Answer: If you need to create a Windows Server 2008 clone machine as a template O/S you can sysprep the machine after you load all the necessary applications.
Note: This article is applicable to Windows Server 2008 R2 as well.
To Sysprep your Windows Server 2008 follow the steps below:
Go to: Windows\System32\Sysprep
Run the Sysprep.exe program as Administrator
Select the settings below and Click OK.
Wait for the machine to be shut down.
Now you can clone the machine as a template.