VMware has put a lot of effort into the automation of adding a SCSI driver into Windows XP during the installation of the Virtual Machine.  You are taking advantage of this with Easy Install.  (Check out the way we used to have to do it, by reading the original posting at:  http://www.virtual-strategy.com/Migration/How-To-Build-An-Effective-Virtual-Machine-Template.html .)

The operating system build is now completely automated.  It will finish its installation, and even install VMware Tools for us.  This may take a couple of reboots, but is really a nice addition to the Workstation/Fusion software.  You will know that the process is complete when the Virtual Machine has a VMware Tools icon in the System Tray, and it does not have a red circle around it.

It will give you a computer name based on the Owner name we provided during the easy install, which is just fine for the template Virtual Machine....well, for now anyway....

Patching the operating system

It is now time to patch Windows to the point you need it done to.

One thing to note, is that if you are using Windows Update or Microsoft Update, do not install “Creative Technology Ltd. Creative AudioPCI (ES1371,1373) (WDM)”

I find that this could lead to potential problems, and have not installed this into my Virtual Machines at any point in time.  I go out of my way to make sure that this Update is not shown to me again.

So now that the operating system is installed, and patched, you can install some anti-virus software.  You don't have to, but....

Cleanup of the Virtual Machine

Time to go through and see if there is any unnecessary software installed in Windows XP.  Go through Add/Remove programs, and check there.  Go through Add/Remove Windows Components and check there as well.

Do any additional customizations you wish, such as how the Windows Explorer view is seen.  Another thing I usually do is change the way users log on and off, and shut off fast user switching.

So now that the Virtual Machine is almost ready to become a template, run Microsoft Disk Cleanup.  Get rid of anything in there, just do not compress old files.

Right click on the VMware Tools icon in the System Tray, and select Open VMware Tools.  On the first tab, Options, verify there is a check in the box, 'Time Synchronization between the Virtual Machine and the host operating system'.  The default on Workstation is that there is no check in this box.  The default in Fusion is that there is a check in this box.

Click on the Shrink tab.  Click on the button, 'Prepare to Shrink.'  The point of doing this is to compress the Virtual Machine's Virtual Hard Drive, and have it occupy as little disk space as possible (efficiency!). 

You will be asked if you want to prepare your disk for shrinking.  Click yes.  This process may take a few minutes.

You will be asked do you want to shrink your disk(s) now?  Click yes.  This process may take a few minutes as well.

Once the process completes, you will be notified.  Click OK.  We are now ready to perform a sysprep, and make this Virtual Machine our template.