Can I sysprep Windows XP Home?

[zx2012]

I've got 3 Dell Latitude 2100s (Windows XP Home SP3, 1GB, 160GB) with 4 more on their way.

 

I've sent one up exactly how I want it with all users, desktops, applications(OpenOffice, 2Simple Collection) and network share connections.

 

This is my plan:

1. Take a disk image just in case need to go back to the start.

2. Uninstall Sophos Anti-Virus. (Do I really need to do this?)

3. Sysprep it.

4. Take a disk image to be used on all the others.

5. Copy disk image onto the others.

6. Install and configure Sophos Anti-Virus in each one.

 

Will the above work?

 

How do I return netbook back to its initial state?

[sparkeh]

Yes you can sysprep XP Home but be aware that you can't use mini setup after the image is applied so you will have to go through the Windows Welcome Setup.

 

Personally I always leave off the AV and install is after the machine is imaged.

[zx2012]

I knew there was something else!

 

What about product keys?

[powdarrmonkey]

Unless you have a gold arrangement with Microsoft they must be supplied during Windows Welcome.

[srochford]

If this is the Dell OEM XP then it may not need the XP key - I think it will be a BIOS locked version that should complete setup without asking for a key.

[Michael]

If the machines are not going to be setup/configured in a Workgroup configuration you may not need to Sysprep at all.

I would highly recommend you uninstall Sophos as it's a pig to get working properly if included on an image. It uses the system SID as a reference and if you decided to Sysprep Windows this reference will get changed forcing you to re-install Sophos again.

[zx2012]

We won't be using a netbeui Workgroup but will be accessing the file Windows 2003 R2 file server.

 

If I didn't use Sysprep my fear is that all the netbooks would have the same Windows product key. In the future might the duplicate SIDs become an issue?

[Michael]

If you're going to be accessing shares, then I would recommend you run Sysprep.

 

Once you've cloned the machines, have a look at this guide to change the product key, then activate Windows as you would normally. Then install Sophos last.

[powdarrmonkey]

In the future might the duplicate SIDs become an issue?

 

Yes. If in doubt, sysprep.

[ssx4life]

I've got 3 Dell Latitude 2100s (Windows XP Home SP3, 1GB, 160GB) with 4 more on their way.

 

I've sent one up exactly how I want it with all users, desktops, applications(OpenOffice, 2Simple Collection) and network share connections.

 

This is my plan:

1. Take a disk image just in case need to go back to the start.

2. Uninstall Sophos Anti-Virus. (Do I really need to do this?)

3. Sysprep it.

4. Take a disk image to be used on all the others.

5. Copy disk image onto the others.

6. Install and configure Sophos Anti-Virus in each one.

 

Will the above work?

 

How do I return netbook back to its initial state?

 

You are going to want to get a full oem install disk to reinstall xp (use the SLP method with oembios files)

 

 

There is no need to change your windows xp product key if you use SLP for your setup. This requires that you have the proper licenses for your hardware and that you follow all the rules on M$ site - Preserving OEM Pre-Activation when Re-installing Windows XP

 

 

Large oem's do this all the time. No reason why you can't.

Edited September 28, 2009 by ssx4life