The OOBE Wizard may not run when you use Sysprep.exe to deploy a Windows Vista image

When you use the System Preparation tool (Sysprep.exe) in audit mode to deploy a Windows Vista Windows Image Format (WIM) image file, the Out of Box Experience (OOBE) Wizard does not run automatically. Instead, the OOBE Wizard is displayed as a System Cleanup Action option in a dialog box. This symptom occurs even though the Windows System Image Manager identifies the OOBE Wizard value as a default value for the auditUser mode or for the auditSystem mode.

This issue may occur when the OOBE Wizard value is not specified in the Unattend.xml file. By default, the Windows System Image Manager does not save default values for modes.

To resolve this issue, use Windows System Image Manager to force the mode default values to be saved in the XML file. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the XML file that you are using in Windows System Image Manager.
2. In the Windows Image pane, expand Windows_Image_Name, expand Components, and then expand platform_Microsoft-Windows-Deployment_version_neutral.
   
   For example, you may expand x86_Microsoft-Windows-Deployment_6.0.6000.16386_neutral.
3. Right-click Reseal, and then click to select the Add Setting to Pass 6 auditUser check box.
4. In Reseal Properties pane, right-click Mode, and then click Write Image Value.