Create Windows 10 ISO image from Existing Installation

Kari · 23 Sep 2018

Note

For some reason, I seem to have missed this thread for months now. I suspect it started when I cleaned my subscriptions, I canceled my subscription to hundreds of threads which from my point of view were unnecessary to subscribe anymore. Apparently I had also canceled subscription to some of my own tutorials.

As I got no notifications about new posts in this thread, I have not followed it. That is completely my own fault.

This is unacceptable, my sincere apologies. I have now subscribed to this thread per email, to be sure I will get notification in case new posts are posted.

SNGHPKJ said:

I made iso. everything working. Just the answer file for sysprep does'nt seem to work so it defaults to windows theme. what could be wrong

Please post your answer file here. Open it in Notepad, copy all text, and paste it here using [CODE]Your answer file here[/CODE] tags.

Kari

SNGHPKJ · 23 Sep 2018

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
    <settings pass="specialize">
        <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">
            <CopyProfile>true</CopyProfile>
        </component>
    </settings>
</unattend>

Kari · 23 Sep 2018

SNGHPKJ said:

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
    <settings pass="specialize">
        <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">
            <CopyProfile>true</CopyProfile>
        </component>
    </settings>
</unattend>

One more question: could you please post the sysprep command, exactly as you used? In addition please tell in which folder you stored unattend.xml answer file.

Kari

SNGHPKJ · 24 Sep 2018

Thanks for quick reply. I simply pasted the XML file in sysprep folder under system32. Also I started the sysprep.exe from there by double-clicking

Kari · 24 Sep 2018

SNGHPKJ said:

Thanks for quick reply. I simply pasted the XML file in sysprep folder under system32. Also I started the sysprep.exe from there by double-clicking

Did you remember to select Generalize option? By default, it is not selected. CopyProfile setting in answer file will be ignored and no theme and other customizations will be done if Generalize is not selected.

Create Windows 10 ISO image from Existing Installation-image.png

In other words, CopyProfile = TRUE setting in answer file requires Generalize option to be used with Sysprep.

Kari

SNGHPKJ · 24 Sep 2018

yes, I did check generalize in Sysprep. I am working with 1803. Could that be a reason? Or I try on more time?

Kari · 24 Sep 2018

SNGHPKJ said:

yes, I did check generalize in Sysprep. I am working with 1803. Could that be a reason? Or I try on more time?

I cannot explain your issue, so yes, I would start from scratch and do it once more.

SNGHPKJ · 24 Sep 2018

OK, thanks! I shall start afresh as soon as I get time, probably tomorrow. Great tutorial - very easy to understand. I made a customized windows 7 iso too.

zanahoria · 21 Oct 2018

Hello Kari, hello Everyone!

This is my first message on this forum. I decided to create an account because I am looking for help in this, Windows install customization, topic.

I did a clean Windows 10 install on VMware Virtual Machine (.iso downloaded with MediaCreationTool, version 1803). I used Windows 10 Pro generic key. I created user accounts, installed all needed applications, customized everything what I need. Machine wasn't connected to network. I captured .wim file from present instalation. I created new bootable ISO with newly created .wim. And...

I can not install newly prepared version of Windows. It doesn't matter if I use autounnatend file or not. Intallation stops on Windows version choice screen with "No images are available". The .wim file size is a little bit over 7gb.

Please, help me and guid me what is wrong and how can I resolve this problem...

GBH · 25 Oct 2018

ello Kari and Everyone here
First thanks for a great tutorial.
Maybe you or someone else here can provide assistance please?
I am having trouble using the below unattend.xml for creating my custom Windows 10 x64 1803 installation.
My installation does install the software as expected and does install the SupportIT administrator account.
The issue is that I thought that I was creating an installation ISO that would not prompt for these items:
- Language to install, Time and currency format, Keyboard or input method
- Activate Windows/Enter Product key
- Accept the license terms.
- Which type of installation do you want/Choose drive Where you want to install Windows

But all those are still prompted for during installaion.
So is there something obviously wrong with it please?

Thanks for any help
GB

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!--  https://forums.fogproject.org/topic/11942/windows-10-1803-unattend-help/3  -->
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
	<settings pass="specialize">
        <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">
            <OEMInformation>
                <SupportURL>http://ITSupport.ie/</SupportURL>
                <Manufacturer>My IT Services</Manufacturer>
                <Logo>C:\Windows\System32\oemlogo.bmp</Logo>
            </OEMInformation>
            <CopyProfile>true</CopyProfile>
            <OEMName>Support IT</OEMName>
            <RegisteredOrganization>Support IT</RegisteredOrganization>
            <RegisteredOwner>Me</RegisteredOwner>
            <TimeZone>GMT Standard Time</TimeZone>
            <ProductKey>VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T</ProductKey>
        </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>0809:00000809</InputLocale>
            <SystemLocale>en-GB</SystemLocale>
            <UILanguage>en-GB</UILanguage>
            <UserLocale>en-GB</UserLocale>
            <UILanguageFallback>en-US</UILanguageFallback>
        </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">
            <OOBE>
                <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>
                <HideLocalAccountScreen>true</HideLocalAccountScreen>
                <HideOEMRegistrationScreen>true</HideOEMRegistrationScreen>
                <HideOnlineAccountScreens>true</HideOnlineAccountScreens>
                <HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>true</HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>
                <ProtectYourPC>1</ProtectYourPC>
				<SkipMachineOOBE>true</SkipMachineOOBE>
                <SkipUserOOBE>true</SkipUserOOBE>
                <UnattendEnableRetailDemo>false</UnattendEnableRetailDemo>
            </OOBE>
            <UserAccounts>
                <AdministratorPassword>
                    <Value>SABvAG0AeQBnAGEAbgAyADAAMAA3AEEAZABtAGkAbgBpAHMAdAByAGEAdABvAHIAUABhAHMAcwB3AG8AcgBkAA==</Value>
                    <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                </AdministratorPassword>
                <LocalAccounts>
                    <LocalAccount wcm:action="add">
                        <Password>
                            <Value>SABvAG0AeQBnAGEAbgAyADAAMAA3AFAAYQBzAHMAdwBvAHIAZAA=</Value>
                            <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                        </Password>
                        <DisplayName>SupportIT</DisplayName>
                        <Group>Administrators</Group>
                        <Name>SupportIT</Name>
                    </LocalAccount>
                </LocalAccounts>
            </UserAccounts>
            <RegisteredOwner>Me</RegisteredOwner>
            <TimeZone>GMT Standard Time</TimeZone>
            <RegisteredOrganization>Support IT</RegisteredOrganization>
        </component>
    </settings>   
</unattend>