image - Customize in Audit Mode with Sysprep

groze said:

Kari,
I just want to know if this is possible, you don't need to go into details. If I have an windows 7 iso install image created using ImgBurn, wrote that image to a usb using the Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool. Could that installation be modified to add software Firefox, Opera, Google Chrome, Macrium Reflect, MiniTool Partition Wizard Home Edition, etc.. ? Could I also add sounds, cursors and wallpaper as well? Thank you for this information.

Short answer: Yes, it's not only possible but the exact purpose of this tutorial.

A bit longer answer: It is irrelevant how you have created your Windows 7 install image, it can always be customized. In your case, you would start by installing Windows 7 and entering Audit Mode as told in tutorial parts 3 & 4. From there you would do all the customizations (desktop theme, wallpaper, sounds, icons, desktop icon size and positioning, folder view settings, screensaver and so on), install your software either traditionally or if you'd like to do it a bit more automatized, using Chocolatey or an experimental build of OneGet.

The important thing here is that you remember to set CopyProfile=TRUE in your answer file (part 9.2). This is the one and only answer file setting to copy all the installed software and your theme / desktop modifications to Windows Default User Profile, which would then be used as base profile for any future user profile you will create.

Kari

Groze, I noticed I had forgotten something essential from my previous post: Of course, if you do this, your original Windows install image remains as it was, a basic and clean Windows install image with no software installed and no customizations when it is used for installation.

You need to capture the customized image and use it instead in your future installs (deployments) to get the customized, software included Windows installed.

Thanks for the great guide Kari! I've read through it a few times, and watched the accompanying videos.

I have a question that I was wondering if anyone here might know the answer to - how do you get internet access to install updates whilst in audit mode?

I tried plugging the ethernet cable in (through a powerline adapter - don't know if this makes a difference), and win 7 is saying I need to install drivers in order to connect to the internet. However, as far as I can tell, LAN drivers are the business of motherboard manufacturers. I have LAN drivers for my specific mobo on USB, however would installing them then prevent me from being able to make a generalised image that I could use on other machines (i.e., machines with different motherboards)?

In short, is my choice between having a generalised image (deployable to other machines) without windows updates vs. a motherboard specific image which includes windows updates?

EDIT: After re-reading the 'Part 11: Using Sysprep tool', I'm now under the impression that I can install my motherboard's LAN drivers in audit mode, access the internet to use windows update, and then when I use the \generalise command in sysprep this will remove said drivers. This would then allow future users to install their own motherboard-specific LAN drivers (and others) on future target machines. Could someone clarify if I'm correct in thinking this? Sorry for the stupid post, I'm new to this :P

Hi Pringler, welcome to the Seven Forums.

pringler said:

EDIT: After re-reading the 'Part 11: Using Sysprep tool', I'm now under the impression that I can install my motherboard's LAN drivers in audit mode, access the internet to use windows update, and then when I use the \generalise command in sysprep this will remove said drivers. This would then allow future users to install their own motherboard-specific LAN drivers (and others) on future target machines. Could someone clarify if I'm correct in thinking this? Sorry for the stupid post, I'm new to this :P

Yes, that is absolutely correct. Any drivers you will install in Audit Mode are removed when you Sysprep with the /generalize switch.

About the /generalize switch: when the generalized Windows image is installed / deployed to any computer Windows will do the OOBE phase using generic drivers and then use Windows Update to retrieve hardware specific drivers if the end user will not install them manually.

It is also possible to generalize keeping all drivers adding PersistAllDeviceInstalls component to Generalize pass in answer file with value TRUE:

Code:

<settings pass="generalize"> 
  <component name="Microsoft-Windows-PnpSysprep"> 
    <PersistAllDeviceInstalls>true</PersistAllDeviceInstalls> 
  </component>

This however should only be used when the hardware the image will be deployed is absolutely identical. This warning from Microsoft:

   Warning

Avoid using the PersistAllDeviceInstalls setting when the hardware and the hardware configuration on the reference computer are not identical to the destination computers. Even seemingly minor changes to the hardware or hardware configuration can cause severe or easily-overlooked problems. For more information, see the Hardware-configuration changes section of this whitepaper.

(From https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/...(v=ws.10).aspx)

Kari

Dfb said:

I,m surely missing something here and after trawling this site i,m hoping you could shed some light.

Hi Dfb, welcome to the Seven Forums.

I think the easiest and fastes solution for you would be to your host computer to download and install Macrium Reflect Free, run it once and follow the on-screen instructions in creating a Macrium boot disk.

That's the method I am currently using, works for 100% sure. Just boot your vm afterwards with the Macrium boot disk and create your image.

Kari