How to Identify When the System Preparation Tool for Windows NT 4.0 Is Used On a Computer

This article describes how to determine if the System Preparation Tool for Windows NT 4.0 has been used to prepare a Windows NT-based computer for disk duplication or cloning.

You can use the System Preparation Tool for Windows NT 4.0 in conjunction with a disk duplicating or cloning program to duplicate a Windows NT installation from one computer to another. The System Preparation Tool for Windows NT 4.0 ensures that Windows NT-based computers maintain a unique security identifier (SID) when they are cloned. Microsoft supports the use of the System Preparation Tool for Windows NT 4.0 for the preparation of a Windows NT-based computer for disk duplication. Microsoft does not support the use of third-party SID changing programs. You cannot use the System Preparation Tool for Windows NT 4.0 to bring a previously cloned Windows NT- based computer into compliance.

To identify a computer that has been prepared for disk duplication by the System Preparation Tool for Windows NT 4.0, use the appropriate method.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that may require you to reinstall Windows NT. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.

Check for the Existence of the CloneTag Registry Value

When you use the System Preparation Tool for Windows NT 4.0, a CloneTag value is placed in the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Setup

The value data of the CloneTag value is set to the date, in hexadecimal format, that the System Preparation Tool for Windows NT 4.0 was used on this computer.

Check for the Existence of the Setupcl.exe File

When you use the System Preparation Tool for Windows NT 4.0, the Setupcl.exe file is placed in the %SystemRoot%\System32 folder.