Windows 10: Automating the desktop configuration

Before releasing a Windows 10 desktop or laptop to the final user a customer perform some manual activities, including: - assigning an IP address - replacing the default background - adding some icons to the desktop - adding some shortcuts to the desktop - setting some local policies When the actions are performed the desktops are not member of any AD domain, so Group Policies is not a solution. How can they automate such activities? Is there any way to create a script by recording actions? Regards

:)

 

is there any demand for a system configurator?

Processor(V) <--drop down arrow
-AMD(V)
--Socket(V)
---AM2(V)
----List of cpu's
---939(V)
----List of CPU's
-Intel(V)
--Socket(V)
---775(V)
----List of cpu's
---771(V)
----List of CPU's


etc etc.

 

Windows configuration automation

I am preparing computers for new employees in our company. Over the time it became very repetitive task, so I am thinking if I can automate the process by writing some script.

I need the script to:

1. Create new windows local user (with specified username & password)
   
2. For the new user show "This PC" icon on the desktop, put some applications shortcut to the desktop and remove others (Edge, Windows Store etc.).
   
3. Add e-mail account to Outlook and connect it to our IMAP & SMTP servers.
   

I'm sure in 2019 there will be some technology which can be easily used for this kind of automation. Probably developed right from Microsoft (maybe PowerShell?).

Which technology/language/framework should I take a look for automate these tasks? We have mostly Windows 10 Home in the company.

 

Need assistance with answer file, and some changes reverted after

This tutorial will show step by step how to completely automate Windows Setup and OOBE: Create media for automated unattended install of Windows 10 - Windows 10 Tutorials

For Edge favorites, you can use Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) to set them in Audit Mode before sysprepping. The policy you need to edit is Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Microsoft Edge > Configure Favorites. Users can edit, add and remove favorites set here.

Alternatively you can configure favorites using policy Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Microsoft Edge > Provision Favorites. Provisioning instead of configuring, users cannot edit, sort, move, export or remove favorites.

Chrome is a bit trickier, see for instance this: Google Groups

Start and Taskbar customization:

• Customize the Taskbar | Microsoft Docs
• Customize the Start layout | Microsoft Docs