Windows 7 Pro sysprep not working

deploymentsysprepwindows 7

I'm trying to sysprep a Windows 7 Professional machine, prior to grabbing an image for mass deployment on identical hardware, and am having a hard time getting sysprep to work (at all).

I've created an XML answer file with WSIM, and have a basic setupcomplete.cmd file, but none of the configurations in the answer file seem to be applied.

I've read technet articles and googled, and I still have no idea why this is happening. Is someone able to have a look at the answer file I've attached and let me know where I'm going wrong?

thanks,
Callum

AutoUnattend.XML

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
    <settings pass="specialize">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <AutoLogon>
                <Password>
                    <Value>**********************************</Value>
                    <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                </Password>
                <Username>administrator</Username>
                <LogonCount>1</LogonCount>
                <Enabled>true</Enabled>
            </AutoLogon>
            <WindowsFeatures>
                <ShowMediaCenter>false</ShowMediaCenter>
                <ShowWindowsMediaPlayer>false</ShowWindowsMediaPlayer>
            </WindowsFeatures>
            <CopyProfile>true</CopyProfile>
            <DoNotCleanTaskBar>true</DoNotCleanTaskBar>
            <RegisteredOrganization>SomeCompany (UK) Ltd.</RegisteredOrganization>
            <RegisteredOwner>SomeCompany User</RegisteredOwner>
            <ShowWindowsLive>false</ShowWindowsLive>
            <TimeZone>GMT Standard Time</TimeZone>
        </component>
        <component name="Security-Malware-Windows-Defender" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <DisableAntiSpyware>true</DisableAntiSpyware>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="oobeSystem">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <SystemLocale>en-UK</SystemLocale>
            <UserLocale>en-UK</UserLocale>
            <UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
            <InputLocale>0809:00000809</InputLocale>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <OOBE>
                <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>
                <HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>true</HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>
                <NetworkLocation>Work</NetworkLocation>
                <ProtectYourPC>1</ProtectYourPC>
            </OOBE>
            <UserAccounts>
                <AdministratorPassword>
                    <Value>*************************************************=</Value>
                    <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                </AdministratorPassword>
            </UserAccounts>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Deployment" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <Reseal>
                <Mode>OOBE</Mode>
            </Reseal>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="generalize">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <SkipRearm>0</SkipRearm>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="windowsPE">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <UseConfigurationSet>true</UseConfigurationSet>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="wim:c:/wim/install.wim#Windows 7 PROFESSIONAL" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

Best Answer

And the answer is to not use the default HP provided install of Windows 7 - HP's previous sysprep attempts aren't cleaned / cleared out properly and adversely effect your sysprep attempts.

c.d.