MS never seem to make something easy to understand

What I want to do is create a pre-prepared image that I can deploy to identical hardware machines.

I want to provide no user input whatsoever on the reboot.

I want the PC to be joined to the domain with a random computer name (credentials supplied in the sysprep.inf file)

I've tried doing this, running the setupmgr.exe program, supplying all the information required, including volume product key, system locale settings, the lot.

Then run sysprep, click on reseal.

When the machine reboots, it still asks me for all the user info, the product key and does not join the PC to the domain. It's as if it's ignored half the info presented in the sysprep.inf file.

What am I doing wrong? It's driving me mad

Thanks

post your sysprep.inf file- remove any passwords first.

Changed some of the info for anonymity, but you get the idea

;SetupMgrTag
[unattended]
   OemSkipEula=Yes
   InstallFilesPath=C:\sysprep\i386
   TargetPath=\WINDOWS

[GuiUnattended]
   AdminPassword=e52cac67419a9a224a3b108f3fa6cb6d8846f7eaee8fb117ad06bdd830b7586c
   EncryptedAdminPassword=Yes
   OEMSkipRegional=1
   TimeZone=110
   OemSkipWelcome=1

[userData]
   ProductKey=ABCDE-12345-ABCDE-12345-ABCDE
   FullName="Name goes here"
   OrgName="This is my organisation"
   ComputerName=*

[Display]
   BitsPerPel=32
   Xresolution=1680
   YResolution=1050
   Vrefresh=60

[TapiLocation]
   CountryCode=39

[RegionalSettings]
   LanguageGroup=1
   Language=00000410

[identification]
   JoinDomain=mydomain.local
   DomainAdmin=administrator
   DomainAdminPassword=password

[Networking]
   InstallDefaultComponents=Yes

[branding]
   BrandIEUsingUnattended=Yes

[Proxy]
   Proxy_Enable=0
   Use_Same_Proxy=0

edit, out of interest, is it normal that if I chose custom network components, I don't get any other protocols or services listed? I mean if I click on add protocol, the list is empty (no TCP/IP or IPX or NetBEUI, etc) Also, no file and print sharing. The only thing listed is Client for MS networks.

Have you tried out Nlite? its very good at slipstreaming full installations, and cutting out all the crap too.. i managed to get my XP install on the Eee down to about 200mb

What version of sysprep are you running? V1 or V1.1

What version of sysprep are you running? V1 or V1.1

Err not too sure Matt.

The deploy.cab file was retrieve from MS's website. Versioned as "SP2" for XP SP2. link

edit: if it would be more useful to "chat" live, I'm on msn. xavier_de_lucq @ hotmail.com

I would be happy to talk on msn but msn is blocked at work :(

I've seen something similar on sysprep'ing windows 2003, I can't see anything wrong with your sysprep file. I'll have a dig around.

I would be happy to talk on msn but msn is blocked at work :(

I've seen something similar on sysprep'ing windows 2003, I can't see anything wrong with your sysprep file. I'll have a dig around.

Cheers.

What about web messenger? that blocked too? Or Skype? or Yahoo? or IRC? or AOL?

Can you tell I'm desperate

they're all blocked. I barely get to see anything on briskoda :(

I'm guessing you've allready read this How to use the Sysprep tool to automate successful deployment of Windows XP

Have you tried out Nlite? its very good at slipstreaming full installations, and cutting out all the crap too.. i managed to get my XP install on the Eee down to about 200mb

That nlite is just what i have been looking for :thumbup:

That nlite is just what i have been looking for :thumbup:

It's a very nice tool.

I've used it several times to add manufacturers drivers into standard windows images

We are in the process of upgrading some of our machines from win2k to xp pro (we have put it off long enough lol) and this will save me a whole heap of time!

What I don't get with the sysprep is that apparently, you have to use the -reseal option as the final stage. According to the MS website:

-reseal - Clears the Event Viewer logs and prepares the computer for delivery to the customer. Windows Welcome or Mini-Setup is set to start the next time that the computer restarts.

I don't want the bold stuff to apply, i.e. be forced to go through the mini-setup. I want to use the answer file created which already answers all the qeustions asked in the mini-setup procedure!

I think even if you use the re-seal option it will still look for the sysprep.inf file

Aha found the problem :yipee:

Found out by reading a bit more carefully

Note that if you plan to use the Sysprep.inf file to automate Mini-Setup, you must either run the Sysprep tool by using the -mini switch, or click to select the MiniSetup check box in the GUI interface. By default, if you do not choose to run Mini-Setup, Windows XP Professional runs the Windows Welcome.

So in easy English, it means that if you don't use the -mini switch, then the PC will start with the Windows Welcome. And therefore, if it starts with the Windows Welcome, it ignores any mini-setup parameters

I've done another sysprep -mini -reseal and it's looking better. Still not quite right because I the network drivers are unsigned and therefore don't install, thereby making the joining of the domain a little tricky

There's some more stuff like

Note When unsigned drivers are unavoidable, use the UpdateInstalledDrivers=yes parameter in conjunction with OemPnPDriversPath= and DriverSigningPolicy=ignore instead of the -pnp command-line parameter to provide a more seamless installation.

which looks to be the issue. Will have another play, but on the right track now

Congrats. Rather you than me. Still your abroad at the moment so I guess I wish it was me

Congrats. Rather you than me. Still your abroad at the moment so I guess I wish it was me

Yup, and a clue of where I am can be found in the sysprep.inf file posted above

Yup, and a clue of where I am can be found in the sysprep.inf file posted above

You're in 39! Is the weather nice there?

So it was you who posted all of italy's tax returns on the web

Yup, and a clue of where I am can be found in the sysprep.inf file posted above

Have they got any jobs going

The weather is molto bene, grazie

It's a massive contrast between the French and the Italians.

With the French, they're very "on top of it all" and demand "immediate results".

With the Italians, it's much more "oh we'll try and fix it after a(nother) espresso". It's so much more relaxes - and that's more my life style However, it can be frustrating when you want something done and you can't because it relies on other people working too