Windows Setup Configuration Passes

Applies To: Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2

Configuration passes are used to specify different phases of Windows® Setup. Unattended installation settings can be applied in one or more configuration passes.

In This Section

The following topics describe the configuration passes used with Windows Setup.

How Configuration Passes Work	A description of the different phases of Windows Setup, and the different configuration passes used to install and configure a Windows installation.
auditSystem	The auditSystem configuration pass is one of the configuration passes used in audit mode.
auditUser	The auditUser configuration pass is one of the configuration passes used in audit mode.
generalize	The generalize configuration pass prepares a Windows image to be deployed across many computers.
offlineServicing	The offlineServicing configuration pass is used to install packages, drivers, and other updates to an offline Windows image.
oobeSystem	The oobeSystem configuration pass, also known as Windows Welcome, can be used to preconfigure user interface pages for an end user.
specialize	The specialize configuration pass customizes a specific Windows installation to a specific computer.
windowsPE	The windowsPE configuration pass is used to configure Windows PE in addition to some aspects of Windows Setup.

See Also

Reference

Windows Setup Supported Platforms and Cross-Platform Deployments

Concepts

Windows Setup Scenarios and Best Practices
Windows Setup Installation Process
Windows Setup Automation Overview
Audit Mode Overview