2003 Add custom user settings when running Sysprep

Overview

This article describes how Windows Server 2003 adds custom user settings when running the Sysprep utility (Sysprep.exe).

When running Sysprep.exe, some user settings cannot be captured into a .reg file and applied when the installer completes, and they cannot be scripted and applied to all new users. To resolve this issue, copy the custom user settings to the “DefaultUser” configuration file before running Sysprep.exe.

To perform the steps described in this section, your system must meet the following criteria:

Windows Server 2003 is fully installed and functional on your computer.

This computer is not part of a domain.

All user programs are pre-installed and functioning properly.

Note: If the client's desktop settings are stored in the user's profile, you can use the procedures described in this section to customize any aspect of these settings. For example, you can use this procedure to configure the “Automatically hide taskbars” option for all users and <;show small icons” in the ‘Start & rsquo; menu. You cannot use this procedure to customize settings that are stored outside of the user profile.

Use the following procedure to deploy custom power option settings for all new users.

Create a test user with administrator privileges

Log in to the computer as a local administrator.

Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.

Note: If ActiveDirectory is installed, the “Local Users and Groups tool in the <quo;Computer Management" console will be disabled. If you want to perform this procedure from a domain controller computer with Active Directory installed, you must create a new user account through “ActiveDirectory Users and Computers.

Click “Local Users & Groups, right-click Users, and then click New User.

Type Testuser in the "username" box, type your password, click “Users need to change your password when you log in next time, clear it, and then click Create.

Close the New User dialog.

In “Local Users and Groups, click Groups, double-click Administrators, and then click Add.

Type Testuser and click OK.

Click OK to close the Administrator Properties dialog.

Close “Computer Management” Console.

Create custom settings for test users

Log in to the computer as Testuser.

Click Start, point to Control Panel, and then click Power Options.

Set the settings for the monitor, hard drive, standby, and hibernate options to be used as the default settings for all users.

Note: You can make additional customizations as needed. These specific settings are just an example to copy the test user's profile folder to the default user profile folder and log out of the Testuser account, then log in again as an administrator.

Right-click on Start, then click on Explorer to launch “Windows Explorer”.

On the Tools menu, click Folder Options and then click the View tab.

In the Advanced Settings box, click the “Show hidden files and folders> checkbox to select it.

Exit “Windows Explorer”.

Right-click on My Computer and click Properties.

Click the Advanced tab, then in the User Profiles section, click Settings.

Click the Testuser account and then click Copy to.

Type c:\\documentsandsettings\\defaultuser in the Path box, or click Browse to locate the “default user folder”. In the "Allow use" section, click Change.

Type Everyone and click OK.

Click OK in the Copy to dialog box, and then click Yes to confirm the action.

Click OK to close the User Profiles dialog.

Right-click on My Computer and click Manage.

Click “Local Users & Groups>, click Users, click Testuser Account, and then delete them.

Close “Computer Management” Console.

Start the Sysprep process when you are ready.