Issue with accessing Settings and Windows Search on new created user account after Windows Deployment

Question

After deploying Windows from an image file created in audit mode and answer file, a new user account was created, but when trying to access Settings or Windows Search, nothing appears in the content area. What could be the reason for this issue and is there any solution to solve it? Thank you.

Charlie

Answer 1

Hello

According to your description, the image is a customized image. I am not sure whether we have created the image correctly.

Usually we take the following steps to create a customized image.

1. Boot a PC into Audit Mode. When Windows boots into Audit Mode, System Preparation Tool will appear on the desktop. You can choose to either close the System Preparation Tool window or allow it to remain open.
2. Customize Windows by adding drivers, changing settings, and installing programs. Don't install any Microsoft Store apps using the Microsoft Store.

3.Run Sysprep.

If the System Preparation Tool window is still open, click Generalize, click Shutdown, and then click OK to generalize the image and shut down the PC.

-or-

Run Sysprep from Command Prompt. Run %WINDIR%\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe to open the System Preparation Window. You can also use the Sysprep command together with the /generalize, /shutdown, and /oobe options. See Sysprep command-line options to see available options.

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%WINDIR%\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe /generalize /shutdown /oobe

The computer generalizes the image and shuts down.

4. After the computer shuts down, capture your image with DISM.
5. Deploy this image to a reference computer. When the reference computer boots, it displays the OOBE screen.

Sysprep (Generalize) a Windows installation | Microsoft Learn

Ensure you have run OOBE process to leave audit mode.

"when trying to access Settings or Windows Search, nothing appears in the content area"

A screenshot may be more useful to understand the exact issue. I suppose the search bar not work?

1. We could try to create a new user then check the issue again.
2. Try to rebuild the indexing.
3. Ensure the search service is running. Run "services.msc" then check the Windows Serach service.

Since the issue occurred after we deployed a new machine, we may consider to recreate the image then deploy again.

Best Regards,

Wesley