SYSPREP Utility in Windows 2000

The System Preparation Tool (sysprep.exe), often called as Sysprep in Microsoft's world, is a Windows 2000/2003 deployment tool designed for large organizations and OEMs (Original Equipments Manufactures). Sysprep prepares a Windows 2000 computer's hard disk for duplication, thus making it possible for that computer's hard disk to be copied to other computers. This feature is useful to install Windows 2000 along with custom applications and other data on multiple computers.

The important point to be remembered in Sysprep is "Sysprep works on both Windows 2000 Professional and Server computers, however, it doesn't work on Windows 2000 Server domain controllers."

Sysprep.exe is located in the Windows installation cd (\SUPPORT\TOOLS). In this folder, you will find a file name Deploy.cab and you have to extract this file to find the sysprep.exe utility.

How Sysprep works?

• First, you have to install Windows 2000 and all required applications and services on a computer. This computer is also known as Master Computer.
• Then you have to prepare the master computer's hard disk for duplication by using Sysprep. Sysprep works by removing user-specific data from the original master computer and by placing a Mini-setup routine on the master computer's hard disk.
• Next, use a third party software like Norton Ghost to create an image of the hard disk to copy it on the target machine.
• Finally, when the target computer boots for the first time, a Mini-setup wizard runs to gather user specific information from the user and assigns the target computer with a unique SID.

This topic describe about the SYSPREP utility in Windows 2000 Server. Hope this will help you to recall some details about SYSPREP.