how to add desktop icons to sysprep image

changari · 01 Feb 2018

Can you tell me how to keep the icons I set in my customized windows 10 image. I add them and do a sysprep with copyprofile but when i image the new computer, my desktop and network, and user - etc icons are not there. Also can you or someone show me how to keep the "select which icons appear on taskbar" (ie .. "always show all icons in notification area".
when i sysprep the image, this too turns off and goes to default. Much appreciated any help given

Kari · 01 Feb 2018

CopyProfile = True, copying current built-in admin desktop and settings to default user profile only works when image is generalized. Most probably you have forgotten to use the /generalize switch.

Correct Sysprep command to generalize image:

%windir%\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe /generalize /oobe

In case your answer file has any other name than unattend.xml or if it is not stored in %windir%\system32\sysprep folder, add /unattend switch to tell Sysprep where to find the answer file:

%windir%\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe /generalize /oobe /unattend:X:\MyAnswerFile.xml

Kari

changari · 02 Feb 2018

thanks for response, but i already understand what you replied. I am talking about the startmenu and taskbar.
I know that the startmenu uses the export-startlayout cmd.. and that works just fine.. my issue is according to what i read.. i want to inclde the taskbar .. but when you export.. the taskbar doesnt show up in the exported file.

here is an example :

Code:

<LayoutModificationTemplate xmlns:defaultlayout="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2...lDefaultLayout" xmlns:start="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/StartLayout" Version="1" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2...utModification">
  <LayoutOptions StartTileGroupCellWidth="6" />
  <DefaultLayoutOverride>
    <StartLayoutCollection>
      <defaultlayout:StartLayout GroupCellWidth="6">
        <start:Group Name="apps">
          <start:DesktopApplicationTile Size="2x2" Column="0" Row="0" DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\TightVNC\TightVNC Viewer.lnk" />
          <start:DesktopApplicationTile Size="2x2" Column="4" Row="0" DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Internet Explorer.lnk" />
        </start:Group>
      </defaultlayout:StartLayout>
    </StartLayoutCollection>
  </DefaultLayoutOverride>
</LayoutModificationTemplate>

I thought from what i read i needed to tailor this file and then to import .. But i error out.. according to what i read now ..i need something else than import-startlayout cmd ??

what i am trying to do is remove the store icon and put a could of other icons on the task bar.. but so far no luck doing so..
can you assist??

One other thing.. when i sysprep the machine.. i add the computer to the domain but for some reason the domain adds it in but it says the domain has a problem with the computer being reconized (the security database on the server does not have the computer account for this workstation trust relationship), i had to re-add it in, then everything worked.. any idea why the computer shows as part of domain but still couldnt login in as a domain user?? is there something special in the sysprep i need to do... here is an example of my unattend script:

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
    <settings pass="generalize">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <SkipRearm>8</SkipRearm>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="specialize">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Deployment" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <RunSynchronous>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Order>1</Order>
                    <Path>net user administrator /active:yes</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
            </RunSynchronous>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP-UX" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <SkipAutoActivation>true</SkipAutoActivation>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <TimeZone>Eastern Standard Time</TimeZone>
            <ProductKey></ProductKey>
            <CopyProfile>true</CopyProfile>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-UnattendedJoin" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <Identification>
                <Credentials>
                    <Domain>*****.org</Domain>
                    <Password>***********</Password>
                    <Username>addcomputer</Username>
                </Credentials>
                <JoinDomain>********.org</JoinDomain>
                <MachineObjectOU>OU=Computers,OU=Domain Computers,DC=****,DC=org</MachineObjectOU>
            </Identification>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="oobeSystem">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <InputLocale>en-us</InputLocale>
            <UILanguage>en-us</UILanguage>
            <UILanguageFallback></UILanguageFallback>
            <UserLocale>en-us</UserLocale>
            <SystemLocale>en-us</SystemLocale>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <AutoLogon>
                <Password>
                    <Value>********************</Value>
                    <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                </Password>
                <Enabled>true</Enabled>
                <LogonCount>1</LogonCount>
                <Username>administrator</Username>
            </AutoLogon>
            <FirstLogonCommands>
                <SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <CommandLine>cscript //b c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ipk  *******************</CommandLine>
                    <Order>1</Order>
                    <RequiresUserInput>false</RequiresUserInput>
                </SynchronousCommand>
                <SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <CommandLine>cscript //b c:\windows\system32\slmgr.vbs /ato</CommandLine>
                    <Order>2</Order>
                    <RequiresUserInput>false</RequiresUserInput>
                </SynchronousCommand>
            </FirstLogonCommands>
            <OOBE>
                <ProtectYourPC>1</ProtectYourPC>
                <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>
            </OOBE>
            <UserAccounts>
                <AdministratorPassword>
                    <Value>*******</Value>
                    <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                </AdministratorPassword>
                <LocalAccounts>
                    <LocalAccount wcm:action="add">
                        <Password>
                            <Value>**********</Value>
                            <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                        </Password>
                        <DisplayName>Administrator</DisplayName>
                        <Group>Administrators</Group>
                        <Name>Administrator</Name>
                    </LocalAccount>
                </LocalAccounts>
            </UserAccounts>
            <RegisteredOrganization>*******</RegisteredOrganization>
            <RegisteredOwner>Lan Administrator</RegisteredOwner>
        </component>
    </settings>
 <cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="wim:c:/installed%20apps/install.wim#Windows 10 Pro" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

thanks for all the help in advance

changari · 19 Feb 2018

hi.....

I just want to that the tutorials are great.. I have solved most of all my issues..BUT ONE>>>

I followed the the Customizing & Capturing a Windows image by George Babichev from your site..

I followed the dism comand line and everything worked great. no surprises. .. (first 1/2 of video)

I then followed the wds capture process (2nd part of video) and everything works fine.. BUT when i actually go to install the sysprep'd image .. if fails..
The first action of "Copying Windows Files" happens in about 2 seconds, showing a successful green checkmark.
Then the second action (Getting files ready for installation) ends up displaying the following message:
Windows cannot install required files. Make sure all files required for installation are available, and
restart the installation.
I have tried this several times .. each to the same end.. Here is where is strange.. I use the same sysprep'd image and instead of using the capture image of wds feature .. i use the dism command again and load it manually .. and it works fine..

ANY THOUGHTS >>>>>would be greatly apreciated..........

helperuser · 08 Jan 2019

Solved.

I had same problem when I am trying to prepare sysprep for Windows 10 (version 1809), it removes start menu shortcuts and other user customizations. I solved this problem by creating a user and installing all software, customizing shortcuts instart menu, setting internet properties, arrange desktop icons, set Language and region and so on. Then after finishing all my needs I disabled this user , and open other user to make sysprep for the windows 10.

So, after you restore this windows to any computer go to enable the old user which you disabled before and you will see everything you did like icons and other customization for this user same without any changes.

Now you can stay with this user and delete other users you created.

Hope this helped you

changari · 08 Jan 2019

Ok.. that sounds good.. but my image could be for anyone who receives the PC. So are you saying to rename or copy that disabled user to the new user.?? What happens when another user logs in.
I cant believe that Microsoft cant let you tailor an environment from a sysprep'd machine .. I know I can get certain icon from applications to appear
BUT how can I get a simple thing like the computer..user..network.. to be part of base image and not have to be added...

Kari · 08 Jan 2019

Please see these two Microsoft support articles:

Kari

how to add desktop icons to sysprep image

how to add desktop icons to sysprep image

wds and dism giving different results