Sysprep Windows 10 LTSB without creating new user?

The tutorial Bree linked to in above post has instructions in downloading Windows SIM (System Image Manager) and how to use it. As the tutorial is for making a general install image without any pre-set users, creating a user is not covered.

See the tutorial for Windows SIM download and usage instructions, here's how you add a local admin user:

1.) In WSIM, expand component Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup > UserAccounts, right click LocalAccounts, select Add Setting to Pass 7 OobeSystem:


(Click screenshots to enlarge.)

2.) Right click LocalAccounts in Answer File pane, select Insert New LocalAccount:



3.) In Properties pane, type account Description, Display name, Group and username:



4.) If you also want a password being created instead of letting end users to create it by themselves, expand the new user account in Answer File pane and select Password, type the password for this user:



5.) If a user account was created in Answer File, Windows setup will bypass user creation and boot directly to sign-in screen asking for password (if created). If no password was already created in Answer File, setup asks user to create one:

That's it.

About deprecated Answer File components, you have got somewhat wrong information. Some settings and components are deprecated but this will be clearly told in Properties pane:

Kari

Shamoy said:

Can I create the answer file in a different Windows partition or do I specifically need to do it on the one I want to image?

An answer file can be created on any computer and then be used on another machine. I always use a Hyper-V virtual machine to create my deployment images, making answer file on my host machine then copying it to virtual machine to be used when sysprepping.

Shamoy said:

Also, if I already have a user called "Billy" who is a local administrator, just entering the name in the Answer File properties will make Windows boot straight into that user (and ask for password if there is none)?

I must say I don't understand your question?

It is never a good idea to sysprep an existing Windows installation with existing user profiles / accounts. When you do this correctly you install Windows to a technician machine, booting it to Audit Mode before any user accounts have been created, do your customisations, install software and updates, then sysprep it.

Doing this there is no "ready made" user Billy, just a clean Windows image. Users ("Billy" or any other user account) will be created in answer file.

Kari