Customize in Audit Mode (Standard 7 SP1)

7/8/2014

Audit mode enables OEMs and corporations to customize a Windows Embedded Standard 7 installation before shipping the computer to an end-user. In audit mode, you can install applications, add device drivers, run scripts, and test the validity of a Standard 7 installation. Audit mode is a network-enabled environment that does not require settings in Windows Welcome to be applied.

Typically, Standard 7 starts Windows Welcome immediately after installation. However, by starting in audit mode, you can bypass Windows Welcome and start in audit mode instead. This enables you to access the desktop as quickly as possible.

Additionally, you can use audit mode to add more customizations to a reference image. This reduces the number of different images that you have to manage. For example, you can create a single reference image that contains the basic customizations that you want applied to all Standard 7 images. You can then start the reference image in audit mode and make additional changes specific to the computer. These changes can be customer-requested applications, or specific device drivers.

In the auditSystem configuration pass, the built-in administrator account is enabled by the system, and after you log on to the system, the built-in administrator account is disabled during the auditUser configuration pass. This enables you to use audit mode with administrative credentials. However, the next time that the computer shuts down, the built-in administrator account continues to be disabled. For more information, see Enable and Disable the Built-in Administrator Account.

In This Section

  • Start in Audit Mode
    Describes the three methods to start in audit mode, by using attended installations, unattended installations, or by using Sysprep.

See Also

Other Resources

Standard 7 Toolkit Technical Reference