How Configuration Passes Work

  • Article

3/21/2011

Configuration passes are the phases of Image Builder that apply settings in an unattended installation answer file.

The following table describes the different configuration passes.

Configuration Pass Description

windowsPE

Configures Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) 3.0 options and basic Image Builder options. These options can include setting the product key and configuring a disk.

offlineServicing

Applies updates to a Windows Embedded Standard 7 image. Also applies packages, such as software fixes, language packs, and other security updates.

generalize

Minimally configures sysprep /generalize and configures other Standard 7 settings that must persist on your reference image.

The sysprep /generalize command removes system-specific information. For example, it removes the unique security ID (SID) and other hardware-specific settings from the image.

The generalize pass runs only if you run sysprep /generalize.

specialize

Creates and applies system-specific information. For example, you can configure network settings, international settings, and domain information.

auditSystem

Processes unattended settings while Standard 7 is running in system context, which occurs before a user logs on to the computer in audit mode. The auditSystem pass runs only if you start in audit mode.

auditUser

Processes unattended settings after a user logs on to the computer in audit mode. The auditUser pass runs only if you start in audit mode.

oobeSystem

Applies settings to Standard 7 before Windows Welcome starts.

The following diagram shows the relationship between the configuration passes and the valid configuration passes for different executables.

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Note

Not all configuration passes run in a given installation of Standard 7. Some passes, such as auditSystem and auditUser, run only if you start in audit mode.

Configuration Passes Example Scenarios

The following sections describe sample scenarios and explain when configuration passes run.

Build a Reference Image Scenario

In this scenario, you start with the Standard 7 product DVD appropriate to the architecture of your device and an answer file, and create a single Standard 7 reference image that you can reuse throughout your environment. In this scenario, you complete the following steps:

  1. Start the Standard 7 product DVD.
  2. Image Builder starts and the windowsPE and offlineServicing passes run.
  3. After the Standard 7 image is copied to the hard disk, the computer restarts, and Image Builder runs the specialize pass.
  4. After Image Builder finishes the specialize pass, it runs the oobeSystem configuration pass, and Windows Welcome starts.
  5. You can make additional modifications to the system, such as installing applications, device drivers, or other configurations, at this point.

When you complete your modifications, you run sysprep /generalize /audit /reboot. This command runs the generalize pass and removes any system-specific data. Also, this pass configures Standard 7 to run audit mode the next time that the system starts. In audit mode, the auditSystem and auditUser configuration passes run.

This image then becomes your reference image that you can save to install on computers of the same configuration.

Build-to-Order Scenario

In this scenario, you create a unique Standard 7 installation that is based on customer-requested applications or updates, as follows:

  1. Use a Standard 7 reference image to install a new computer. For more information about how to create a reference image, see the previous scenario.
  2. During Image Builder, the windowsPE, offlineServicing, and specialize passes run.
  3. After you install Standard 7, audit mode starts.
    • The sysprep /generalize /audit command that you ran to create the reference image specifies /audit. This option instructs Standard 7 to start in audit mode the next time that the system starts. In audit mode, the auditSystem and auditUser configuration passes run.
    • In audit mode, you can install applications and other updates based on a customer's order. You can also test the computer and verify that all components are working correctly.
  4. After you update the Standard 7 installation, you run sysprep /oobe /shutdown. The next time that the computer starts, Windows Welcome runs, and the oobeSystem configuration pass runs.

The following diagram shows the processes of the build-to-order scenario.

BuildToOrder

Build-to-Plan Scenario

In this scenario, you start with the Standard 7 product DVD appropriate to your device's architecture and an answer file and create a single Standard 7 reference image that you install on computers that have the same hardware configuration. This scenario consists of the following steps:

  1. Start the Standard 7 product DVD.
  2. Image Builder starts and the windowsPE and offlineServicing passes run.
  3. After the Standard 7 image is copied to the hard disk, the system restarts and Image Builder runs the specialize pass.
  4. After Image Builder finishes, the oobeSystem configuration pass runs and Windows Welcome starts.
  5. After you install Standard 7, run sysprep /audit to start in audit mode. In audit mode, you can add applications, device drivers, and make other customizations. You can also test the computer and verify that all components are working correctly.
  6. In audit mode, the auditSystem and auditUser configuration passes run.
  7. After you update the Standard 7 installation, run sysprep /oobe /generalize.
    • The generalize option removes system-specific data from the Standard 7 installation. This includes event logs, unique security IDs (SIDs), and other unique information. The generalize configuration pass runs. After the unique system information is removed, the computer shuts down.
    • The /oobe option instructs Standard 7 to run Windows Welcome and the oobeSystem configuration pass the next time that the computer starts.
  8. After the computer shuts down, you can start Windows PE or another operating system on the computer.
  9. Then you capture the Standard 7 installation that uses ImageX.

The following diagram shows the processes of the build-to-plan scenario.

BuildToPlan

See Also

Concepts

Windows Embedded Standard 7 Media

Other Resources

Image Builder Configuration Passes