Customize Windows 10 Image in Audit Mode with Sysprep  

georg49 said:

....... After Sysprep/Shutdown the configured Master-Disk (with the "copyprofile" option in the unattend.xml) open the the Image offline and delete the Folder "INetCache" in the "Default"-profile

Path: [Driveletter]:\Users\Default\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache

!!! >>>> Correction: The delete has to be done for the "Administrator" profile but not the "Default".
Cause: The copyprofile will be performed only during the next boot of the system. Bevore that the INetCache-folder of the Default profile is empty of course. And according to my later expiriences you only have to delete the file "counters2.dat" in the Folder. This seems to be the reason of the problem.

If you already have a system with the faulty copyprofile-copied "counters2.dat" in this case you would delete it in the "Default" profile and/or any other userprofile. But not at the signed in userprofile cause the file is locked.

Hint: At "https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/pendmoves.aspx" you find a tool/solution to delete a file at next reboot. It only makes a single registry-entry which you may extract into a delete-counters2.reg file for further usage independant from the tool.
I applied & tested it for C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\counters2.dat and that works. This way it's not necessary to offline-edit the deployed image after shutdown.
<<<<< End of correction

fiyahflash said:

Confirmed that deleting C:\Users\Default\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WebCache, C:\Users\Default\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WebCacheLock.dat, as well as C:\Users\Default\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache from the Administrator account that was created via MDT when the system booted, resolved the search issues for any new users that logged on to the system (both non-domain and domain).Trying to figure out now how to resolve this from MDT, in order to remove this manual stepLoading the WIM file into DISM shows that the C:\Users\Default\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WebCache is not present.

Found the solution over at Technet Forums: Windows 10 Creators - sysprep image

Hi fiyahflash
I made a correction to my former post. There I pointed to the wrong path rsp. userprofile. Sorry if that made troubles to got it to work.

Thank you for the tip about the solution in TechNet. But the SetupComplete.cmd does not work for "OEM" versions , cause this option is deactivated there. For such versions I added an alternative solution, which could work in general.

According to my tests I didn't find any issues with WebCache folder and WebCacheLock.dat or other stuff in the INetCache folder except the counters2.dat file. But it may not be a mistake to delete them also. Important: It has to be done in the "Default" profile after the system was rebooted but otherwise in the "Administrator" profile in an offline-image-modification before reboot or if using the sysinternals "movefile.exe" tool rsp. "PendingFileRenameOperations" option in registry.

Kari said:

Yes, it is possible and can be done exactly as told on that article you linked to. Personally I think that it is not necessary, especially when talking about private users, home or small networks and Windows 10 which is extremely capable to find out correct drivers by itself.

Kari

Thanks, Kari. Yes, it does find drivers, but most are MS generic ones. I want to install specific drivers for devices/peripherals/components for a specific MoBo.

Kari said:

If image will only be used on matching hardware, you can simply install all drivers in Audit Mode, then add <PersistAllDeviceInstalls>true>PersistAllDeviceInstalls> in answer file, in Pass 3 Generalize. This keeps drivers even when /generalize switch is used with Sysprep.

To use PersistAllDeviceInstalls, add this code extract to your answer file:

Code:

<settings pass="generalize">
    <component name="Microsoft-Windows-PnpSysprep" 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">
            <PersistAllDeviceInstalls>true</PersistAllDeviceInstalls>
    </component>
</settings>

Another option is to generalize image normally, then add drivers to offline image with DISM: Add and Remove Drivers to an Offline Windows Image
Kari

Thank you for all that, Kari. :)

Yes, I understand > Specific drivers to match specific hardware. I'll take the other option in consideration also.

Kari said:

This quote about sums it up why I do not like keeping / installing drivers on custom image, preferring a completely generalized hardware independent image:

Kari

Thanks again for that, Kari. Don't plan on changing out any of my hardware, but I see the risk if something does need replacing, then I might be in deep doodoo.

I am looking to create a similar image without an OOBE. But, the reboot goes into an infinite loop.
Please help.

I am looking to create a similar image without an OOBE. But, the reboot goes into an infinite loop.
Please help.