Create Windows 10 ISO image from Existing Installation  

Hi Kari,
Thank you for the Tutorial.

I have followed all the steps and successfully created the ISO. However, when I try to use it I run into this error: "Setup has failed to initialize the working directory". How do I resolve this?

phi said:

Hi Kari,
Thank you for the Tutorial.

I have followed all the steps and successfully created the ISO. However, when I try to use it I run into this error: "Setup has failed to initialize the working directory". How do I resolve this?

Kari is the expert on that - but I do know it fails if there's any "duplicate" files / folders and I believe the files / folders need to be placed on a specific drive.

There's also some stuff on the Microsoft documentation site about capturing and applying a "custom image" -- works for win 10 as well.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/win...iew=windows-11

Not quite sure if this is what you want to do but it's got some sensible stuff in it.

I'd also learn about the dism.exe program which is used to manipulate images,

Cheers
jimbo

Hi Kari, from what i understand, create custom iso with preconfigured users and preinstalled software doesn't need sysprep ?
i always fail with autounnatend.xml / answer file while doing this, is it supposed to not use answer file and will not ask configuration like regional, keyboard layout, etc ?
i'm doing this for my single computer anyway, i just often reintalling and sometimes forget about previous software configuration when reinstalling

Hi Karl, I'm currently following your process and have gotten to step 5.5. As soon as I enter that line of code in the ADK kit, whilst changing the drive pathways etc for my specified computer, I get an error saying " ERROR: Could not open boot sector file "c:\iso_files\boot\etfsboot.com" Error 3: The system cannot find the path specified. "
Not exactly where to go from here, have tried 2 different iso's copied into the iso file, so not sure how to progress. Was extremely happy because I managed to follow your clear steps almost the whole way through.
Hope you can get back to me, cheers

Halison said:

Hello,
When I go to format a machine with the modified image that I created according to the tutorial, the following error appears:

Windows cannot find the Microsoft Software License Terms.
Check that the installation sources are valid and restart the installation.

Does anyone know how to solve?

I used a different original Windows 10 Enterprise iso to modify via sysprep, I used a virtual machine and another computer to create and deploy the image, I used commands via cmd and different programs to capture the image as per other tutorials. In audit mode I located the files that contain the license terms within the \System32\Licenses\ and System32\pt-BR\Licenses\ directories, but the problem still persists when installing the modified image on another computer, either via USB stick , cd or using other programs to boot the windows installation. Windows cannot find the Microsoft Software License Terms. Check that the installation sources are valid and restart the installation. A curiosity was that I did the same process of creating a modified image with an original Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 iso and it worked normally, but when I use the Windows 10 image it problem.

hello,

I would like to use method 3(Custom W10 ISO with pre-installed software, no user accounts) to create a custom/debloated iso of windows 11.

When I use sysprep/generalize are any installed drivers removed?