KB ID 0000736 

Problem

When you have deployed Windows 8, you are presented with the option to sign in with a MICROSOFT ACCOUNT. That’s a good thing (generally), but that might be a leap to far for most IT departments at the minute! So you may want t stop your imaged machines asking in the first place.

You may also want to stop the machine asking for a LOCAL ACCOUNT also.

Solution

1. If you are using the System Image Manager to prepare your unattended file, you need from the Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup_neutral component, the OOBE subcomponent, to ‘7 oobe system’. Set the following options;

HideLocalAccountScreen = true

HideOnlineAccountScreens = true

Do the same by editing the XML Directly

Note: Windows 8 like its predecessor ships with the local administrator account disabled. I would consider creating a local admin user when you deploy your machines, so if theres a problem at least you can log into them in the future with a local account that has administrative access.

Add a Local Administrative User Account

To add a local user that has administrative access, you need from the Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup_neutral component, the User Accounts subcomponent, to ‘7 oobe system’. Right click Local Accounts > New Local user account > Set the following options;

Action = AddListItem

DisplayName = Sysadmin

Group = Administrators

Name = Sysadmin

Then set the password for yout new user;

Do the same by editing the XML Directly

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

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