Windows 10: Customize Windows 10 Image in Audit Mode with Sysprep

Tried out a clean install of 10240.

It looks like there are still issues, especially if you need to create a user account before generalization. Apps like 3D Builder and Solitaire simply show their splash images for several seconds before disappearing completely.

So, there is no way that we can deploy Windows 10 at launch. Bummer.

I tried creating a user account after Sysprep, and apps seem to work okay so far in that one.

 

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/lib...(v=vs.85).aspx

 

So if I am reading that document correctly, we'll have to use that utility to keep our pre-generalization changes whenever a new build is released? I guess we won't be able to update our pre-generalization builds? If so, that really sucks.

 

I've been experimenting just using Sysprep without Audit Mode (in cases where you might have a computer lab with only one generic user and you want all the computers in the lab to be 100% identical to each other). If anyone wants to reproduce the complete breaking of Windows 10 x64 Pro (Build 101240), do this:

1. Install Windows and go through all prompts. During installation, create a local user named "test1." Otherwise, take all default installation settings.2. When Windows installation is finished, login to the "test1" user account.3. Restart the computer.4. Log back into the "test1" user account.5. Sysprep with these switches: /generalize /oobe /reboot6. During the OOBE, take all defaults except create a local user named "test2." You won't use this account, but OOBE requires a user to be created.7. When OOBE is complete, login to the "test1" account.8. Click the "3D Builder" tile. It opens for a second and then closes.9. Click the "Get Office" tile. It opens for a second and then closes.10. Click the "Get Skype" tile. It opens for a second and then closes.11. Click the "Microsoft Solitaire Collection" tile. It opens for a second and then closes.12. Click the "Phone Companion" tile. It opens for a second and then closes.13. Click the "Windows Feedback" tile. It never attempts to open.14. Click the "Store" tile.15. Click the "User" icon beside the search box.16. Click the "Downloads" link.17. Notice that the Store is (usually unsuccessfully) attempting to update all the Modern apps, whether they need to be updated or not.

 

So I can boot to my virtual machine, deploy a clean image direct to Audit mode from WDS with some basic customisations and as soon as I install updates = no start menu. (i think you touched on this above)

I can do the same without updates and sysprep to "OOBE" with Generalization and everything works.

Unfortunately, I'm looking to sysprep to audit mode with generalize and then capture the image. Upon doing so it creates the same issue - the start menu no longer loads and neither does search (as above).

Any ideas on ways around either of these issues would be great *Smile

Ok so i've confirmed two issues in Build 10240:
In audit mode if Updates are run then the Start Menu will no longer load
When Sysprep'd to Audit Mode with Generalization ticked it will also break the Start Menu as well as the "Right-Click" desktop Links to the Settings GUI

 

So has anyone tried RTM and seen if there are any fixes to Sysprep? I highly doubt there are, but I've got my fingers crossed.

I should be able to test it in the next 48 hours.

Number one on my fix list is making sure the Modern apps are no longer broken after generalizing the image, especially when making a local user account before generalizing. This successfully worked in Windows 7 without breaking anything and Windows 8.1 without breaking the apps, so this should be possible on Windows 10, as well.

 

Tested Scenario:
1. Install Windows.
2. Enter Audit Mode.
3. Generalize the image (without an unattend file or any customizations).
4. Go through OOBE, answering all questions with defaults, except not using a Microsoft user account but instead a local user account and not adding the computer to a domain.
5. Login to the computer using the newly created local user account.

I would give this scenario an overall pass. Unlike the Insider 10240 build, all of the Modern apps that I tested worked.

One minor annoyance is that when I clicked on the tile of each app, a little progress bar appeared within the tile, and it took quite a few seconds before each one started. I’m not sure what that’s about, and it could be an annoyance in an academic environment that uses DeepFreeze (or similar)

Next, I want to test another scenario: basically the same as above, with the addition of an extra two steps between Step 3 and Step 4: (a) create a local user account and (b) login to that local user account.

 

They fixed Updates within Audit Mode - you can now run Windows Update and install them and everything works fine.

Running Sysprep with "Enter Audit Mode" and Generalize ticked still breaks the start menu, search etc though.

 

Checking "under the hood" reveals that although native apps are shown in Start when setting up Windows with an initial local account, they are in fact not always installed for that user. The progress bar indicates the installation and should only appear when the app in question is launched first time.

I have some mixed results, more successes than failures using certain workarounds. I will continue testing and post my results in a few days.

 

Amazing news. I've posted it up here too so hopefully Microsoft asknowledge it and fix it *Smile
Audit Mode Shutdown

 

Hello Kari,

I'm using Micrsoft Windows 10 Enterprise 10240 X64.
Before I know you couldn't change the Start Menu with Sysprep, I have installed Classic Shell: Classic Shell - Start menu and other Windows enhancements, a custom Start Menu program for getting the Real Start Menu back. Because you told me that it didn't work and I also have tested it you're absolutely right. So I have removed Classic Shell, and sysprep all the thing made a username, programs works great, but here is the problem when I want to try to reinstall Classic Shell, the Start menu doesn't work anymore, when you click onto Start it will open and then about a few seconds without clicking anything he will kick you're out of the Menu. Do you know how I can fix this?

Greetings: . *Wink

P.S. I think there is a problem because the pc used the Settings from Classic Shell what I installed before, do you know where to removed that, so I can make it work again? If this isn't the problem then can you please help me. *Wink

 

Try the "release candidate" version from Classic Shell's website

 

I'm already using: Release candidate 4.2.3.

 

I think you are right. I could see this being a problem in educational environments.

In schools, they often deploy the machines with products like Deepfreeze. This lets students do whatever they want and then the changes are reverted after reboot.

So, what will happen is that a student will start an app and it's then installed. But when the student reboots the machine, that installation is wiped away.

Could be a problem, but the apps I've used installed in just a second or two so maybe not a huge problem. Have they is stalled fast for you?

 

Great News Classic Shell does work, the only problem was you have to wait for loading all the stuff onto it, and I got many Apllications on there because my ISO is 17,5GB. *Wink
And I'm still not done. *Wink