We just installed a prototype Windows machine and resealed using Sysprep. When booted, the minisetup starts, accepts the required information, and then, when pressing the last NEXT button, setup.exe gives an Error (instruction at _____ referenced memory at _____ ; memory could not be read) and crashes. Both OK and Cancel procude a machine shutdown, so we are in a loop. I'd really like to recover this installation to save a considerable amount of time, and can clearly access the hdd by moving it to another PC, for example. Does anybody know what file or regkey to remove/modify in order to bypass, if possible, the minisetup and go back to a normal boot? The system will only need a computer name and an admin password. All the rest shouldn't have been removed when resealing.

My belief is that a too old version of sysprep.exe and setupcl.exe where used, but even after replacing them the problem is still there. Also, I am wondering where is the SETUP.EXE the error is referring to. Maybe I can replace/update that...

I think I've gotten a machine out of mini setup by either booting in safe mode or booting from the last know good. Worth a try..

Super! That's what I was looking for. It worked perfectly! The proper systprep.exe and setupcl.exe (needed for SP2) were in a separate package distributed by Microsoft last October. If anybody is using sysprep on a machine with SP2, remember to get the right files!