Windows 7 - minisetup equivilant?

I'm trying to create a good Win7 image while I've got time to do it.

For a goodly few years we've had Win XP imaging off to a fine art with sysprep and an answer file, you simply deploy the image by whatever means (we use all of Imagex, Ghost and remove-the-hard-disk-and-bung-it-in-another-pc), reboot the machine and it prompts for any items not specified in the answer file, most usefully the computer name. 10 mins flat and you have a PC correctly named (typos permitting) back in the domain, ready to go.:cool:

7 and Vista seem incredibly clunky in this regard :(- but I've followed bits of this: How To Image and Deploy Windows 7 a Complete Guide - Using sysprep and imagex and used the tool on the site to generate an unattend.xml file in which I've put all the data items, except computer name.

BUT

On reboot, there doesn't seem to be any prompting for missing items :(- instead, what I get is a randomly named machine in a workgroup with the same name as the domain I specified in unattend.xml:mad:.

Long story short, is there a way of getting 7 to prompt for a computer name on the first boot after sysprepping, like there used to be in XP?:rolleyes:

We were looking into this, I dont believe there is a way.

Let me know if im wrong lol

Interested in this too:

We have tested our W7 policies and now wish to try replicating:

I think we need to :

1. Build up PC with all settings.
2. Copy an unattend.xml to the sysprep folder.
3. Run command : sysprep /generalize /oobe /shutdown /unattend:unattend.xml
4. Shutdown the PC.
5. Boot using bootable CD and ghost PC to it's D:\ partition.

There is some stuff on this site:
Sysprep a Windows 7 Machine ? Start to Finish - The IT Bros

about the XML file

But it's completely new to me so any help appreciated.

Ah ha! that's the stuff!!

Quote:

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If you want the sysprep to prompt for a computer name you need to remove a line from your XML file. Open up your XML file you saved with notepad and remove the following line:
<computername></computername>

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I'm on it - will post the results here :)

...or not. Same result as before :(

any more ideas, anyone?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kennysarmy

Interested in this too:

We have tested our W7 policies and now wish to try replicating:

I think we need to :

1. Build up PC with all settings.
2. Copy an unattend.xml to the sysprep folder.
3. Run command : sysprep /generalize /oobe /shutdown /unattend:unattend.xml
4. Shutdown the PC.
5. Boot using bootable CD and ghost PC to it's D:\ partition.

There is some stuff on this site:
Sysprep a Windows 7 Machine ? Start to Finish - The IT Bros

about the XML file

But it's completely new to me so any help appreciated.

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Looks about right to me - not sure about the ghosting to D: bit as we don't use it like that, our site is small enough to get away with either imagex-ing or ghosting from a usb hdd as and when - or multicasting if I'm doing a whole room in the holidays.

As I said above, XP goes like a dream doing this so it's a real letdown that 7 doesn't AFAIK... using the unattend.xml does improve matters somewhat however - at least all you have to do is log on locally after imaging, change the computer name and connect to the domain manually, but that's SO clunky comapred to minisetup in XP :( Thank goodness it's Friday

Does this help?

Windows 7 Sysprep – Tips & tricks « TXT.bitprocessor.be

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kennysarmy

Does this help?

Windows 7 Sysprep – Tips & tricks « TXT.bitprocessor.be

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It might - it certainly renames the PCs ok, but doesn't join them to the domain :( I'm going to post my unattend.xml - can anyone see why it's not joining the domain?

Code:

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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
- <unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
- <settings pass="windowsPE">
- <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS">
- <SetupUILanguage>
  <UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
  </SetupUILanguage>
  <InputLocale>0409:00000409</InputLocale>
  <UserLocale>en-US</UserLocale>
  <UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
  <SystemLocale>en-US</SystemLocale>
  </component>
- <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS">
- <UserData>
  <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
  <FullName>CPS</FullName>
  <Organization>CPS</Organization>
- <ProductKey>
  <Key>removed</Key>
  <WillShowUI>Never</WillShowUI>
  </ProductKey>
  </UserData>
  </component>
  </settings>
- <settings pass="oobeSystem">
- <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS">
- <OOBE>
  <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>
  <NetworkLocation>Work</NetworkLocation>
  <ProtectYourPC>1</ProtectYourPC>
  <SkipMachineOOBE>true</SkipMachineOOBE>
  <SkipUserOOBE>true</SkipUserOOBE>
  </OOBE>
  <TimeZone>GMT Standard Time</TimeZone>
- <UserAccounts>
- <AdministratorPassword>
  <Value>fred</Value>
  <PlainText>true</PlainText>
  </AdministratorPassword>
- <LocalAccounts>
- <LocalAccount>
- <Password>
  <Value>removed</Value>
  <PlainText>true</PlainText>
  </Password>
  <Description>local account</Description>
  <DisplayName>tony</DisplayName>
  <Group>Administrators;Users;</Group>
  <Name>albus</Name>
  </LocalAccount>
  </LocalAccounts>
  </UserAccounts>
  </component>
- <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS">
  <InputLocale>0409:00000409</InputLocale>
  <UserLocale>en-UK</UserLocale>
  <UILanguage>en-UK</UILanguage>
  <SystemLocale>en-UK</SystemLocale>
  </component>
  </settings>
- <settings pass="specialize">
- <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS">
  <ComputerName>ReplaceMe1</ComputerName>
  <CopyProfile>false</CopyProfile>
  <RegisteredOrganization>CPS</RegisteredOrganization>
  <RegisteredOwner>CPS</RegisteredOwner>
- <Display>
  <ColorDepth>32</ColorDepth>
  <HorizontalResolution>1024</HorizontalResolution>
  <RefreshRate>60</RefreshRate>
  <VerticalResolution>768</VerticalResolution>
  </Display>
  </component>
- <component name="Microsoft-Windows-UnattendedJoin" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS">
- <Identification>
- <Credentials>
  <Domain>cps</Domain>
  <Password>removed</Password>
  <Username>removed</Username>
  </Credentials>
  </Identification>
  </component>
  </settings>
  </unattend>

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by BatchFile

It might - it certainly renames the PCs ok, but doesn't join them to the domain :( I'm going to post my unattend.xml - can anyone see why it's not joining the domain?

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We had to enter a PowerShell command for ours to join the domain...

Code:

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<FirstLogonCommands>
                <SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <CommandLine>shutdown /r /t 15</CommandLine>
                    <Order>3</Order>
                </SynchronousCommand>
                <SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <CommandLine>net user Admin2 /delete</CommandLine>
                    <Order>2</Order>
                </SynchronousCommand>
                <SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <CommandLine>C:\windows\system32\windowspowershell\v1.0\powershell.exe -command &quot;Add-Computer -domainname DOMAIN -cred DOMAIN\Account&quot;</CommandLine>
                    <Order>1</Order>
                    <RequiresUserInput>true</RequiresUserInput>
                </SynchronousCommand>
            </FirstLogonCommands>

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It asks us to join the domain right after it first boots into the 'Admin' account. The 'Admin2' account is just a junk account because you HAVE to create one in Win7. It then reboots 15 seconds after entering the domain credentials.

Hope that helps some.

Sorry being thick here as usual - where in the XML does that need to go? I tried putting it at the end and got an error

Code:

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"Windows cannot parse or process the answer file [c:\windows\panther\unattend.xml] for pass [specialize]. the answer file is invalid

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The FirstLogonCommands section should go under Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup in the oobeSystem pass. However, your XML file is missing the JoinDomain and MachineObjectOU commands (shown below in red) which could be why it's not working.

Code:

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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
    <settings pass="windowsPE">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS">
            <SetupUILanguage>
                <UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
            </SetupUILanguage>
            <InputLocale>0809:00000809</InputLocale>
            <SystemLocale>en-GB</SystemLocale>
            <UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
            <UserLocale>en-GB</UserLocale>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS">
            <UserData>
                <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
                <FullName>CPS</FullName>
                <Organization>CPS</Organization>
                <ProductKey>
                    <Key>removed</Key>
                    <WillShowUI>Never</WillShowUI>
                </ProductKey>
            </UserData>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="oobeSystem">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS">
            <OOBE>
                <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>
                <NetworkLocation>Work</NetworkLocation>
                <ProtectYourPC>1</ProtectYourPC>
            </OOBE>
            <TimeZone>GMT Standard Time</TimeZone>
            <UserAccounts>
                <AdministratorPassword>
                    <Value>ZgByAGUAZABBAGQAbQBpAG4AaQBzAHQAcgBhAHQAbwByAFAAYQBzAHMAdwBvAHIAZAA=</Value>
                    <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                </AdministratorPassword>
                <LocalAccounts>
                    <LocalAccount>
                        <Password>
                            <Value>cgBlAG0AbwB2AGUAZABQAGEAcwBzAHcAbwByAGQA</Value>
                            <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                        </Password>
                        <Description>local account</Description>
                        <DisplayName>tony</DisplayName>
                        <Group>Administrators;Users;</Group>
                        <Name>albus</Name>
                    </LocalAccount>
                </LocalAccounts>
            </UserAccounts>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS">
            <InputLocale>0809:00000809</InputLocale>
            <SystemLocale>en-GB</SystemLocale>
            <UILanguage>en-GB</UILanguage>
            <UserLocale>0809:00000809</UserLocale>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="specialize">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS">
            <ComputerName>ReplaceMe1</ComputerName>
            <CopyProfile>false</CopyProfile>
            <RegisteredOrganization>CPS</RegisteredOrganization>
            <RegisteredOwner>CPS</RegisteredOwner>
            <Display>
                <ColorDepth>32</ColorDepth>
                <HorizontalResolution>1024</HorizontalResolution>
                <RefreshRate>60</RefreshRate>
                <VerticalResolution>768</VerticalResolution>
            </Display>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-RemoteAssistance-Exe" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS">
            <fAllowFullControl>true</fAllowFullControl>
            <fAllowToGetHelp>true</fAllowToGetHelp>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-TerminalServices-LocalSessionManager" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS">
            <fDenyTSConnections>false</fDenyTSConnections>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-UnattendedJoin" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS">
            <Identification>
                <Credentials>
                    <Domain>cps</Domain>
                    <Password>removed</Password>
                    <Username>removed</Username>
                </Credentials>
                <JoinDomain>domain.com</JoinDomain>
                <MachineObjectOU>OU=Windows 7,OU=Workstations,DC=domain,DC=com</MachineObjectOU>
            </Identification>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-TerminalServices-RDP-WinStationExtensions" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS">
            <UserAuthentication>1</UserAuthentication>
        </component>
    </settings>
</unattend>

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I forgot to mention, you may find the following two XML files useful for reference purposes. If the domain join still fails, there is a file called netsetup.log (in %SystemRoot%\Debug) which you can check for errors.

http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/1442...ost__p__925604
http://pcloadletter.co.uk/2010/07/08...-unattend-xml/

Curiouser and curiouser!
netsetup.log shows:

Code:

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03/15/2011 12:39:58:153 -----------------------------------------------------------------
03/15/2011 12:39:58:153 NetpDoDomainJoin
03/15/2011 12:39:58:153 NetpMachineValidToJoin: 'TEST5RM2WIN7'
03/15/2011 12:39:58:153        OS Version: 6.1
03/15/2011 12:39:58:153        Build number: 7601 (7601.win7sp1_rtm.101119-1850)
03/15/2011 12:39:58:153        ServicePack: Service Pack 1
03/15/2011 12:39:58:153        SKU: Windows 7 Professional
03/15/2011 12:39:58:153 NetpDomainJoinLicensingCheck: ulLicenseValue=1, Status: 0x0
03/15/2011 12:39:58:153 NetpGetLsaPrimaryDomain: status: 0x0
03/15/2011 12:39:58:153 NetpMachineValidToJoin: status: 0x0
03/15/2011 12:39:58:153 NetpJoinDomain
03/15/2011 12:39:58:153        Machine: TEST5RM2WIN7
03/15/2011 12:39:58:153        Domain: cps\ALASTOR
03/15/2011 12:39:58:153        MachineAccountOU: OU=computers,DC=cps,DC=local
03/15/2011 12:39:58:153        Account: cps\administrator
03/15/2011 12:39:58:153        Options: 0x23
03/15/2011 12:39:58:153 NetpLoadParameters: loading registry parameters...
03/15/2011 12:39:58:153 NetpLoadParameters: DNSNameResolutionRequired not found, defaulting to '1' 0x2
03/15/2011 12:39:58:153 NetpLoadParameters: DomainCompatibilityMode not found, defaulting to '0' 0x2
03/15/2011 12:39:58:153 NetpLoadParameters: status: 0x2
03/15/2011 12:39:58:153 NetpValidateName: checking to see if 'cps' is valid as type 3 name
03/15/2011 12:39:58:262 NetpCheckDomainNameIsValid [ Exists ] for 'cps' returned 0x0
03/15/2011 12:39:58:262 NetpValidateName: name 'cps' is valid for type 3
03/15/2011 12:39:58:262 NetpJoinDomain: status of connecting to dc '\\ALASTOR': 0x0
03/15/2011 12:39:58:262 NetpJoinDomainOnDs: Passed DC 'ALASTOR' NOT verified as DNS name '\\alastor.cps.local'
03/15/2011 12:39:58:262 NetpJoinDomainOnDs: Passed DC 'ALASTOR' verified as Netbios name '\\ALASTOR'
03/15/2011 12:39:58:262 NetpLoadParameters: loading registry parameters...
03/15/2011 12:39:58:262 NetpLoadParameters: DNSNameResolutionRequired not found, defaulting to '1' 0x2
03/15/2011 12:39:58:262 NetpLoadParameters: DomainCompatibilityMode not found, defaulting to '0' 0x2
03/15/2011 12:39:58:262 NetpLoadParameters: status: 0x2
03/15/2011 12:39:58:262 NetpDsGetDcName: status of verifying DNS A record name resolution for 'alastor.cps.local': 0x0
03/15/2011 12:39:58:262 NetpProvisionComputerAccount:
03/15/2011 12:39:58:262        lpDomain: cps
03/15/2011 12:39:58:262        lpMachineName: TEST5RM2WIN7
03/15/2011 12:39:58:262        lpMachineAccountOU: OU=computers,DC=cps,DC=local
03/15/2011 12:39:58:262        lpDcName: ALASTOR
03/15/2011 12:39:58:262        lpDnsHostName: (NULL)
03/15/2011 12:39:58:262        lpMachinePassword: (null)
03/15/2011 12:39:58:262        lpAccount: cps\administrator
03/15/2011 12:39:58:262        lpPassword: (non-null)
03/15/2011 12:39:58:262        dwJoinOptions: 0x23
03/15/2011 12:39:58:262        dwOptions: 0x40000003
03/15/2011 12:40:19:307 NetpLdapBind: ldap_bind failed on alastor.cps.local: 81: Server Down
03/15/2011 12:40:19:307 NetpJoinDomainOnDs: Function exits with status of: 0x3a
03/15/2011 12:40:19:307 NetpJoinDomainOnDs: status of disconnecting from '\\ALASTOR': 0x0
03/15/2011 12:40:19:307 NetpDoDomainJoin: status: 0x3a

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"NetpLdapBind: ldap_bind failed on alastor.cps.local: 81: Server Down" worries me...
I'm certainly not aware of a problem with this DC, though we have two others..... Should I be?!

According to this thread on the TechNet forums, it could be related to the time not being correct on your Windows 7 PC. :confused:

Hmmm... I'll check, but I think it'll be ok as it's a machine I've pulled out of a computer room for testing so it's been running xp quite happily and setting it's clock every time someone logged in.

I think I may have specified the domain incorrectly - I put <JoinDomain>cps</JoinDomain> rather than <JoinDomain>cps.local</JoinDomain> - I GUESS that could be it???

(just re-imaging now to try again and find out)