An apparatus for generating, validating and applying custom extensible markup language, XML, configuration on a specific-purpose local client (102a-e) having a windows-based embedded image, said windows-based embedded image being any of the Windows Embedded family of operating system, and obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the specific-purpose local client, the apparatus comprising: means for generating an XML configuration file; means for validating the XML configuration file based on a validation file; means for automatically obtaining, at the specific-purpose local client, the XML configuration file, each time the specific-purpose local client boots up; and means for automatically applying, to the windows-based embedded image, a configuration change based on the XML configuration file, each time the specific-purpose local client boots up, wherein the means for automatically applying a configuration change is configured for parsing the configuration file, checking for differences between a previous configuration file associated with a previous configuration change successfully applied to the windows-based embedded image and the obtained configuration file, said obtained configuration file specifying new drivers or applications and wherein the means for automatically applying a configuration change is further configured, if the obtained configuration file is different from the previous configuration file, for disabling a write-filter, installing the new drivers or applications specified by the obtained configuration file, and enabling the write-filter, whereby the write filter, when enabled, prevents any changes applied to the windows-based embedded image from persisting across a reboot of the specific purpose local client running the windows-based embedded image; and wherein the windows-based embedded image supports a graphical user interface and comprises an operating system and one or more applications dedicated to the specific purpose. means for generating an XML configuration file; means for validating the XML configuration file based on a validation file; means for automatically obtaining, at the specific-purpose local client, the XML configuration file, each time the specific-purpose local client boots up; and means for automatically applying, to the windows-based embedded image, a configuration change based on the XML configuration file, each time the specific-purpose local client boots up, wherein the means for automatically applying a configuration change is configured for parsing the configuration file, checking for differences between a previous configuration file associated with a previous configuration change successfully applied to the windows-based embedded image and the obtained configuration file, said obtained configuration file specifying new drivers or applications and wherein the means for automatically applying a configuration change is further configured, if the obtained configuration file is different from the previous configuration file, for disabling a write-filter, installing the new drivers or applications specified by the obtained configuration file, and enabling the write-filter, whereby the write filter, when enabled, prevents any changes applied to the windows-based embedded image from persisting across a reboot of the specific purpose local client running the windows-based embedded image; and wherein the windows-based embedded image supports a graphical user interface and comprises an operating system and one or more applications dedicated to the specific purpose.