Why isn't sysprep working?

[Ric_]

Before I begin, sysprep has never really liked working for me...

I have a nice clean install of XP in VMWare which I want to sysprep. This all goes fine but then it doesn't seem to pick up the sysprep.inf file (in the folder c:\sysprep) at first boot - instead it asks all the questions.

I have attached the sysprep.inf file and, as you can see, it's not rocket science - all I want is a fresh XP install with automagically generated computer name and joined to the VMWARE workgroup.

[Gatt]

Have you tried putting the sysprep.ini file onto a floppy disk and then rebooting - You may want to disable the floppy disk drive as a boot option, or insert the disk when the XP boot screen or OS selection menu appears onscreen or the PC will try and boot up off the floppy.

[petectid]

Does it matter which version you use? M$ brought out a new version of sysprep for SP2. Just a shot in the dark Ric. I cannot see any faults in your sysprep.inf file which would cause any probs.

[Ric_]

I'm using the sysprep for SP2 and I know that it should just work but it doesn't.

I don't erally want to go for the floppy option cos that's just a pain and won't help me deploy the image.

[petectid]

Could the issue lie with VMWare and using sysprep within the virtual environment? Have you ever been able to sysprep your vmware setup of XP or 2000? I could give this a try if that will help make things clearer.

[Ric_]

If someone could try sysprep in VMWare; I'd be very grateful!

I don't see why it shouldn't work though.

[DMcCoy]

I'm sure I have used sysprep with vmware, although with ghost. Sysprep doesn't know that its a vm.

[Norphy]

I've found that sysprep seems to run better from the command line than it does from the GUI. Have you tried that?

[petectid]

Tried it in VMware Ric and it was successful, I ran MiniSetup and did not regenerate grace period for activation. The security identifiers were regenerated and the system was set to Shutdown. On restart I only had to insert the CD key as this had been deleted from your sysprep.inf file. Everything was okay I now have a Baines PC in my VMware app.

[Sirbendy]

I always Sysprep in VMware..using SP1 and SP2 sysprep...

no problems for me. I must get a KVM at some point

I always extract the support.cab to the c: drive and go from there, using the sysprep.inf I keep on my USB pen.

That looks somewhat like ours..I'll attach it..

I always fire up a command prompt and use Sysprep -bmsd to build the mass storage section before I use the gui with "Preactivated" and "mini-setup" options.

Theoretically it should just be all in c:\sysprep, and go from there..

Ignore the last bit with the batch files..thats just to autorun our firewall killing script and install the drivers packs on our Precision 360's..*spit*

[Ric_]

I was being an idiot and missed the tickbox for 'run mini-setup' on the sysprep dialogue - must flog myselffor being a fool! How many hours did I waste?