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Sysprep functions and known issues


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Introduction

This article discusses the following:
  • Settings that are restored to the default setting when you use the System Preparation (Sysprep) tool to deploy a computer
  • Sysprep functions and restrictions
  • Known issues that occur when you run Sysprep
For more information about Sysprep, see the OEM Preinstallation Kit User's Guide.

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More information

Settings that are restored to their default settings

The following settings are restored to their default settings when you use Sysprep to deploy the computer.

System properties

  • Computer name
  • Active Directory directory service or Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 domain membership status
  • Drive letter assignment

    Note The drive letter is assigned to the first recognized partitions in the order that they appear during installation.
  • Settings in the Startup and Recovery area on the Advanced tab of the computer properties dialog box
  • Duration of time to display the dump configuration and the operating systems list
  • Virtual memory settings in the Performance area on the Advanced tab of the computer properties dialog box
  • Drive settings that are related to the system restore operation on the System Restore tab of the computer properties dialog box

Disk and file systems

  • All functions that are stored in Storage Provider
  • User rights settings in the Documents and Settings\Default User folder
  • Disk quota settings for local users
  • Hard-coded values that are stored for drive letters
  • Short file names for paths

Network and dial-up connection settings

  • Modem settings
  • Wireless network connections
  • Network bridge connections
  • Automatically synchronize with an Internet time server
  • Network adapter settings in the virtual PCI bus

Applications that are embedded together with Windows settings

  • Subscription information in Internet Explorer
  • Autocomplete information in Internet Explorer
  • Saved passwords in Internet Explorer
  • Microsoft Outlook Express mail server or directory server passwords that are initialized
  • Settings for Internet Options on the Security tab in Internet Explorer

Regional and language options

  • Input language settings
  • Keyboard in the Installed services settings on the Languages tab of Regional and Language Options
  • Languages that do not support Unicode settings on the Advanced tab of Regional and Language Options

System-specific settings

  • Private database files
  • Stored computer-specific information
  • Active Directory information that is stored on the local computer
  • Local computer information that is stored in Active Directory
  • Unique certificate information to install each Windows-based computer
  • Digital Rights Management (DRM) information
  • Other items, such as Windows-specific variables in the private data store that are unique for each computer and for each installation or variables that change when you transfer Windows to different hardware

Hardware and device drivers

  • Network adapter drivers without digital signatures are replaced by the latest drivers that have a digital signatures
  • Power options
  • Other information about peripheral equipment that is installed on a computer, such as serial numbers, asset tags, or vendor tags
  • Network hardware information, such as media access control information, GUID information, or serial numbers

Other settings

  • Desktop icons
  • Screen saver settings
  • Start settings for a service
  • Service pack source paths
  • Local user names or group names that are hard-coded
  • %systemdrive%, %userprofile%, or other values that are hard-coded

Other modifications that are made by Sysprep

  • Shortcuts may be added or removed from the desktop
  • Old fonts, such as the Gulim.ttf and Simsun.ttf fonts, are replaced by the .ttc format font file
  • Real-time clock in the BIOS may be set back one hour

Sysprep functions and restrictions

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KB NumberTitleCategory
271369Statically-entered TCP/IP settings are not present after Sysprep Settings
820936Windows Media Player shortcut is added to the desktop after you run SysprepSettings
899855The BIOS real-time clock is set back one hour after you deploy a Windows XP System Preparation image to a computerSettings
928543How to automatically assign a drive letter by using the Diskpart.exe command Settings
912825You notice that certain hardware component settings are either reset or missing in a Windows XP-based Sysprep image after you deploy the imageSettings
811428Event ID 7011 messages and computer stops responding after you install Windows XP by using the Sysprep utilityGeneral
815229When using sysprep.exe, passwords cannot be saved General
837494You are prompted for the product key while the Windows XP Setup program is running, although you use an answer file that contains a product keyGeneral
903262A Windows 2000-based or Windows XP-based computer that was set up by using a Windows 2000 or Windows XP image does not appear in the Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) consoleGeneral

Known issues

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KB NumberTitleStatus
299899Setting the ClearType option for an Unattend setup does not work Fixed
(Windows XP Service Pack 1)
307316Volume License product ID is revealed during the Sysprep.exe Mini-Setup wizardFixed
(Windows XP Service Pack 1)
316134You cannot log on to Windows XP after running the Out-of-Box Experience Fixed
(Windows XP Service Pack 1)
308402"The password is not valid" error message appears when you log on to Recovery Console in Windows XP Fixed
317086The AutoAdminLogon feature does not work after you use SysprepFixed
319928Microsoft links do not appear in the MFU List after you run Sysprep on a Windows XP Multilingual User Interface Pack Build Fixed
322936Joining a Sysprep.exe image of Windows XP creates duplicate computer accounts in Active Directory Fixed
812599Opportunistic locking may not be granted if Windows is installed by using Sysprep Fixed
815496The Sysprep tool does not correctly clean information in the "Protected Storage System Provider" keyFixed
827385IIS settings are missing after you run Sysprep with the -nosidgen command-line switchFixed
831783Security policies are not applied to a RIS or Sysprep deployed image of Windows XP on first startFixed
836872You receive error messages when you run programs that use common language runtime version 1.0 on Windows XP Tablet PC EditionFixed
838271Sysprep changes the computer name from lower case letters to upper case letters when deploying Windows XPFixed
(Windows XP Service Pack 2)
883667Windows XP Setup program may stop responding during video driver installationFixed
(Windows XP Service Pack 2)
887816Changes in behavior of the SysPrep and RIPREP tools after you install Windows XP Service Pack 2Fixed
888239The Welcome music and video do not play during the Out-Of-Box Experience Wizard after you use a Sysprep image to distribute Windows XP Service Pack 2Fixed
889073The IIS and SMTP services do not start when you deploy a Windows XP SP2 Sysprep image on your Windows XP SP2-based computerFixed
894871When you use the System Preparation tool and the Sysprep.inf file to update drivers on a Microsoft Windows XP image, the File Signature Verification tool may report that some drivers are not digitally signedFixed
900336Sysprep.exe may generate duplicate computer names when you use Sysprep.exe to deploy Windows Server 2003 on a computer networkFixed
910678The Sysprep MiniSetup Wizard may stop responding when you run the wizard to install a Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2 imageFixed
920293You cannot configure a network adapter that resides on a virtual bus to use a static IP address in an automated deployment of Windows Server 2003Fixed
283079No mouse or keyboard response during Sysprep mini-Setup Not fixed
309433You Cannot Change the Default User Interface Language After You Run SysprepNot fixed
313111Scheduled tasks may not start if you used a System Preparation image to install Windows XP or Windows 2000Not fixed
314940Event ID 7005 When You Use Sysprep.exe with the -mini Switch Not fixed
823729Sysprep May Not Consistently Apply the Per-User Settings That Are Specified in Winbom.iniNot fixed
894570Sysprep does not update the DevicePath value in the registry with information from OemPnpDriversPath in Windows XP ProfessionalNot fixed
897098The DHCPClassID option is not transmitted correctly over the network connection if you use the System Preparation tool (Sysprep.exe) DHCPClassID option to deploy a Microsoft Windows XP-based computerNot fixed
908578You are unexpectedly prompted to enter the product key when you run the Out of Box Experience Wizard in Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005Not fixed
908784New users are still limited by the Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration component in Windows Server 2003 after this component is removedNot fixed
837790Factory mode customizations are lost when you run the Out Of Box Experience WizardFixed

How to use Sysprep

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KB NumberTitleCategory
288326Sysprep.inf file is not read from floppy diskSettings
294799The Search Path order for the Winbom.ini file when you run Sysprep Settings
298503Driver signing registry values cannot be modified directly in Windows Settings
303786Missing [SysprepMassStorage] section causes STOP 0x7B error message on Windows XP Sysprep images Settings
307543Preventing Sysprep from Removing Default and Custom Desktop Icons and Shortcuts Settings
811428Event ID 7011 messages and computer stops responding after you install Windows XP by Using the Sysprep UtilitySettings
813138Description of the KeepPageFile= setting for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003Settings
818171"An Error Has Been Encountered That Prevents Setup from Continuing" error message when Sysprep Mini Wizard runs Settings
837691Hardware devices not installed in Sysprep imageSettings
838856Windows stops responding when you try to install Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, or Windows 2000 by using a Sysprep imageSettings
282190Description of new features in Sysprep for Windows XP General
308554"Error 0x80040605 Re-arming" error message when you try to run Riprep.exe or Sysprep.exe on Windows XPGeneral
314460System Preparation tool and answer file usage General
321070How to disable the Mini-Setup Wizard on a Windows XP-based computer on which you used SysprepGeneral
828287Unsupported Sysprep scenariosGeneral
830958Summary of the limitations of the System Preparation toolGeneral
838080Updated System Preparation tool for Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005General
899356How to access the "Preserving OEM Pre-Activation when Re-installing Windows XP" white paper for Windows XPGeneral

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References

For more information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
314472� Quick guide to preinstalling Windows
820885� Default desktop icons are removed when you use the DoDesktopCleanUp entry with Sysprep
888372� You receive a �Stop 0x0000007E� error message after you upgrade to Windows XP Service Pack 2 on a non-Intel-processor-based computer

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Keywords: kbharmony, kbinfo, kbhowto, kbsyspreptool, kbexpertiseinter, KB928386

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Article Info
Article ID : 928386
Revision : 1
Created on : 8/12/2011
Published on : 8/12/2011
Exists online : False
Views : 976