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I'm trying to build a lean & clean Windows 11 WIM. Here's my approach so far:

I would go to Audit Mode by selecting Audit Mode & reboot at C:\Windows\system32\Sysprep\Sysprep.exe. After reboot, I would select to OOBE, shutdown & generalize on the Sysprep instance that is left pre-opened. Then, I power up again on a recovery/portable Windows environment (Paragon HDM or Windows installation media), interrupting the normal installed Windows boot-up, & where I can run DISM to build the WIM.

The problem is, generalize seems to have left my laptop too bare & it can't boot up anymore. I can't get pass "Getting ready".


If it matters:

This is a customized Windows install in that right after when the installation files were copied & the the first restart were to happen, it was interrupted. Then C:\PerfLogs, C:\ProgramData, C:\Temp & C:\Users were moved to D:\ & these aforementioned directories where made junction links to their new location in D:\PerfLogs, D:\ProgramData, D:\Temp & D:\Users.


Additional info:

At the point where I can't get pass "Getting ready" & instead boot to a Windows environment (Paragon HDM or Windows installation media), the installed Windows partition is not assigned a letter & the supposed D: is drive C:

Might have I messed up the GPT of the drive?

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    I power up again on a recovery/portable Windows environment ... That has been deprecated so far as I know. Sysprep is designed to use with a full Windows operating system.
    – John
    Sep 17, 2022 at 22:11
  • No, you misunderstand. After choosing OOBE, shutdown & generalize, I boot to a Windows environment other that the installed one. So to avoid having to call DISM online. Sysprep, I only have called within the installed Windows. Sep 17, 2022 at 22:16
  • If that is so, the the options you chose for Sysprep may have eliminated too much. Otherwise Sysprep generally works.
    – John
    Sep 17, 2022 at 22:20
  • Re-read If it matters & Additional info. My suspicion is there. Sep 17, 2022 at 22:25
  • Where I have worked with people using Sysprep, we have not changed the main partition so I cannot answer that.
    – John
    Sep 17, 2022 at 22:28

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