jreininger
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Software you install that is desgined for 'all users' will continue to exist and work fine after your Sysprep the VM. For example, if you install the VMware tools and all MS updates they will still be there after you Sysprep the VM.

Keep in mind you might want to work out your KMS / MAK setup too, as the new VM will look like new hardware and you will need to activate it to keep using Win 2k8 R2 for > 30days. I found I had to install a KMS patch on my template VM so the KMS process would work correctly. You can watch some MS videos online here.

KMS Activation for Windows® 7 and Windows Server® 2008 R2 (Video)

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Windows Server 2008 KMS Setup Demonstration (Video to be downloaded)

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