I have a virtualized copy of Windows Server 2008 R2 installed with some applications already installed on it (not server roles) and I would like to re-deploy it on a number of other servers across my enterprise exactly as it is – including the applications installed. I refer to the original disc image as my gold copy.
In the past I have taken a copy of the gold copy and then ran sysprep. Perhaps I am wrong in saying this but I can recollect attempting this previously only to find that after syspreping the image that all applications previously installed were removed after sysprep was completed. Am I correct in stating this happens or do the applications simply need reconfiguring, i.e. in the same manner as an application such as Windows Media Player does after a new user account is created?
I have consulted Microsoft's documentation on sysprep but to say it is poorly organized is an understatement.
Best Answer
No, the whole point of sysprep is to strip out the machine-specific settings like activation ID and SID while leaving the installed programs for ease of deployment. Obviously, if certain applications rely on these machine-specific things, they might break, but those are few and far between.