Why is Sysprep removing files and applications?

Question

I am trying to clone a sever thru HyperV. I export and import the machine without an issue. I disable its NIC and log in thru the console. I see the applications and files are the clone. Last step before I rejoin it to the domain is to run sysprep. I need the applications and configurations that were on the machine the export came from to be on the new clone. So we can test upgrades and so forth. I run Sysprep and even thought it is stated that it will not remove applications and files. It is doing exactly that!

I was running sysprep using:

C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\sysprep.exe /oobe /generalize /shutdown /mode:vm

and it erasing files and folder. I did some searches and found that creating an unattend.xml with this line in it.

<PersistAllDeviceInstalls>true</PersistAllDeviceInstalls>

So I created the xml file and formatted it with all the options I want and this line in the config. I then run sysprep using:

c:\windows\system32\sysprep\sysprep /generalize /oobe /shutdown /unattend:c:\windows\system32\sysprep\unattend.xml

Same results. The only thing that survives the sysprep is chrome of all things! I know I need to run sysprep for the clone to work correctly. I HAVE to have the files and programs that were installed before the export.

Any advice?

Answer 1

Hi Calabris,

sysprep is designed to generalize a Windows installation by removing unique identifiers such as the computer name and security identifiers (SIDs). This process prepares the system for deployment to other computers with different hardware configurations. However, Sysprep is not the appropriate tool for preserving installed applications and user data. You should use a cloning tool or disk imaging tool instead.

To preserve installed applications and user data, you can use a cloning tool such as Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) or System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM). These tools allow you to create a reference image with all the necessary applications and configurations, and then deploy that image to other computers. If you want know more information about them, you can post you your question in the Q&A forum (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/ ), where there will be a dedicated engineer to provide you with a professional and effective response.

Hope it helps.

Kind regards,

Lei

Answer 2

I need to clone an existing server that already has certificates and applications loaded. Then restore it to a new server. These servers are to test upgrades of our applications. Sysprep says it should not remove files and applications. MDT will not work because we would be building a new server from scratch, not cloning an existing server. Why is sysprep deleting files and applications when it specifies that it should not

Answer 3

Based on your description, it has been out of my scope. Maybe you will need to contact Microsoft Support team for assistant. Here is the link: Contact Us - Microsoft Support.