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XP Sysprep

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by nichorton

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What are the -factory and -reseal switches for? Please do not send me the links to MS's web site as the info on there is useless to me because I still do not understand what they are for.

When and why do you want to Audit (middle button on Sysprep window) your Sysprep install?

Thanks for you help in advance!

Nick

8 replies

by ian hibberd

Use the -Factory tool to update drivers, run Plug and Play enumeration, install applications, test, configure the computer with customer data, or make other configuration changes in your factory environment and then reseal to prepare it prior to delivery to the customer.

by nichorton

That is the exact text I read from Microsoft. However, I still do not understand why the factory switch is useful. Why can't you install apps, test, update drivers, etc and image it without running the -factory switch?

by wburdine

the factory setting resets the database info in the registry for minor hardware changes (sound cards, video, memory, etc...) This setting is very useful if you are going to make an image of the machine using ghost (only works if use the same MB in all systems) ie driver changes.
the reseal setting will clear out all system log files and remove all the minor drivers for the minisetup which will go through the hardware enumeration in which you will also have to supply the CD-key again when the system starts up.

by nichorton

Thank your for the explanation. I just need a watered down version of the explanation of when and why you use the factory and reseal options. For example, you can run sysprep without factory just like in 2k. When designing an XP install when would you decide that you should use the factory switch and when would you decide not to use it? What is the purpose behind or need of the 3 new switches in XP (factory, audit, and reseal)? What was I not able to do in Win 2k compared to sysprep in XP?

by wburdine

It seems to me you need to do more investigating and reading, but for giggles I will explain it simplistically for you.

1) I'll start with this one, "What is the purpose behind or need of the 3 new switches in XP (factory, audit, and reseal)?" The reason for the switches has to do with the new ACTIVATION system Microsoft put in their OS. This is to help combat piracy. The activation key is made up from many different hardware codes among other things but that is a different topic.

2) "when and why you use the factory and reseal options" Use factory when you need to make a backup image of that machine. This will not affect the fact that the machine has or has not been "activated". For example you want to add hardware that caused the machine to crash during the installation of the OS(ie SCSI cards). You removed the SCSI card and did a good install now you use the factory option to clear out other drivers and restart the system hoping the SCSI card will now be accepted. You can do this with any drivers as well. This option is mostly used for ?TESTING? an image to be duplicated to multiple machines. But before you have your final image you must RESEAL.
Use the reseal (which can only be done 3 times) to reset the activation time period back to 30days. This will clear all system log files and remove all the minor drivers for the minisetup which will go through the hardware enumeration in which you will also have to supply the CD-key again when the system starts up.You must use the same Motherboard in all your systems for this to work. Different motherboards use different divers and HALs and may not be compatible so the system won?t even start?you just get a BSOD.

3)?What was I not able to do in Win 2k compared to sysprep in XP?? See answer number one?.that?s really the only difference the activation crap

by wburdine

BTW FYI?if you use a stolen corporate CD-KEY now and try to Download SP-1 or even try to install it?.it will know and won?t. Part of the new update to further prevent piracy.

Also I haven?t tried it yet, but if you sysadmin want to give it a go try this. If you have an image that is before activation you can keep copies of the wpa.dbl file on each machine which has the activation information. It won?t work from machine to machine, but if a machine gets hosed you can re-image it then boot it in to safe mode command prompt and copy the wpa.dbl file to it. Then the activation scheme won?t prompt you cause the machine is already activated. Again won?t work on the machine if you changed out hardware.

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