sysprep does not clear users in XP Pro SP1

[seaninsjca]

1.) Loaded Windows XP Pro SP1
2.) Filled out user info with default info (username CL50)
3.) Loaded all drivers and applications
4.) Tested all hardware and apps to make sure they are functioning
5.) Ran Sysprep.exe
6.) OOBE fails to ask for username
7.) Windows resorts back to default username (CL50)

Why isn't sysprep clearing this information out? Why is it not asking for username, other users during setup?

 

[bcastner]

Did you lock the image prior to the sysprep?

 

[seaninsjca]

As far as I know, I did not lock the image. I didn't actually know that it was possible to do so.

 

[bcastner]

I think the actual term is "seal":

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/itpro/deploying/introduction.asp

 

[seaninsjca]

Yes, we choose Reseal when running Sysprep.

This is a puzzle. I seem to be the only one finding this issue.

 

[bcastner]

I am worried about this issue, the inadvertant selection of network resources in preparing the image:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=815229

But see the detailed notes about the .sif file here, and in the General Forum discussion (there is a link to the Forum on the page I link here):

http://www.msfn.org/unattended/xp/gettingstarted.htms.html

A must read and potentially valuable utility to solve the issue, part of the wonderful Sysinternals freeware suite:

http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/source/newsid.shtml

 

[seaninsjca]

Solution Found!

MS confirmed to me that sysprep in XP does not clear our usernames as it did in W2k. They said that the only way to clear the username was to install by unattended text files.

We found a work around to this allowing us to not have to make these files.

After fully installing your system, drivers, apps, etc.. and testing... Log in as Administrator. Go back into Computer Management, Users and Groups. Go to Users and delete the default account that you created on install. Now run sysprep.

Everything seems to be working fine. The username is gone, the username screen re-appears in XP setup.