Sysprep Fails on 20H2

Joe Dry 26

Bit of help on Sysprep needed. I'm trying to capture a master image from Hyper-V (Windows 10 Pro 20H2) and I'm having issues to do with the windows store apps.

I have run:
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage
and
Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -online | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -online

and I still get this in the logs:2021-01-16 15:47:06, Error SYSPRP Package Microsoft.549981C3F5F10_1.1911.21713.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe was installed for a user, but not provisioned for all users. This package will not function properly in the sysprep image.
2021-01-16 15:47:06, Error SYSPRP Failed to remove apps for the current user: 0x80073cf2.
2021-01-16 15:47:06, Error SYSPRP Exit code of RemoveAllApps thread was 0x3cf2.
2021-01-16 15:47:06, Error SYSPRP ActionPlatform::LaunchModule: Failure occurred while executing 'SysprepGeneralizeValidate' from C:\Windows\System32\AppxSysprep.dll; dwRet = 0x3cf2
2021-01-16 15:47:06, Error SYSPRP SysprepSession::Validate: Error in validating actions from C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\ActionFiles\Generalize.xml; dwRet = 0x3cf2
2021-01-16 15:47:06, Error SYSPRP RunPlatformActions:Failed while validating Sysprep session actions; dwRet = 0x3cf2
2021-01-16 15:47:06, Error [0x0f0070] SYSPRP RunDlls:An error occurred while running registry sysprep DLLs, halting sysprep execution. dwRet = 0x3cf2
2021-01-16 15:47:06, Error [0x0f00d8] SYSPRP WinMain:Hit failure while pre-validate sysprep generalize internal providers; hr = 0x80073cf2

I cannot uninstall this package individually either, help would be much appreciated.

Joe

David Hooks 16 Reputation points

2021-05-20T15:57:07.333+00:00

You know what gets me most about this? This has been an issue since the VERY FIRST Windows 10 version. And those ******* at Microsoft STILL haven't fixed it. And they STILL want you to run through a load of commands to remove apps. If it's as simple as running a command then why is that not already coded in to SysPrep??

The worst part is that once you get one app sorted it then tells you about another one. The only way I ever found to do it was to create your local user, enable the admin account, swap accounts and remove the local users without it having been on the internet. The second it connects to the internet you get this crap. Microsoft leaving this unfixed is unforgivable.
Dana Simison 1 Reputation point

2023-08-15T17:20:17+00:00

This has been a problem since Windows 8, ever since they started putting Apps in the OS. Never had a problem like this with Windows 7. And Microsoft should fix it or give us a clear fool proof workaround.

Accepted answer

Tyler Fleming 101 Reputation points

2021-02-05T21:56:03.22+00:00

I am running into this issue as well, where the resolution steps found in this article (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/deployment/sysprep-fails-remove-or-update-store-apps) do not solve the issue.

Edit: Solution (for now), copied from my comment below.

I have been able to successfully get sysprep to work BUT it required that I never open the start menu. Win + X and Powershell are your friend. The issue is specifically opening the Windows Start menu because that kicks off all the Windows Store/Appx Updates on the machine. You CAN use file explorer and what not. I have a theory that you could probably also use the Cortana Search (by click the Magnifying Glass icon and NOT the start menu) as well; but haven't tested that yet.
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2 people found this answer helpful.
Tyler Fleming 101 Reputation points

2021-02-08T18:22:14.057+00:00

Quick Update here: I have been able to successfully get sysprep to work BUT it required that I never open the start menu. Win + X and Powershell are your friend. The issue is specifically opening the Windows Start menu because that kicks off all the Windows Store/Appx Updates on the machine. You CAN use file explorer and what not. I have a theory that you could probably also use the Cortana Search (by click the Magnifying Glass icon and NOT the start menu) as well; but haven't tested that yet.

Joe Dry 26 Reputation points

2021-02-08T21:21:20.703+00:00

Thank you! This works for me too. Can finally get everything on 20H2 now, thanks again. Microsoft really should fix this!

Tyler Fleming 101 Reputation points

2021-02-08T21:35:13.797+00:00

Glad you were able to get it working! I'm glad I wasn't the only one experiencing this issue.

Tyler Fleming 101 Reputation points

2021-02-08T21:44:10.03+00:00

Created a post on reddit as well for future searchability:
https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/lfmnwt/windows_10_20h2_sysprep_woes/

Joe Dry 26 Reputation points

2021-02-08T21:51:18.677+00:00

Awesome, I have shared your post into r/MDT too for any of the MDT guys like myself that might have been facing this issue.

Rick Someone 411 Reputation points

2021-05-20T20:32:29.98+00:00

I did the Win + X and it brought up a PS screen, but with no command line...Open, New, Save.... I'm not sure how to use that PS.

Padmanabhan Vaidyanathan (Paul) 1 Reputation point

2021-08-02T11:27:27.797+00:00

I can't believe this actually worked, thank you for the solution. THis is absolutely ridiculous, with every new Windows Update and sysprep to create an image I keep getting different errors that Microsoft should have fixed, but couldn't be bothered to.

Mattias Othberg 1 Reputation point

2021-08-17T10:44:21.82+00:00

Thank you for the solution, worked like a charm.
Very frustrating though...

freeAppz 6 Reputation points

2021-08-17T10:49:59.067+00:00

Great solution, worked perfect!
Keep up the good work. :-)

Muthuswamy Raju 0 Reputation points

2024-07-07T11:59:01.7866667+00:00

My Issue: Sysprep fails repeatedly on my new Windows 11 reference system.

What I tried: Several steps from various articles on different blog sites and Microsoft's Learn site, too!

Result: Nil!!!

I am stil stuck at the same spot.

I cannot install Windows 11 (today's date is 07 July 2024) without connecting to the internet.

I will try your method and not touch the start menu.

I hope your workaround from 3 years ago will help me.

John Carlson 11 Reputation points

2024-07-07T15:47:02.5833333+00:00

Why not isolate the reference machine from the internet?
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7 additional answers

RS4KING 191 Reputation points

2021-03-04T15:51:43.593+00:00

I came across these errors in my log, so I decided to run the powershell command to remove the Packages. I did the first one, cleared the log (for easier reading), ran the sysprep and got another error for another Appx Package. I did the PS command to remove that package, cleared the log, ran the sysprep again etc. I had to keep doing this for like 15 different apps.

Finally the sysprep did its thing and restarted, just when I thought it was going to work, it loaded back into Windows and my start menu was all jacked up. It kept telling me "Critical Error - your start menu suffered a critical error" any time I tried to click on Start. I tried to reinstall shellexperience via PS and nothing worked, so I ended up just reinstalling a fresh copy of Windows 10 again and came back to the drawing board.

I'm going to try what TylerFleming suggested and not click the start menu at all. After the fresh install of Windows, I'm going to use alt-x and kick off windows updates via command prompt. If I can at least capture an Image with the latest updates and no programs, I would call it a win. Thanks for your suggestions.
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Joe Dry 26 Reputation points

2021-03-04T18:41:27.987+00:00

After doing the sysprep with not clicking start at all, it fixed everything for me!

Good luck.
Joe

RS4KING 11 Reputation points

2021-03-04T21:20:04.217+00:00

It didn't for me. I literally didn't click start or push the button on the keyboard once. Used Window Key + R, Window Key + I (for settings/updates) and I updated all the way and I still get an error in the sysprep log stating some issue with AppxPackage being installed for a user but not provisioned for all.

I did a RemoveAppxPackage powershell command, ran it again, and now I get it for WavesAudo.Waves blah blah. So basically I was able to remove that one package but now it's another one, and it will continue to do that till I eventually break my start menu again and have to start from the beginning.

Very frustrating.
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Luis Vital Almeida 1 Reputation point

2021-04-14T23:10:54.917+00:00

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/deployment/sysprep-fails-remove-or-update-store-apps
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John Carlson 11 Reputation points

2023-11-19T17:46:48.3033333+00:00

Have you tried Audit mode?
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Sysprep Fails on 20H2

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