Differences between Audit Mode and Windows Welcome (Standard 7 SP1)

7/8/2014

When Windows Embedded Standard 7 starts, there are two modes in which the computer starts:

  • Windows Welcome
    Windows Welcome, also known as OOBE (out-of-box experience), is the first user experience and enables end-users to customize their Standard 7 installation. Users can create user accounts, read and accept the Software License Terms, and choose their language and time zones.
    By default, all Standard 7 installations start Windows Welcome first. However, if you have additional customizations to make to the computer, we recommend that you either make these customizations in audit mode, or use the SkipMachineOOBE setting in the Shell-Setup component.
    The oobeSystem configuration pass runs immediately before Windows Welcome starts. For more information about this configuration pass, see oobeSystem.
  • Audit Mode
    Audit mode is used by OEMs and IT professionals to add customizations to their Standard 7 images. Audit mode does not require settings in Windows Welcome to be applied. By bypassing Windows Welcome, you can access the desktop quicker and perform your customizations. You can add more device drivers, install applications, and test the validity of the installation. OEMs and corporations should use audit mode to complete their manual customizations before shipping the computer to an end-user.
    In audit mode, settings in an unattended answer file in the auditSystem and auditUser configuration passes are processed. For more information about these configuration passes, see auditSystem and auditUser.

If you are running in audit mode, to configure the installation to start Windows Welcome, run the sysprep /oobe command. For more information, see Sysprep Technical Reference. OEMs are required to run sysprep /oobe before shipping a computer to an end-user.

See Also

Concepts

Customize in Audit Mode

Other Resources

Standard 7 Toolkit Technical Reference