Sysprep May Not Consistently Apply the Per-User Settings That Are Specified in Winbom.ini (823729)

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you use the System Preparation tool (Sysprep) to install a disk image on several computers, you can specify certain settings that are user-specific in the Winbom.ini file, such as Font Smoothing settings. These settings may not be updated consistently in the Default User profile that is used for creating new users. After Sysprep runs on a destination computer and the computer joins the domain, new users receive a new profile when they log on that does not include the settings that are specified in the Winbom.ini file.

CAUSE

When the first user who is a member of the Administrators group logs on after installing or upgrading to Windows XP, that user's profile is modified to indicate that it has already completed Setup. When Sysprep runs, it copies that user's profile to the Default User profile that is to be used by all new users on the destination computer. When the Mini-Setup Wizard runs on the destination computer, it is supposed to apply the per-user settings from Winbom.ini. Instead, it checks the version of the user's profile (the Default User profile), determines that this operation has already been applied to this profile, and does not apply the settings that are specified in Winbom.ini.

WORKAROUND

To work around the problem, follow these steps: WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

Before you run Sysprep on the source computer, use the Load Hive command in Registry Editor to load the NtUser.dat file from the Documents and Settings\Default User folder.
Manually modify settings such as the Font Smoothing and Power Management settings in the Registry.
Run Sysprep to create the disk image.

These manual registry changes are propagated to new users' profiles when the system is installed on the target computers.

REFERENCES

For additional information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

314472 Quick Guide to Preinstalling Windows

291586 HOW TO: Add Customized User Settings When You Run Sysprep