Sysprep is causing the favorites to regenerate!

[xyrx]

This is getting irritating. I've been working on a Sysprep image that would cover 4 different desktop models that we have throughout our agency. I'm basing this sysprep image off of a Ghost image that was for one specific model of these desktops. The ghost image would have a completely blank favorites folder in default user's profile, meaning anyone that logged into that computer, would also get a blank Favorites folder. Now that I'm running sysprep, somehow, somewhere, the stupid default favorites are coming back. MSN.com, Radio Station Guide, etc. After I've sysprep'd the image, the favorites folder for Default User AND Administrator are both empty (cept for the Links folder). After Administrator or anyone else logs in, they get the default favorites back again. How can I prevent this?

As a side-question that may be related, the Windows Media Player icon is now appearing on the desktop. Maybe the way to prevent one from happening will work for the other as well? Thanks.

 

[wolluf]

xyrx - I've had very similar problems with sysprepped images - gave up trying to find out cause, just remove the offending icons after restore. The odd thing is that the extraneous stuff that appears keeps changing - but it only takes a few seconds to remove it. So not much help! - but I'd also be interested if someone knows how to prevent this.

 

[xyrx]

Well I found a website that described the exact steps to prevent the Windows Media Player 7 icon on Windows 2000 from re-appearing on the desktop for each user that logs in (applies for Media Player 10 on XP).

http://www.jsiinc.com/SUBH/tip3600/rh3634.htm

I hunted around in the registry for an equivalent for IE's favorites, and no luck so far.

 

[bcastner]

I thought you could use regedit to clear:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartPage\Favorites

 

[xyrx]

So I would just clear this key? Also, since it's in the \\HKCU key, how can I make this global, since HKCU applies on a per-user basis? I'm thinking of transferring the Startpage key with just an empty Favorites value into HKU\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer . What sayeth you?

 

[bcastner]

You are right. Let me think about this one.
I too considered pointing the Favorites shell folder to a non-default location. My concern was the the "Links" folder would be unaffected.