Windows 10: Customizing layout.xml then sysprep doesn't work

Hello all,

Is anyone experiencing a similar issue when attempting to add shortcuts to the taskbar after sysprep that the start menu exported (in this case: layout.xml) seems to revert and doesn't take affect?

I am having this issue on 1809 and 1903.

:)

 

Customize Windows 10 Image in Audit Mode with Sysprep  

Thank you! *Biggrin

 

Customize Windows 10 Image in Audit Mode with Sysprep  

Step 1: Pin that app to Start:




Step 2: Export Start layout to an XML file:




Step 3: Open XML in any text editor, search for your app, note the ID string:




In this case now the AppID for Solitaire had been Microsoft.MicrosoftSolitaireCollection_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

Step 4: Unpin app from Start and its entry from XML if no longer needed.

 

Windows 10 Search not working, Build 10240 After Sysprep


I work in a school district and have started testing Windows 10 and making images. The problem I am having is that after setting the computer up and sysprepping it to be deployed on other computers, when I put it on another computer the search function and cortana don't work at all. I can see the search at the bottom left, but clicking on it does nothing. The start menu works fine (I have seen posts where someones start menu does't work in conjunction with the search not working). It is just the search function that will not work. Below are the steps I use to customize the computer...

1. Install Windows 10 from cd
2. Enter Audit mode with CTRL + SHIFT + F3 after installation to customize
3. Customize the computer the way I want it
4. Sysprep the computer (sysprepe.exe /oobe /shutdown /generalize /unattend:myunattendfile)
5. Capture the image.

I have done this two different times now (full installs and customized), and both times the search function is broken after putting the image on a computer. I do not even see cortana listed anywhere in the C:\Programfiles\WindowsApps. I have tried running the suggested command "Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest*.xml"}" and it doesn;t fix the search function. Windows key + S doesn't do anything either. Has anyone experienced this issue? Any help would be appreciated, Thanks!

Dustin