Sysprep Confusion

[Cyron]

Hello friends,

Recently I've been given the task of setting up 50 Windows XP
systems. Basically I've prepared a model machine with the way things
need to be setup (applications, config files, etc.) and now I wish to
use Symantec Ghost to take an image and deploy it to the machines.
Prior to taking the image I have been running SysPrep because each
computer needs a unique SID.

In my tests of deploying the image I've noticed several problems:

1) On the model computer I have the system set to auto-logon using an
administrator account. Sysprep seems to wipe out these settings and
will actually prompt me to provide an admin password when it loads.

2) I set the registration information on the model computer to reflect
the organization which owns the Windows licenses....however after a
cloned system starts up, I type in it's Product Key and then the
"Registered To" field (as seen in System Properties) is set to whatever
I entered as my username.

I have these settings specified in sysprep.ini, but they don't seem to
have any effect. I've tried running the factory option first and then
Resealing. I've also tried just resealing. Same results.

Anyone have suggestions?

Thanks,

Jon

 

[Guest]

This is the way Sysprep works, it assumes a domain environment where all
machines are to be a "tabula rasa" as far as user-accounts are concerned. The
only proviso is that you CAN have a default user to provide skeleton profile
settings. But, of course that doesn't answer every situation.

A lot depends on whether the computers are all identical, or not. If they're
all the same model I'd forget Sysprep and make a Ghost that does what's
required in final form. Then I'd use Sysinternals' NewSID to chenge the SID
on each copy.

 

[Cyron]

A lot depends on whether the computers are all identical, or not. If they're
all the same model I'd forget Sysprep and make a Ghost that does what's
required in final form. Then I'd use Sysinternals' NewSID to chenge the SID
on each copy.

Thank You for your suggestion to use "NewSID". I will definitely check
into that and I think it may be the answer I am looking for.
Unfortunately I'm now experiencing a problem with Ghost, but I'll post
that in another thread.

Thanks for your help,

Mike