Generalizing Windows might cause existing user accounts to lose
Start and
Search /
Cortana functionality if they are active when
Sysprep command is run. Therefore it is recommended that before you run Sysprep you
activate built-in admin account, sign out from all normal user accounts, sign in to built-in admin account and
disable all existing normal user accounts including your main admin account. When done run the Sysprep command while still signed in to built-in admin.
Sysprep forces Windows to go through
OOBE (setup) phase, generates a new machine GUID, removes all shadow copies (restore points), resets event logs, disables built-in admin account if it was enabled before Sysprep command, resets theme customisations to Windows defaults and requires a new admin user to be created. Notice that you must create a new admin user after Sysprep, if you try entering your existing admin user you will be told
Something went wrong. You need to use a temporary username:
As soon as you get to desktop using this temporary admin user account, activate your original admin account. When it is activated sign out from temporary account, sign in with your original admin user, remove the new temporary account and activate all other user accounts that were disabled before the Sysprep.
Do not use Sysprep on existing Windows installation without first creating a system image or at least backing up your data!