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Download the updated System Preparation tool for Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005
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The Windows XP Corporate Deployment Tools (deploy.cab) assists system administrators in installing Windows XP on multiple computers. This file contains updates to Setup Manager, the Sysprep utility, and related documentation.
MS KB 838080 has more:
The Windows XP System Preparation tool
The Windows XP System Preparation tool enables administrators to prepare Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 system images as part of an automated deployment. This tool is an updated version of the Sysprep program that is included with Windows Server 2003.
You can use the System Preparation tool to perform the following tasks in a manner that is supported by Microsoft:
- Prepare Windows for duplication from one computer to another computer.
- Change security identifiers (SIDs) and other system and configuration settings to make them unique.
- Configure user-specific information to be customized by the end-user when Windows starts the first time.
- Create images of operating systems.
- Duplicate disks.
- Automate the Windows mipetri-Setup program.
- Perform auditing tasks.
The Sysprep.inf file
The Sysprep.inf file is the answer file for the Sysprep.exe program. To build the Sysprep.inf file, run the Setup Manager Wizard. Select the Sysprep Answer file option.
The Deploy.cab folder
The Support\Tools\Deploy.cab folder includes detailed documentation that describes the latest features of the deployment tools and how to use them. The documentation includes the Sysprep.exe program.
These tools are also available in the Support\Tools folder on the Windows XP SP2 product CD but you can also download them from Microsoft's website:
Download the Windows XP SP2 Deployment Tools (1.7mb)![]()


