As you probably already know Sysprep (System Preparation Tool) has been used for years. However this tool has changed significantly for Windows Vista. In previous versions of Windows (Windows XP and 2000) Sysprep was made available in the Windows OPK, Windows CD Deploy.cab file, or, in the latest service pack. With Vista there is no longer a Deploy.cab file on the CD and no longer Setup Manager for creating answers files because Vista uses a new set of deployment tools.

1. Boot system from Vista CD/DVD
2. “Install Windows” screen appears > accept defaults then click next
3. Click “Install now”
4. At the next screen it will prompt you for product key. DO NOT ENTER THE KEY AT THIS TIME. Instead leave this field blank and click the Next button. It will ask you again if you want to enter the product click, click "No".
5. Next there will be a window asking you to select the correct Vista Edition you are loading and warns you must install the one which matches your product key. Select the edition you want, check mark the box "I have selected the edition of Windows that I purchased" and then click "Next" (must select correct edition!)
6. Checkmark box to "I accept the license terms" then click "Next"
7. Click on “Custom (advanced)” option (upgrade will be disabled)
8. Choose where to install Windows. Select new hard drive for OS then click next. If there is an existing partition you MUST delete it first or you will end up with two OS installations (Note: you can create custom size partition but default will be entire drive. Also this is where you can install mass storage device drivers if required - no more F6 method)
9. Wait while setup continues it will copy and expand windows file and install features (it will restart several times)
10. You come the "Set Up Windows" Screen. Do not enter user name or password or click Next or you will have to continue with a complete manual setup. Instead you will jump right to Audit mode.
11. To enter Audit mode hit CTRL+SHIFT+F3 and wait for system to reboot. This skips the user welcome experience and log you onto the desktop as Administrator. In AUDIT MODE you can install drivers and applications then go right to sysprep when you are ready (Sysprep Windows will be always open).
12. Wait while Vista completes installation and reboots.
13. You will end up on desktop in Administrator account with the Welcome Center and Sysprep Windows open. You can close or minimize these Windows for now
14. Install drivers and applications and customizations if necessary. QC system.
15. When ready to ship to end user find the Sysprep Window (see picture below). Leave the System Cleanup Action option on the default setting “Enter System Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE)” then check the “generalize” box then “shutdown” from shutdown options then click ok. System will automatically shutdown.
16. Attach the COA sticker to the chassis.
17. System is now ready to be boxed and delivered to customer.

How Sysprep utility looks (with OEM options) when run directly. You will not see when running from command line:

The following command-line options are available for Sysprep:

sysprep.exe [/oobe | /audit] [/generalize] [/reboot | /shutdown | /quit] [/quiet] [/unattend:answerfile]

Option	Description
/audit	Restarts the computer into audit mode. Audit mode enables you to add additional drivers or applications to Windows. You can also test an installation of Windows before it is sent to an end user. If an unattended Windows setup file is specified, the audit mode of Windows Setup runs the auditSystem and auditUser configuration passes.
/generalize	Prepares the Windows installation to be imaged. If this option is specified, all unique system information is removed from the Windows installation. The security ID (SID) resets, any system restore points are cleared, and event logs are deleted. The next time the computer starts, the specialize configuration pass runs. A new security ID (SID) is created, and the clock for Windows activation resets, if the clock has not already been reset three times.
/oobe	Restarts the computer into Windows Welcome mode. Windows Welcome enables end users to customize their Windows operating system, create user accounts, name the computer, and other tasks. Any settings in the oobeSystem configuration pass in an answer file are processed immediately before Windows Welcome starts.
/reboot	Restarts the computer. Use this option to audit the computer and to verify that the first-run experience operates correctly.
/shutdown	Shuts down the computer after Sysprep completes.
/quiet	Runs Sysprep without displaying on-screen confirmation messages. Use this option if you automate Sysprep.
/quit	Closes Sysprep after running the specified commands.
/unattend:answerfile	Applies settings in an answer file to Windows during unattended installation. answerfile Specifies the path and file name of the answer file to use.

Booting to Audit Mode or Windows Welcome

When Windows Vista boots, there are two modes in which the computer will start:

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Windows Welcome Windows Welcome, also called Machine OOBE (out-of-box experience), is the first user experience and enables end users to customize their Windows installation. End users can create user accounts, read and accept the Microsoft Software License Terms, and choose their language and time zones. By default, all Windows installations boot to Windows Welcome first. The oobeSystem configuration pass runs immediately before Windows Welcome starts. For more information about this configuration pass, see oobeSystem

•

Audit Mode. Audit mode enables OEMs and corporations to add customizations to their Windows images. Audit mode does not require settings in Windows Welcome to be applied. By bypassing Windows Welcome, you can get to the desktop quicker and perform your customizations. You can add additional device drivers, install applications, and test the validity of the installation. In audit mode, settings in an unattended answer file in the auditSystem and auditUser configuration passes are processed. For more information about these configuration passes, see auditSystem and auditUser If you are running in audit mode, to configure the installation to boot to Windows Welcome, run the sysprep /oobe command. OEMs are required to run sysprep /oobe before shipping a computer to an end user. In a default Windows Vista installation, after installation completes, Windows Welcome starts. However, you can skip Windows Welcome and boot directly to audit mode by pressing Ctrl+Shift+F3 at the first Windows Welcome screen. For unattended installation, you can configure Windows to boot to audit mode by using the Microsoft-Windows-Deployment | Reseal setting in an answer file. For more information, see the Unattended Windows Setup Reference.

For more information about audit mode, see Customize Windows in Audit Mode

Resetting Windows Activation

When you install Windows with a single license product key, you have 30 days during which you must activate that installation of Windows. If you do not activate Windows within the 30 day period and do not reset the activation clock, Windows will enter RFM (Reduced Functionality Mode). This mode prevents users from logging on to the computer until Windows is activated.

There is no limit to the number of times Sysprep can run on a computer. However, the clock for Windows Product Activation begins its countdown the first time Windows starts. You can use the sysprep /generalize command to reset Windows Product Activation a maximum of three times. After the third time you run the sysprep /generalize command, the clock can no longer be reset.

When you run the syspprep /generalize command, the activation clock will automatically reset. You can bypass resetting the activation clock by using the SkipRearm setting in the Microsoft-Windows-Security-Licensing-SLC component. This enables you to run Sysprep multiple times without resetting the activation clock. For more information about this setting, see the Unattended Windows Setup Reference.