specialize

Applies To: Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2

During the specialize configuration pass of Windows® Setup, computer-specific information for the image is applied. For example, you can configure network settings, international settings, and domain information.

The specialize configuration pass is used together with the generalize configuration pass. The generalize pass is used to create a Windows reference image that can be used throughout an organization. From this basic Windows reference image, you can add additional customizations that apply to different divisions in an organization or to different installations of Windows. Any method of moving or copying a Windows image to a new computer must be prepared with the sysprep /generalize command. For more information, see Sysprep (System Preparation) Overview and Sysprep Command-Line Options.

The following diagram illustrates how the specialize configuration pass is used to apply these specific customizations.

For example, during the specialize configuration pass, you can specify different home pages in Internet Explorer® for different departments or branches in your business. This setting will then override the default home page.

See Also

Concepts

How Configuration Passes Work
auditSystem
auditUser
generalize
offlineServicing
oobeSystem
windowsPE