Windows 7: How Do I Prepare A Computer For OOBE?

szvwxcszxc

Senior member
Nov 29, 2012
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I am not sure how to do this.

I want the laptop I am selling to have the same experience a new laptop has when someone buys it - it goes to "setting up windows for the first time" screen, and when they create their account, all the drivers and software are already installed, ready for a noob to use the PC without having to do anything extra like installing crap. Because I am giving them Office 2010 and a couple other programs as well. And want them to be able to choose their user name and language.

What I am doing, (but am willing to wipe it again and start over if I can do as I wanted in the first place), is to activate the Administrator account, and delete the only user while in the Administrator account. I am installing the drivers and software in the administrator account, but I'm not sure if it's going to work on the new user account, or even if the person will even be able to create a new user account when they receive the laptop.

What do I do?? Help D:
 
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ViRGE

Elite Member, Moderator Emeritus
Oct 9, 1999
31,516
167
106
I haven't done this myself, but it sounds like what you want is Microsoft's Sysprep tool. It will let you wipe the user account after you're done setting up the machine, bringing Windows back to the Out Of Box Experience.
 

szvwxcszxc

Senior member
Nov 29, 2012
258
0
76
I haven't done this myself, but it sounds like what you want is Microsoft's Sysprep tool. It will let you wipe the user account after you're done setting up the machine, bringing Windows back to the Out Of Box Experience.

How do I do that? I read the page but still don't know what to do.
 
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ViRGE

Elite Member, Moderator Emeritus
Oct 9, 1999
31,516
167
106
Looking at the document, sysprep /oobe /generalize should do the trick.
 

takeru

Golden Member
Jan 1, 2002
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is my post invisible or something? o_O try looking at the link i posted... that is what you are looking for.
 

imagoon

Diamond Member
Feb 19, 2003
5,199
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Sysprep is located:

C:\Windows\System32\sysprep on vista / Windows 7

The AIK is only needed if you one to completely customize a build and quite frankly, is not a "beginners" product.