Windows Deployment Platform Components - Sysprep

You use Sysprep to prepare a master installation for imaging and deployment. Sysprep does the following:

• Removes computer-specific and operating system–specific installation data from Windows 7. Sysprep can remove all computer-specific information from an installed Windows 7 image, including the computer security identifier (SID). You can then capture and install the Windows installation throughout your organization.

• Configures Windows 7 to boot in audit mode. You can use audit mode to install third-party applications and device drivers, as well as to test the functionality of the computer, before delivering the computer to the user.

• Configures Windows 7 to boot to Windows Welcome. Sysprep configures a Windows 7 installation to boot to Windows Welcome the next time the computer starts. Generally, you configure a system to boot to Windows Welcome as a final step before delivering the computer to the user.

• Resets Windows Product Activation. Sysprep can rearm (reset) Windows Product Activation up to three times.

Sysprep.exe is located in the %WinDir%\System32\Sysprep directory on all Windows 7 installations. (You do not have to install Sysprep separately, as in earlier versions of Windows, because it’s a native part of the installation.) You must always run Sysprep from the %WinDir%\System32\Sysprep directory on the version of Windows 7 with which it was installed. For more information about Sysprep, see the Windows Automated Installation Kit User’s Guide in the Windows AIK 2.0.


Source of Information : Windows 7 Resource Kit 2009 Microsoft Press