Disable USB driver installation from searching Windows Updates for software

Question

Hello,
When a plug-n-play device is connected to a Windows 7 system, the system by default tries to search Windows update for compatible drivers.  I have a preconfigured driver store on each system that will have the drivers for all of the USB devices we care
about so I'd like to search the local driver store first before searching for Windows updates.  
I found the option that controls this under System Properties > Advanced system settings > Hardware tab > Device Installation Settings.  I have set this option before my machines run through sysprep, however, sysprep appears to be resetting
the option back to the Windows default (Yes, do this automatically) and ignores what I set it to.
I have a reg key that I'm running post-sysprep, but I'd like to avoid this as it's an extra step and I don't want to have to account for it long-term.  My question is, is there a way to set this option in my sysprep unattend file?  

Answer 1

If this is a domain joined machine, this can be set by a Group Policy Object;
Open Group Policy Management Editor.
In the navigation pane, open Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Internet Communication Management\Internet
Communication settings.
In the details pane, double-click Turn off Windows Update device driver searching.
Do one of the following:
To turn off searching Windows Update, click Enabled.
To allow searching Windows Update, click Disabled.
Click OK to save your settings.
Instructions taken from: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc730606(v=ws.10).aspx
If this PC is not on the domain (but is Pro) you may be able to set the same option on the Local Group Policy (GPEDIT.MSC).
Kind Regards
Barry