"Pre-built" type setup for win 10

driftz240 · June 26, 2019

Hi, I'm building a pc for someone who isn't very tech savvy and i was wondering if anyone knew how to setup windows to a "pre-built" type of setup. That is that you go through the normal windows 10 setup and afterwards the drivers/important apps are installed and extra hard drives are formatted, etc. so that the person wouldnt have to download anything or go into disk manager to format the hard after they realize they cant see it in the file manager libraries.

PopsicleHustler · June 26, 2019

Can't you do that yourself before giving that person a PC? I mean installing all the drivers, anti-virus etc?

driftz240 · June 27, 2019

12 hours ago, PopsicleHustler said:

Can't you do that yourself before giving that person a PC? I mean installing all the drivers, anti-virus etc?

Well i mean in order to do that i would need to set up windows with their email, privacy settings ect. I know you can change all these after the fact but its suppose to be a surprise/gift so i dont want to have to make them do much.

TheDelphiDude · June 29, 2019

Why not set it up with drivers, ensure all software is installed for all users (never "this user only" when asked during setup), start sysprep, go into audit mode and reboot, remove the user account you used for finalizing the install, and using sysprep have it enter OOBE (do not check "generalize") and shut down the PC.

That way they'll be offered all the regular customisations such as account creation the moment they first turn on the PC.

driftz240 · June 30, 2019

16 hours ago, TheDelphiDude said:

Why not set it up with drivers, ensure all software is installed for all users (never "this user only" when asked during setup), start sysprep, go into audit mode and reboot, remove the user account you used for finalizing the install, and using sysprep have it enter OOBE (do not check "generalize") and shut down the PC.

That way they'll be offered all the regular customisations such as account creation the moment they first turn on the PC.

Ok so i looked up audit mode (i didn't really know about anything you said) but i still dont know how to enter oobe and shutdown.

TheDelphiDude · June 30, 2019

If you start SysPrep (located under C:\Windows\System32\SysPrep), the sysprep application will pop-up.

Under "system cleanup action" you can select "Enter Audit Mode", uncheck "Generalize". Under "Shutdown options" you can select "reboot". Clicking OK will reboot the system, and enter audit mode (ie, it automatically log ons with the built-in administrator account).

At this point the sysprep application will automatically pop-up. Don't do anything yet. First remove the user account you've used for installing Windows. When asked, make sure you also remove all files associated with said user account.

Now go back to the sysprep application. Under "system cleanup action" select "Enter system out-of-box-experience (OOBE)", make sure "Generalize is unchecked". Under "Shutdown options" select "Shutdown". Click OK, and the system will shut down.

That's it. The next time it's powered on it will go into the out-of-box-experience, ie, the part where you create a user account and set various privacy options.

driftz240 · June 30, 2019

2 hours ago, TheDelphiDude said:

If you start SysPrep (located under C:\Windows\System32\SysPrep), the sysprep application will pop-up.

Under "system cleanup action" you can select "Enter Audit Mode", uncheck "Generalize". Under "Shutdown options" you can select "reboot". Clicking OK will reboot the system, and enter audit mode (ie, it automatically log ons with the built-in administrator account).

At this point the sysprep application will automatically pop-up. Don't do anything yet. First remove the user account you've used for installing Windows. When asked, make sure you also remove all files associated with said user account.

Now go back to the sysprep application. Under "system cleanup action" select "Enter system out-of-box-experience (OOBE)", make sure "Generalize is unchecked". Under "Shutdown options" select "Shutdown". Click OK, and the system will shut down.

That's it. The next time it's powered on it will go into the out-of-box-experience, ie, the part where you create a user account and set various privacy options.

Thank you veery much sir