Windows 10: Sysprep Windows 10 LTSB without creating new user?

Hi, I have a system image of Windows 10 LTSB with all the latest updates that I would like to create a syspreped system image with, however, my problem is I don't want it to ask me to create a new user every time I deploy it on a machine? I tried searching for solutions and it said I should make an answer file but I am also reading that a lot of those features have been deprecated and unsupported since Windows 8. I'm a noob at this and I'm scared of messing up as I'll have to do days of work all over again. Please help.

:)

 

Sysprep Windows 10 LTSB without creating new user?

Hi, I have a system image of Windows 10 LTSB with all the latest updates that I would like to create a syspreped system image with, however, my problem is I don't want it to ask me to create a new user
every time I deploy it on a machine. I tried searching for solutions and it said I should make an answer file but I am also reading that a lot of those features have been deprecated and unsupported since Windows 8. I'm a noob at this and I'm scared of messing
up as I'll have to do days of work all over again. Please help.

 

Sysprep Windows 10 LTSB without creating new user?

Hi,

For in-depth assistance regarding your concern with Windows 10 Enterprise edition, we recommend that you post your inquiry on

TechNet forum.

For further queries, feel free to post back.

Regards.

 

@Shamoy, you may find @Kari's tutorial helpful...
Windows 10 Image - Customize in Audit Mode with Sysprep

 

The tutorial Bree linked to in above post has instructions in downloading Windows SIM (System Image Manager) and how to use it. As the tutorial is for making a general install image without any pre-set users, creating a user is not covered.

See the tutorial for Windows SIM download and usage instructions, here's how you add a local admin user:

1.) In WSIM, expand component Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup > UserAccounts, right click LocalAccounts, select Add Setting to Pass 7 OobeSystem:




(Click screenshots to enlarge.)

2.) Right click LocalAccounts in Answer File pane, select Insert New LocalAccount:





3.) In Properties pane, type account Description, Display name, Group and username:





4.) If you also want a password being created instead of letting end users to create it by themselves, expand the new user account in Answer File pane and select Password, type the password for this user:





5.) If a user account was created in Answer File, Windows setup will bypass user creation and boot directly to sign-in screen asking for password (if created). If no password was already created in Answer File, setup asks user to create one:








That's it.

About deprecated Answer File components, you have got somewhat wrong information. Some settings and components are deprecated but this will be clearly told in Properties pane:

 

I see, thank you very much for explaining this stuff well. I'd like to ask 2 questions. Can I create the answer file in a different Windows partition or do I specifically need to do it on the one I want to image? Also, if I already have a user called "Billy" who is a local administrator, just entering the name in the Answer File properties will make Windows boot straight into that user (and ask for password if there is none)?

 

An answer file can be created on any computer and then be used on another machine. I always use a Hyper-V virtual machine to create my deployment images, making answer file on my host machine then copying it to virtual machine to be used when sysprepping.

I must say I don't understand your question?

It is never a good idea to sysprep an existing Windows installation with existing user profiles / accounts. When you do this correctly you install Windows to a technician machine, booting it to Audit Mode before any user accounts have been created, do your customisations, install software and updates, then sysprep it.

Doing this there is no "ready made" user Billy, just a clean Windows image. Users ("Billy" or any other user account) will be created in answer file.