This section describes how to customize a Windows installation. You begin the process by building an answer file (Unattend.xml) with Windows System Image Manager (Windows SIM). The following How-To section provides a collection of customizations that you can make by using Windows SIM. The Walkthroughs section provides scenario-based examples.

After you create an answer file, your next step is to assemble the hardware and to run Setup for the Windows Vista® operating system with your answer file. This process is described in Phase 4: Image Deployment.

Note
You can also programmatically create and maintain answer files by using Component Platform Interface Libraries.

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