Creating Windows 7 images in Audit mode

Solution 1:

It's been a while since I've done this, but from memory the order is:

• Set it up as you want (in Audit mode).
• Generalize it and shut down (still in Audit mode).
• Image/clone it onto new systems' drives.
• Boot each machine, and then finalize each new machine into the OOBE mode.

You can probably get away with imaging it after OOBE if this image is only going to be used on an identical set of computers. You don't want to generalize an OOBE (I don't think you can anyway).

We generalize before duplication because it stops the activation clock and allows up to use the same image on different computers for more than a month (as well as setting it to perform hardware detection on the next boot).

• We setup the base Windows image and generalize it (activation rearm #1 of 3).
• When we get an order for multiple machines that are identical, we use that image on one machine and then set it up the way they all should be (drivers, software, etc.).
• We then generalize it again (rearm #2), and then dupe it for the other machines.
• We then boot each machine, check them over, and then seal it with OOBE (rearm #3).
• It gets boxed and sent to the customer (after 72 hours of burn-in).

You don't want to boot again after OOBE, and you want to avoid sending a customer a new machine with a running activation clock.

PS: We use a duplication machine to dupe our drives; if you're doing a lot of machines, one of these will save you days of time over a year. :)