Starting up Windows 7 from scratch (twice)
January 10, 2013 7:54 AM Subscribe
I'm reformatting the hard drive of my parent's Windows 7 PC to give to somebody. That's all well and good--software is reinstalled, drivers are updated, Windows Update looks happy. When I started the machine for the first time after Windows 7 installation was complete, it did it's standard thing where it asked what the user name was, what the PC name was, basic settings, etc. Is there any way to redo that setup for the new owner when they turn it on for the first time?
In effect, what I'm almost looking for is a way to automate the deletion of the user account I created and the initiation of the creation of a new user account? Is this a thing? Is there anything I can do to replicate the "fresh out of the box" part of turning on a new PC while still being able to maintain all the up-to-date software and drivers? I'm not finding any leads on Google. Thank you!
In effect, what I'm almost looking for is a way to automate the deletion of the user account I created and the initiation of the creation of a new user account? Is this a thing? Is there anything I can do to replicate the "fresh out of the box" part of turning on a new PC while still being able to maintain all the up-to-date software and drivers? I'm not finding any leads on Google. Thank you!
Best answer: Look up sysprep too. Not sure if that's what they call it in Windows 7, but that's the utility that they used to use for doing that.
posted by gjc at 8:12 AM on January 10, 2013
posted by gjc at 8:12 AM on January 10, 2013
The app that runs is msoobe.exe, but it requires setup and sysprep. Unless it's quite important, I'd rename Administrator, and give it a secure password, ex., PCAdmin, pw=BE0very0careful and a User account, ex., Win7pc, pw = HAPPY7thought. I'd put those passwords on a label inside the case, and in paperwork with the computer.
Should you decide to use sysprep, here's some help:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc732280%28v=ws.10%29.aspx
http://theitbros.com/sysprep-a-windows-7-machine-start-to-finish-v2/
posted by theora55 at 9:41 AM on January 10, 2013
Should you decide to use sysprep, here's some help:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc732280%28v=ws.10%29.aspx
http://theitbros.com/sysprep-a-windows-7-machine-start-to-finish-v2/
posted by theora55 at 9:41 AM on January 10, 2013
Response by poster: The simplest, requirement-meeting solution I went with looked to be Sysprep.exe, which was almost exactly what I was looking for. Ideally it would have deleted the existing account when I ran it, which is probably doable with some scripting or something or maybe another utility, but the default/easy Sysprep worked just fine. Thanks to all.
posted by jroybal at 5:40 PM on January 14, 2013
posted by jroybal at 5:40 PM on January 14, 2013
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If you don't see that in the new account you set up, you could Google around for the appropriate item to add to
RunOncein the relevant section of the Windows registry and adding it should get that to behave as if the next login was the first.posted by Inspector.Gadget at 7:58 AM on January 10, 2013