Setting up Windows from original equipment manufacturer sources
Setting up Windows from original equipment manufacturer sources
Hello everyone, I have a question that came up after some research. I work with many family and friend computers, and this process is always frustrating. Usually I install Windows 8.1 and then contact the person to get their Microsoft account. Sometimes they don’t have one, so I have to create it. After that, I follow the full installation and add all the necessary programs.
What I’m trying to achieve is set up Windows 8.1 like an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) product. Ideally, when the computer starts, it should open the setup screen instead of me. This is tricky to explain, but I want the user to see the link below when they first boot: https://youtu.be/o3UbKWOzXRI?t=5m53s.
Additionally, I’d like to install software before Windows even boots, such as Chrome and Microsoft Office. I’m not sure if this is feasible for a regular user, and I thought maybe special OEM licenses would be needed. I just wanted to know if anyone has any experience with this. Thank you all for your help!
You're looking for the Windows pre-installation environment, or PE. I haven't used it before, but I understand what you need. You can learn more about it online, or someone might visit to explain how to set it up.
You can configure the system without a Microsoft account. Just choose not to have one and pick a local account option. This process is known as OOBE mode or Out Of Box Experience. It means the computer will set up itself like an OEM would, handling account creation automatically. For details on SysPrep, check out this link: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-GB/libr...25209.aspx and the article about Sysprep: http://www.smattie.com/2013/12/16/how-to...ndows-8-1/
On reaching the personalize page, press Ctrl+Shift+F3 to jump to the home screen using a temporary admin account, bypassing the need for a Microsoft or local login. When you switch to the desktop, Sysprep will launch automatically, giving you the option to configure its state after reboot (such as entering system OOBE).