Tiny answer file for VM templates

ok so when we create a template of Windows Server 2016 VM, after sysprepping of course, the OOBE run is annoying and time consuming…yeah yeah, it is only a couple of minutes but if you can avoid that, why not?

A tiny answer file specified during sysprep helps a lot. Of course, the recommended way to create that answer file is that you gotta install Windows SIM first. It takes time and has a learning curve to it.

I did that. Here are a couple of nice write-ups which I followed:

https://theitbros.com/sysprep-a-windows-7-machine-start-to-finish/

and

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-create-unattended-media-do-automated-installation-windows-10

However, I must add that those are written from the perspective of automating an fresh installation of Windows, not a simple VM cloning process. That does not need all the settings these guys talk about. So At the end of this post I am sharing a tiny answer file which will help you automate. It has the bare minimum stuff you need to automate a Windows Server 2016 VM cloning process.

Here is what it does:

1. Skip showing OOBE screens
2. Specify your company name, etc
3. Set locale and time zone to EST
4. Enable RDP

I use it by specifying it at sysprep time, like this:

c:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\./sysprep.exe /oobe /generalize /shutdown /mode:vm /unattend:c:\AdminTools\AutoUnattendServer2016Std.xml

Enjoy!

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
    <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">
            <RegisteredOrganization>Your company name</RegisteredOrganization>
            <RegisteredOwner>Designated person</RegisteredOwner>
            <TimeZone>Eastern Standard Time</TimeZone>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-TerminalServices-LocalSessionManager" 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">
            <fDenyTSConnections>false</fDenyTSConnections>
        </component>
        <component name="Networking-MPSSVC-Svc" 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">
            <FirewallGroups>
                <FirewallGroup wcm:action="add" wcm:keyValue="RemoteDesktop">
                    <Active>true</Active>
                    <Group>Remote Desktop</Group>
                    <Profile>all</Profile>
                </FirewallGroup>
            </FirewallGroups>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="oobeSystem">
        <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>
            <UserLocale>en-US</UserLocale>
        </component>
        <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>
                <VMModeOptimizations>
                    <SkipAdministratorProfileRemoval>true</SkipAdministratorProfileRemoval>
                    <SkipNotifyUILanguageChange>true</SkipNotifyUILanguageChange>
                </VMModeOptimizations>
                <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>
                <HideLocalAccountScreen>true</HideLocalAccountScreen>
                <HideOEMRegistrationScreen>true</HideOEMRegistrationScreen>
                <HideOnlineAccountScreens>true</HideOnlineAccountScreens>
                <HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>true</HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>
                <ProtectYourPC>1</ProtectYourPC>
            </OOBE>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>