The Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 System Preparation tool prepares the preinstalled hard-disk contents of a Windows NT 4.0-based computer (referred to here as the "source computer") for imaging and subsequent transfer to other computers (referred to here as "destination computers"). The System Preparation tool prepares the source Windows NT 4.0 computer image to run a mini-setup wizard and regenerate a system security identifier (SID). The result is a source computer system configuration that you can copy to another identically configured computer through the use of disk image copying tools. The mini-setup wizard configures some of the computer-specific or user-specific settings, including user name, organization, product key, computer name, and administrator password. When the destination computer is started, the SID is regenerated, which ensures that each system SID is unique and the mini-setup wizard is run. Note that most of the mini-setup wizard can be scripted to automate the process, which minimizes setup technician time.
How to Obtain the New Windows Deployment Tools
The Windows NT 4.0 Sysprep tool is available from the following Microsoft Web site:
NOTE: These tools do not copy the image, they "prepare" a system to be copied through the use of a third-party tool. Microsoft currently has no plans to develop a disk image
copying tool.
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