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Generalize

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Generalize prepares the computer to be captured as a reference image immediately after other answer-file settings are processed. For more information about configuration passes, see Windows Setup Configuration Passes. To learn about generalizing a Windows installation, see Sysprep (Generalize) a Windows installation.

When Generalize is set, Windows Setup will:

  1. Complete all of the other unattend settings in the configuration pass.
  2. Run the generalize configuration pass.
  3. Prepare the computer for imaging.

The following table provides scenarios for each combination of Mode and ForceShutdownNow.

Mode value ForceShutdownNow value Result

Audit

false

Prepares the operating system to start in the auditSystem configuration pass, and then restarts the computer.

Audit

true

Prepares the operating system to start in the auditSystem configuration pass, and then shuts the computer down immediately with no user interaction.

OOBE

false

Prepares the operating system to start in the oobeSystem configuration pass, and then restarts the computer.

OOBE

true

Prepares the operating system to start in the oobeSystem configuration pass, and then shuts the computer down immediately with no user interaction.

Note

Do not use this setting in conjunction with the Reseal setting. If you use both settings, the Reseal setting is ignored.

Child Elements

Setting Description
ForceShutdownNow Specifies whether the computer shuts down immediately after the Mode setting is applied.
Mode Specifies which configuration pass the computer start after the generalize configuration pass is complete. The options include: Audit or OOBE.

Valid Configuration Passes

auditUser

Parent Hierarchy

Microsoft-Windows-Deployment | Generalize

Applies To

For a list of the Windows editions and architectures that this component supports, see Microsoft-Windows-Deployment.

XML Example

The following XML output shows a deployment with no asynchronous or synchronous commands.

<AuditComputerName>
   <MustReboot>true</MustReboot>
   <Name>MyComputer</Name>
</AuditComputerName>
<ExtendOSPartition>
   <Extend>true</Extend>
</ExtendOSPartition>
<Generalize>
   <ForceShutdownNow>true</ForceShutdownNow>
   <Mode>Audit</Mode>
</Generalize>

Microsoft-Windows-Deployment