Fresh install of Windows 7 for another user - bypassing username entry?

[Turbonium]

I'm trying to set up a fresh Windows 7 install on a system, but I don't know how to bypass having to enter a username for the default user (which I have to do in order to get into the OS environment to install basic drivers for networking and such, so that it works "out of the box" for the end user).

How is this sort of thing supposed to be done (how do computer shops do it when they build custom systems)? I want to install Windows, and get specific driver functionality (not generic Windows drivers), without me having to even see the username entry screen (the end user should see that once they power up, not me).

Also, somewhat related: how can I shut down the system on that screen without having it bring up the Safe Mode option the next time I boot up the system (given I will have forced a shut down prior)?

 

[code65536]

You want to get into audit mode.

 

[Turbonium]

You want to get into audit mode.

Thanks. All these years and I never looked into this sort of thing until now.

Ok, so basically:

- install Windows normally
- on initial Welcome Screen, boot into audit mode
- install/config whatever is req'd
- go into Command Prompt to run the oobe command; computer will then shut down being ready for end user on the next startup (non-audit)

Am I understanding this correctly?

Also, I'm not sure what the /generalize command is for or if it applies to my situation.

 

[code65536]

Thanks. All these years and I never looked into this sort of thing until now.

Ok, so basically:

- install Windows normally
- on initial Welcome Screen, boot into audit mode
- install/config whatever is req'd
- go into Command Prompt to run the oobe command; computer will then shut down being ready for end user on the next startup (non-audit)

Am I understanding this correctly?

Also, I'm not sure what the /generalize command is for or if it applies to my situation.

Pretty much. The command prompt part is actually optional because there's also a GUI dialog (it will show automatically) that lets you do the same thing.

And /generalize is if you are building a deployment image that you will be using across multiple computers (generalize = get rid of any machine-specific configurations). This is not applicable in your case.