OOBE flags in sysprep answer file don't seem to work

Dan Engel 21 Reputation points
2021-10-13T11:52:40.43+00:00

I am trying to sysprep an image so that the OOBE will include setting up wireless connectivity but will not include setting up an account. Here is the OOBE section I am trying:

        <OOBE>
            <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>
            <HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>false</HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>
            <HideLocalAccountScreen>true</HideLocalAccountScreen>
            <HideOEMRegistrationScreen>true</HideOEMRegistrationScreen>
            <HideOnlineAccountScreens>true</HideOnlineAccountScreens>
            <NetworkLocation>Work</NetworkLocation>
            <UnattendEnableRetailDemo>false</UnattendEnableRetailDemo>
        </OOBE>

This will perform the wireless setup, but then will also request a username for an account.

If I add the flag SkipUserOOBE to that, it still requests a user name for an account.

If I add the flag SkipMachineOOBE, it skips both wireless setup and user setup.

This is for factory deployment in an embedded application, so the image already contains the administrator and regular user I want; adding another user will mess up the product.

Is there any definitive documentation about how these flags actually work? They don't seem to do what their names imply.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

Windows for business | Windows Client for IT Pros | User experience | Other
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6 answers

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  1. Sean Liming 4,766 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2021-10-13T15:56:17.72+00:00

    Remove NetworkLocation as this has been deprecated for Windows 10. The remaining settings along with the SkipUserOOBE and SkipMachineOOBE should produce a Wireless Setup Screen only.

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  2. Dan Engel 21 Reputation points
    2021-10-13T16:02:08.857+00:00

    Are you suggesting that the presence of deprecated NetworkLocation is causing an undefined behavior? I will try it without that, but...

    Given the settings above, if I remove SkipMachineOOBE, it goes through both Wireless Setup and Account Setup. If I keep SkipMachineOOBE, it doesn't go through the Wireless Setup.


  3. Dan Engel 21 Reputation points
    2021-10-13T18:03:59.46+00:00

    Follow-up: Removing the NetworkLocation does not address the issue.


  4. Limitless Technology 39,931 Reputation points
    2021-10-14T18:59:17.233+00:00

    Hello @Dan Engel

    Unfortunately both options have been deprecated since Windows 10 version 1709

    References and articles in: https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/0bebab24-a2d3-43bb-a55d-978ebd242dda/sysprep-unattendedxml-skipmachineoobe-skipuseroobe-deprecated?forum=win10itprosetup

    Hope this helps with your query,

    ------------

    --If the reply is helpful, please Upvote and Accept as answer--


  5. Dan Engel 21 Reputation points
    2021-10-15T11:43:14.897+00:00

    @Sean Liming here is the file (w/ company-specific information redacted). The file already existed when I took over the project. I believe it was created with a text editor (and I know I've been using a text editor to modify it.)

    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>  
    <unattend  
        xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">  
        <servicing></servicing>  
    	<settings  
    		pass="generalize">  
    		  
    		<component  
    			name="Microsoft-Windows-PnpSysprep"  
                processorArchitecture="amd64"  
                publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35"  
                language="neutral"  
                versionScope="nonSxS"  
                xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State"  
                xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">  
    			<PersistAllDeviceInstalls>true</PersistAllDeviceInstalls>   
    		</component>  
    	</settings>  
    	  
        <settings  
            pass="specialize">  
      
            <component  
                name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup"  
                processorArchitecture="amd64"  
                publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35"  
                language="neutral"  
                versionScope="nonSxS"  
                xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State"  
                xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">  
      
                <RegisteredOwner>My Company</RegisteredOwner>  
                <ShowWindowsLive>false</ShowWindowsLive>  
                <TimeZone>Eastern Standard Time</TimeZone>  
                <RegisteredOrganization>My Company</RegisteredOrganization>  
                <CopyProfile>true</CopyProfile>  
                <ComputerName>COMPANY-PC</ComputerName>  
            </component>  
      
            <component  
                name="Microsoft-Windows-Deployment"  
                processorArchitecture="amd64"  
                publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35"  
                language="neutral"  
                versionScope="nonSxS"  
                xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State"  
                xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">  
                <RunSynchronous>  
                    <RunSynchronousCommand  
                        wcm:action="add">  
                        <Path>net user administrator /active:yes</Path>  
                        <Description>Enable Administrator</Description>  
                        <Order>1</Order>  
                    </RunSynchronousCommand>  
                </RunSynchronous>  
            </component>  
      
            <component  
                name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP-UX"  
                processorArchitecture="amd64"  
                publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35"  
                language="neutral"  
                versionScope="nonSxS"  
                xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State"  
                xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">  
      
                <SkipAutoActivation>true</SkipAutoActivation>  
      
            </component>  
        </settings>  
        <settings  
            pass="oobeSystem">  
            <component  
                name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup"  
                processorArchitecture="amd64"  
                publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35"  
                language="neutral"  
                versionScope="nonSxS"  
                xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State"  
                xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">  
                <OOBE>  
                    <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>  
                    <HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>true</HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>  
                    <HideLocalAccountScreen>true</HideLocalAccountScreen>  
                    <HideOEMRegistrationScreen>true</HideOEMRegistrationScreen>  
                    <HideOnlineAccountScreens>true</HideOnlineAccountScreens>  
                    <NetworkLocation>Work</NetworkLocation>  
                    <SkipMachineOOBE>true</SkipMachineOOBE>  
                    <SkipUserOOBE>true</SkipUserOOBE>  
                    <UnattendEnableRetailDemo>false</UnattendEnableRetailDemo>  
                </OOBE>  
                <RegisteredOwner>My Company</RegisteredOwner>  
                <ShowWindowsLive>false</ShowWindowsLive>  
                <RegisteredOrganization>My Company</RegisteredOrganization>  
            </component>  
      
            <component  
                name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core"  
                processorArchitecture="amd64"  
                publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35"  
                language="neutral"  
                versionScope="nonSxS"  
                xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State"  
                xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">  
      
                <InputLocale>en-US</InputLocale>  
                <SystemLocale>en-US</SystemLocale>  
                <UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>  
                <UILanguageFallback>en-US</UILanguageFallback>  
                <UserLocale>en-US</UserLocale>  
            </component>  
        </settings>  
        <settings  
            pass="windowsPE">  
            <component  
                name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup"  
                processorArchitecture="amd64"  
                publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35"  
                language="neutral"  
                versionScope="nonSxS"  
                xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State"  
                xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">  
                <UserData>  
                    <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>  
                </UserData>  
            </component>  
      
        </settings>  
    </unattend>  
      
    

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