Windows 7 Image - Customize in Audit Mode with Sysprep

I've decided to take the plunge and am already stuck!

This is because:-

a) I am nowhere near as clever as Kari
b) the original article was written, I believe, prior to some updating issues from Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 onwards.

So I am trying to work around installing KB3020369 & KB3125574 & KB3172605 and all updates since so that the image will be the most up-to-date and then and only then start at Step 5 Installing software for all users.

My first issue came at the net use command prompt Step 4. I have the KB installers located on drive E of the same PC I am attempting to make the image on.

So what I have done is:-

After installing KB3020369, I have rebooted and gone through the Sysprep step to Enter Sysprep Mode, Quit and click OK.

I am installing KB3125574 and will reboot again and go through Enter Sysprep Mode, Quit and OK for each and every piece of software where it either:-

c) requires it or,
d) until such time as I installed all updates, drivers, etceteras and have installed all software I want in the base image.

My fear at this point is I am only guessing that this is the correct method of getting to a stage where all updates are installed and hoping that I am not wasting my time only to find later it somehow fails the Sysprep stage.

I make this comment only because I have had to reinstall Windows 7 for the 5th/6th time in the last week due to some intermittent seemingly unknown software/hardware issue and my mental energy is at an all-time low (see my other recent threads if interested).

Hopefully this will work. Sevenforums is the best Windows resource I have ever come across. Absolutely amazing and frequented by amazing people like Kari! Thanks for all your tutorials.

EDIT:

I see that Step 5 mentions Windows Update after talking about installing general software you want user to have access to after deployment.

So far! So good! It doesn't seem to have an adverse effect that I have chosen to do updates before software. I will run updates again after.

HERE

Hi,Kari.

1.Part 7. Installing Windows AIK
We may get Windows ADK for Windows 10 from here.

And comparing the article
How to Create Hardware Independent System Image for Installing Windows 10
with this,we needn't such tool like ADK,we can create the unattended file by notepad.Why can't we create this by notepad directly?

2 Install x64 system on virtual machine

You should check Intel VT-x is supported or not as well.

I got the old laptop and failed.

Dear Kari,

I'm really glad to find you still active in the forums. We don't know each other, but I know you from your great and detailed tutorials - thanks you so much for your time and energy!

The reason why I'm now taking this opportunity to write you is quite simple:

Your Tutorial:
Windows 7 Image - Customize in Audit Mode with Sysprep

Windows 7 Help Forums


I took my time to really get an understanding for the topic. Well it ended not with a clear understanding but with "good enough" questions which could lead me to one.
So I posted a thread in two German forums - the response was foreseeable; they gave me positive feedback for my detailed way to break the topic down but ignored all my questions and took the opportunity to try to send me in a completely other direction... well You might experienced this phenomena Yourself^^

My hope is, that i can make and present you my case and that you would be so kind enough to help me to get an understanding for the topic. So bare with me

"What should be"
:

VM-Workstation:

With „Snapshots“:


1. Active running VM as Win7-TemplatePC
2. Offline – SysPrepped & Pre-OOBE (for imaging phase)

Active VM includes:

• System configuration
• „All Users Software“
• „UserProfiles“
• UserProfile specific systemconfiguration
• UserProfile specific software
• UserProfile specific softwareconfiguration

The VM should be me go to place to configure the ideal system, time by time.
That includes things like::


• Add/Delete User(Profile)
• Install/Deinstall software
• change configurations (System/User/Software)

You can see, that I want more than a system with some software and a customized "defaultUserProfile". I Want a system which includes all the UserProfiles.

Well and now we coming to my problems.

• I need SysPrep to get a useable Imgage ( without the hardware specifications ) but how is SysPrep influencing my UserProfiles?
• Should I include the UserProfiles in the Answer-File or would it just manually create the UserProfiles but with a "clear database" (without my %appdata% info and software configuration?)
• Or is the important point, the crossroads after sysprepping; Is selection of the imaging software responsable for the way to distribute the image?
• ... sorry its hard to communicate what I mean.
• Are my problems with including the userprofiles to the image solvable in the imaging software and not in the steps before that?
• How do I proceed with an image that includes an OS? Does one need to "install" it or just "move"/"import" it?

I'll add a visual-aid I made. The third graphic in it might help You see me perspective/thought process.
https://www.administrator.de/images/...dfe1d653fb.jpg

Thanks for reading! If You got any question, please ask.
I wish u all the best

Rick // inHell

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- @Brink
Thank you so much! =)

You can use wimlib instead, it is quicker.

Use wimscript.ini to avoid capturing stuff you don't need.

basic:
wimlib-imagex.exe capture E:\ path_to-windows7.wim "Windows 7"

with switches:

wimlib-imagex capture E:\ path_to_windows7.wim "Windows 7" --compress=fast --check --config="path_to_wimscript.ini"

wimscript.ini

Code:

[ExclusionList]
\hiberfil.sys
\pagefile.sys
\swapfile.sys
\System Volume Information
\$Recycle.Bin\*
\Recycler
\Recycled
\Windows\CSC
\winpepge.sys
\$windows.~ls
\$windows.~bt
\Recovery.txt
\bootsect.bak
\ProgramData\Microsoft\Diagnosis\ETLLogs\*
\ProgramData\Microsoft\Diagnosis\ScenariosSqlStore\*
\ProgramData\Microsoft\Diagnosis\EventStore.db
\ProgramData\Microsoft\DiagnosticLogCSP\Collectors\*
\ProgramData\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\*
\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows\edb*
\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows\Windows.*
\ProgramData\Microsoft\SmsRouter\MessageStore\edb*
\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\SQM
\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive\*
\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Support\*
\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Security Health\Logs\*
\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\wfp\*.etl
\ProgramData\USOShared\Logs\*
;\Users\Administrator
\Users\*\NTUSER.DAT*.TM.blf
\Users\*\NTUSER.DAT*.regtrans-ms
\Users\*\NTUSER.DAT*.log*
\Users\*\AppData\Local\Microsoft\CLR_v4.0_64\UsageLogs\*
\Users\*\AppData\Local\Microsoft\CLR_v4.0_32\UsageLogs\*
\Users\*\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Feeds\*
\Users\*\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Feeds Cache\*
\Users\*\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\*.log
\Users\*\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\*.txt
\Users\*\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\*
\Users\*\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\*.etl
\Users\*\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\IE\*
\Users\*\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Media Player\*
\Users\*\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WebCache\*
\Users\*\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client\Cache\*
\Users\*\AppData\Local\Temp\*
\Users\*\AppData\Local\Icon*
\Windows\AppCompat\Programs\Amcache.hve*.TM.blf
\Windows\AppCompat\Programs\Amcache.hve*.regtrans-ms
\Windows\AppCompat\Programs\Amcache.hve*.log*
\Windows\CSC
\Windows\Debug\*
\Windows\inf\*.etl
\Windows\inf\*.ev*
\Windows\inf\*.log
\Windows\Logs\CBS\*
\Windows\Logs\DISM
\Windows\Logs\DPX
\Windows\Logs\dosvc\*
\Windows\Logs\NetSetup
\Windows\Logs\waasmedic\*
\Windows\Logs\WindowsUpdate\*
\Windows\Logs\PBR
\Windows\Logs\*.log
\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\*.log
\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\*.log
\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\*.log
\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\*.log
\Windows\Panther\*.etl
\Windows\Panther\*.log
\Windows\Panther\FastCleanup
\Windows\Panther\img
;\Windows\Panther\Licenses
\Windows\Panther\MigLog*.xml
\Windows\Panther\Resources
\Windows\Panther\Rollback
\Windows\Panther\Setup*
\Windows\Panther\UnattendGC
\Windows\Panther\upgradematrix
\Windows\Prefetch\*
\Windows\security\database\*.chk
\Windows\security\database\*.log
\Windows\security\database\*.jrs
\Windows\security\logs\*
\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\FontCache-FontFace.dat
\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\FontCache-S-1-5-21*.dat
\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\FontCache\*
\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\NTUSER.DAT*.TM.blf
\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\NTUSER.DAT*.regtrans-ms
\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\NTUSER.DAT*.log*
\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\NTUSER.DAT*.TM.blf
\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\NTUSER.DAT*.regtrans-ms
\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\NTUSER.DAT*.log*
\Windows\servicing\Packages\wuindex.xml
\Windows\servicing\Sessions\*_*.xml
\Windows\servicing\Sessions\Sessions.back.xml
\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Downloads
\Windows\System32\catroot2\*.txt
\Windows\System32\catroot2\*.chk
\Windows\System32\catroot2\*.log
\Windows\System32\catroot2\*.jrs
\Windows\System32\config1
\Windows\System32\config\*.TM.blf
\Windows\System32\config\*.regtrans-ms
\Windows\System32\config\*.log*
\Windows\System32\config\*.SAV
\Windows\System32\config\*.reg
\Windows\System32\config\RegBack\*
\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\*.TM.blf
\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\*.regtrans-ms
\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\*.log*
\Windows\System32\config\TxR\*.blf
\Windows\System32\config\TxR\*.regtrans-ms
\Windows\System32\CodeIntegrity\bootcat.cache
\Windows\System32\LogFiles\AIT\*
\Windows\System32\LogFiles\Scm\*
\Windows\System32\LogFiles\SQM\*
\Windows\System32\LogFiles\WMI\*.etl*
\Windows\System32\LogFiles\WMI\RtBackup\*.etl
\Windows\System32\SleepStudy\*.etl
\Windows\System32\SleepStudy\ScreenOn\*.etl
\Windows\System32\SMI\Store\Machine\SCHEMA.DAT*.TM.blf
\Windows\System32\SMI\Store\Machine\SCHEMA.DAT*.regtrans-ms
\Windows\System32\SMI\Store\Machine\SCHEMA.DAT*.log*
\Windows\System32\sru\*.txt
\Windows\System32\sru\*.chk
\Windows\System32\sru\*.log
\Windows\System32\sru\*.jrs
\Windows\System32\Sysprep\Panther
\Windows\System32\Sysprep\Sysprep_succeeded.tag
\Windows\System32\wdi\LogFiles\*
\Windows\System32\wfp\*.etl
\Windows\System32\winevt\Logs\*
\Windows\System32\winevt\TraceFormat\*
\Windows\Temp\*
\Windows\WinSxS\Backup
\Windows\WinSxS\ManifestCache\*
\Windows\WinSxS\Temp\*
\Windows\*.log

[CompressionExclusionList]
*.mp3
*.zip
*.cab
*.wmv
*.wma
*.wim
*.esd
*.swm
*.dvr-ms
\windows\inf\*.pnf
*.rar
*.7z

wimlib - Main page

https://wimlib.net/downloads/wimlib-...s-i686-bin.zip

https://wimlib.net/downloads/wimlib-...x86_64-bin.zip