C:Amie - 2005-03-07 12:16 PM
Sysprep just removed the manus from the installation, it doesn't speed up the file copy / registration method at the end of the install. This uses imaging to do the deed.
errr ... I don't think sysprep redo any install. Only one base install is required. Subsequent machines are "cloned" or imaged from the base image that sysprep prepares.
From what I know sysprep allows one to create an image based on a configured base, ie an installed XP/2k machine with necessary apps and configurations in place. This means, it is not merely removing the menus from installation. Effectively, sysprep allows an image of an installed system, so the new machine do not need to go through another installation process.
Overview of the Sysprep Process
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The following steps describe the process of preparing a reference computer to use for disk duplication.
How to use the Sysprep tool to automate successful deployment of Windows XP
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After you perform the initial setup steps on a single computer, you can run the Sysprep tool to prepare the sample computer for cloning.
Maybe we are talking about a different sysprep here. The sysprep I am talking about is the one used in Win2k and subsequently WinXP.
Or maybe your definition of "installation" refers to the cloning/imaging process and not the typical installation process per se.