Windows XP OOBE (with Merlin)

Instructions: 1: Preparing Sysprep Since Windows XP doesn't come with Sysprep built-in, you will have to do it yourself. 1: Make a directory called Sysprep in C:\WINDOWS\system32\ 2: Mount a Windows XP install media (or an ISO, if you are doing it on a VM) 3: Right click on the install DVD/media, and click on "Open" 4: Go to the SUPPORT folder, then go to TOOLS. 5: Then, open DEPLOY.CAB. 6: Copy all of the files in DEPLOY.CAB in C:\WINDOWS\system32\Sysprep\ 7: Run sysprep.exe 8: Go to the drop-down menu there it says "Shut down", and select Reboot. 9: Click on Reseal. 10: Then, Windows XP will reboot and then it will launch the OOBE. 2: Disabling the OOBE through registry: Now, in the OOBE, it tells you to type in your product key, but you can use the product key that it came with your ISO file, or on the website where you downloaded on, but if you don't want to type in the product key, you will have to do it through registry. 1: Open Command Prompt by pressing Shift+F10 to open Command Prompt. Or, use Fn+Shift+F10 if you're using a laptop. 2: Then, in cmd, type "regedit" 3: Then, the Registry Editor opens, then you have to go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup. 4: We will have to change some registry values: Change CmdLine from C:\WINDOWS\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /f to nothing Change MiniSetupInProgress from 1 to 0 Change OobeInProgress to 0 Change SetupType from 2 to 0 Change SystemSetupInProgress from 1 to 0. 5: Then, reset the computer/VM. Now, you will have the Personalized Settings window, then you're back to normal. 3: Replacing the qmark.acs: Once the OOBE loads, you will have a blue question mark on the bottom right corner. 1: Go to C:\WINDOWS\system32\oobe\images, then you will find qmark.acs. 2: Copy your Microsoft Agent character (for example, Merlin.acs) to C:\WINDOWS\system32\oobe\images. 3: Now, delete the qmark.acs file, then rename from Merlin.acs to qmark.acs. 4: Now, you can run Sysprep to load the OOBE, and you will see Merlin, or any other character you wanted to use. 1:15 - Intro 1:21 - Welcome to Microsoft Windows 3:54 - The End User License Agreement 6:45 - Before we can continue... 8:31 - Is this a genuine copy of Microsoft Windows? 10:36 - You need a valid product key 15:24 - What's your computer's name? 16:18 - What's your Administrator password? 18:11 - Is this computer in a domain? 19:02 - Checking your Internet connectivity 19:08 - Will this computer connect to the Internet directly, or through a network? 20:57 - Ready to register with Microsoft? 21:44 - Collecting Registration Information 24:35 - Who will use this computer? 27:35 - Thank you! 29:46 - End of OOBE 29:53 - The Welcome Screen 29:57 - some temporary string here. 30:38 - "Windows is shutting down..."