How to Use the Sysprep Tool to Perform Audit Boots to Verify Windows Server 2003 Preinstalled Components (283087)

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Audit boots are designed to enable the graphical user interface (GUI) to be accessible as quickly as possible so a preinstall technician can verify the hardware and software components and perform any manual customizations that are needed.

The audit boot process can enable a technician to make any necessary interactive customizations and quality assurance (QA) verification before a computer is resealed for delivery to an end user. The Microsoft System Preparation (Sysprep) tool has a Factory mode that enables OEM system builders to make a customization of a Windows Server 2003 preinstall component on the production floor.

The Factory mode of Sysprep is directed by a "bill of materials" file, called Winbom.ini.

To audit a preinstall process after Sysprep completes its directives from the Winbom.ini file, you must include the following instruction in the Winbom.ini file: When the Winbom.ini file contains this entry, after it has completed the answerfile directives, the computer can enter the audit boot process.

A Sysprep dialog box can be displayed automatically during the audit boot process, and this box can be used to select another audit boot if needed (for example, if a piece of manually installed hardware or software needs to be restarted to complete Setup). When the audits are complete, the preinstaller can either click Reseal on the Sysprep dialog box, or use the sysprep -reseal command.

After you select the reseal option, the computer shuts down and is ready for delivery to the end user.

For more information on Sysprep, refer to the following sources:

• The Ref.chm file in the \Support\Tools\Deploy.cab folder on your Windows Server 2003 CD-ROM.
• Click the following Microsoft Web site (the OEM system builder home page):

  http://www.microsoft.com/oem