Preparing Windows Server 2008 to image using sysprep

If you need to prepare a Windows 2008 Server image (any version: Web, Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter) to install on other computers of multiple Virtual Servers, it is highly recommended you use the sysprep tool to wipe the image of all unique information Microsoft assigns in the specific install.  If you are running multiple VMs in the same environment, and don’t do this you could run into problems.

Unlike previous versions of Windows, sysprep is actually located on the server and you do not need the installation CD to use it.

1. Run sysprep: c:\windows\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe

2. If you are using it on  VM, select the shutdown option as you don’t want to reboot straight after.

If you wish to do it from Windows Server 2008 Core (i.e. command line interface) you can run it as follows: sysprep /OOBE /Generalize /shutdown

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Filed under: Uncategorized by — aaron @ 2:43 am