Creating a Windows 7 Sysprep unattended XML

Having successfully sysprepped Windows 7, i thought i would break down the processes required into some smaller blogs, so here goes for creating the required unattended XML file.
To create the unattended XML you will need the latest version of WAIK (Windows Automated Installation Kit) and you can download that from the Microsoft Download centre here.
Once you have downloaded and installed WAIK, go ahead and launch Windows System Image manager, and you will be presented with the following

So, now you need to add a Windows 7 image for the image manager to use. You can use a Windows 7 disk, or extracted ISO etc. of you your choice for this. From the file menu select “Select Windows Image”

Browse to your disk (or extracted files) and locate the .CLG file in the sources directory e.g.

once added you will see it in the “Windows Image” section of Image manager at the bottom left

Now its time to create the answer file. Go to file and select “New Answer File”, following this is  a good time to save the answer file, so go to File and select “Save Answer File”

Now back to Image manager, you will see in the “Answer File” section that there are two categories, Components and Packages.
A point to note here is that the Components section Order is the order in which the answer file is used.
You now need to add to these components. This is done by expanding Components in the Windows Image Section, right clicking on the component required, and selecting “Add Setting to Pass XXXX” where XXXX is the pass that you require it adding to. OK i know that sounds complicated, but its not too bad once you have a go. The basic settings that are required are as follows;

3 Generalize

amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP_neutral

• Set 1 for SkipRearm to allow up to 8 rearms 

4 Specialize

amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP-UX_neutral

• SkipAutoActivation: true

amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup_neutral

• CopyProfile: false
• Registered Organization: Microsoft (you must leave this in this section)
• Registered Owner: AutoBVT (you must leave this in this section)
• TimeZone: GMT Standard Time  (Set as your required Time Zone)

amd64_Microsoft-Windows-UnattendedJoin__neutral
under Identification section add domain name to Join, and any OU Settings.
Under Credential Section add the credentials of the user required to add the machine to the domain.

7 OobeSystem

amd64_Microsoft-Windows-International-Core_neutral

• InputLocale: en-GB (Set Your required language)
• SystemLocale: en-GB (Set Your required language)
• UILanguage: en-GB (Set Your required language)
• UserLocale: en-GB (Set Your required language)

amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup_neutral

• RegisteredOrganization: YourCompanyName
• RegisteredOwner: YourName

Under amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup_neutral component, you will have a subheader for OOBE: add the following

• HideEULAPage true
• NetworkLocation: Home
• ProtectYourPC: 1

Under amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup_neutral component, you will have a subheader for UserAccounts:
Add an administrator password, and any additional accounts that you require creating with admin rights.
There are many more settings that can be set, and depending on your environment you may or may not want to add these. The above settings allowed a successful sysprep.
Once you have all the settings added that you require save the unattended XML. This XML will be required to be copied into the sysprep folder when you come to sysprep, i will cover that in a later blog.