Windows 10 Guest Customization does not finish

[ooshnoo]

Hi...

We have 2 templates that we create VDIs from...a standard and developer.  When deploying the Standard template everything works fine.  However deploying a virtual machine from the developer template, the customization always fails half way through, with no discernable errors. It just exits.  Therefore it never renames computer or joins to AD.

Some facts:

Developer template was created / copied from standard template.

The use the same customization setting.

Using VShpere client 6 Build 3271482

What I've done so far:

disabled IPv6

uninstalled / reinstalled VMWare Tools

Checked SLMGR /dlv and OS is active via KMS for 180 days

Below is log file.  Any ideas?

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :   INFO] GuestCustUtil invoked.

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :   INFO] Params: customize -sealparam "/quiet /generalize /oobe /reboot" -nics 4000 -schedulenativeunobfusc

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Registry value 'CustomRescheduleFlags' is not set. Returning default value: 0

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :   INFO] Checking for Windows Sysprep Respecialize operation.

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Sysprep process is currently running.

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :   INFO] Windows Sysprep Respecialize operation was not detected.

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                 GuestCustUtil:  DEBUG] Deleting status marker file C:/Windows/.post-gc-status

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                 GuestCustUtil:  DEBUG] Status marker file C:/Windows/.post-gc-status doesn't exist

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :   INFO] Extended customization is not enabled!

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Customization in progress set to 1 at 2016-Mar-16 13:38:54

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Rpci: Sending request='deployPkg.update.state 4 0 C:/Windows/TEMP/vmware-imc/guestcust.log'

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Rpci: Sent request='deployPkg.update.state 4 0 C:/Windows/TEMP/vmware-imc/guestcust.log', reply='', len=0, status=1

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Successfully opened key SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Size of reg_multi_sz 31.

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Read multi_sz value from registry autocheck autochk *, size 31.

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] string value from registry autocheck autochk *.

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] string value from registry PvsVmBoot.

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Returning 2 elements

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Got BootExecute from session mgr.

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Native App sysprepDecrypter.exe, arguments ''

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Copied file sysprepDecrypter.exe to C:\Windows\system32\sysprepDecrypter.exe

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Updated boot execute value.

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Successfully created/opened key SOFTWARE\VMware, Inc.\Guest Customization\

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] New boot execute:

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] autocheck autochk *

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] PvsVmBoot

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] sysprepDecrypter.exe

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Temporary sysprep dir path: C:\sysprep

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Moving directory 'sysprep' to 'C:'

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] select * from win32_networkadapter where Manufacturer != 'Microsoft' and ServiceName != 'VMnetAdapter' and  manufacturer is not null and MACAddress is not null

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Found 1 objects. Pointer 8df018. return code 0(0x0)

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Found 1 objects. Pointer 8bdc10. return code 0(0x0)

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Found 0 objects. Pointer 0. return code 1(0x1)

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Returning value 00:50:56:BF:27:98 for system property

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Returning value 02:50:41:00:00:01 for system property

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Setting dhcp for nic # 0

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Returning value \\WIN10-PRCA-XD7\ROOT\CIMV2:Win32_NetworkAdapter.DeviceID="1" for system property

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] ASSOCIATORS OF {\\WIN10-PRCA-XD7\ROOT\CIMV2:Win32_NetworkAdapter.DeviceID="1"} where ResultClass = Win32_NetworkAdapterConfiguration

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Found 1 objects. Pointer 8b9bf8. return code 0(0x0)

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Found 0 objects. Pointer 0. return code 1(0x1)

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Clearing gateway ip addresses.

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Enabling DHCP on the computer

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Returning value \\WIN10-PRCA-XD7\ROOT\CIMV2:Win32_NetworkAdapterConfiguration.Index=1 for system property

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Setting DNS Server to ip

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Resetting NIC's static IPv6 settings...

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                         Netsh:  DEBUG] Fetching adapters information...

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                         Netsh:  DEBUG] Interface 4 is not found

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :   WARN] Resetting NIC's static IPv6 settings has failed. Ignoring

[2016-03-16T13:38:54: SysprepDriveLettersWorkaround:  DEBUG] Backing up HKLM MountedDevices before sysprep runs

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Enabling SE_BACKUP_NAME privilege

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Retrieving process access token for SeBackupPrivilege

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Getting LUID

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Adjusting privileges

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Backing up SYSTEM\MountedDevices to C:\sysprep\MountedDevicesBackup

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Executing command C:\windows\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe /quiet /generalize /oobe /reboot /unattend:C:\sysprep\sysprep.xml

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Successfully executed command C:\windows\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe /quiet /generalize /oobe /reboot /unattend:C:\sysprep\sysprep.xml

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Trying to connect network interfaces, attempt 1

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Rpci: Sending request='deployPkg.update.state 4 103 C:/Windows/TEMP/vmware-imc/guestcust.log@4000'

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Rpci: Sent request='deployPkg.update.state 4 103 C:/Windows/TEMP/vmware-imc/guestcust.log@4000', reply='queryNicsSupported', len=18, status=1

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Got VMX response 'queryNicsSupported'

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                 GuestCustUtil:  DEBUG] Status marker file C:/Windows/.post-gc-status doesn't exist

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Rpci: Sending request='deployPkg.update.state 4 104 C:/Windows/TEMP/vmware-imc/guestcust.log@4000'

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Rpci: Sent request='deployPkg.update.state 4 104 C:/Windows/TEMP/vmware-imc/guestcust.log@4000', reply='disconnected', len=12, status=1

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                              :  DEBUG] Got VMX response 'disconnected'

[2016-03-16T13:38:54:                 GuestCustUtil:  DEBUG] Status marker file C:/Windows/.post-gc-status doesn't exist

[2016-03-16T13:38:55:                              :  DEBUG] Rpci: Sending request='deployPkg.update.state 4 104 C:/Windows/TEMP/vmware-imc/guestcust.log@4000'

[2016-03-16T13:38:55:                              :  DEBUG] Rpci: Sent request='deployPkg.update.state 4 104 C:/Windows/TEMP/vmware-imc/guestcust.log@4000', reply='connected', len=9, status=1

[2016-03-16T13:38:55:                              :  DEBUG] Got VMX response 'connected'

[2016-03-16T13:38:55:                 GuestCustUtil:  DEBUG] Status marker file C:/Windows/.post-gc-status doesn't exist

[2016-03-16T13:38:55:                              :   INFO] The network interfaces are connected on 1 second

[2016-03-16T13:38:55:                              :   INFO] GuestCustUtil exiting.

[vvenu]

this is something to do with VMware tools. Check this KB:

VMware Tools 10.0.6 Release Notes

[ooshnoo]

Thank you for your reply.  I download and updated the latest Tools to version 10246 and the issue persists.

Any other ideas?

[pricemc1]

Got the same issue as you. In my case its with Windows 8 (RTM) and Windows 10. I have Windows 8.1 and 7 images that customize just fine. I even upgraded vCenter, ESXi, and VMware tools on images to 6.0 U2 since 1B seemed to start the problem. Still have the issue after upgrading all components. I have not been able to resolve so far.

My log output looks identical:

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :   INFO] GuestCustUtil invoked.

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :   INFO] Params: customize -sealparam "/quiet /generalize /oobe /reboot" -nics 4000 -schedulenativeunobfusc

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :  DEBUG] Registry value 'CustomRescheduleFlags' is not set. Returning default value: 0

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :   INFO] Checking for Windows Sysprep Respecialize operation.

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :  DEBUG] Sysprep process is currently running.

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :  DEBUG] Windows Sysprep 'Respecialize' registry value is not set.

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :   INFO] Windows Sysprep Respecialize operation was not detected.

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                 GuestCustUtil:  DEBUG] Deleting status marker file C:/Windows/.post-gc-status

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                 GuestCustUtil:  DEBUG] Status marker file C:/Windows/.post-gc-status doesn't exist

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :   INFO] Extended customization is not enabled!

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :  DEBUG] Customization in progress set to 1 at 2016-Mar-22 13:18:48

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :  DEBUG] Rpci: Sending request='deployPkg.update.state 4 0 C:/Windows/TEMP/vmware-imc/guestcust.log'

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :  DEBUG] Rpci: Sent request='deployPkg.update.state 4 0 C:/Windows/TEMP/vmware-imc/guestcust.log', reply='', len=0, status=1

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :  DEBUG] Successfully opened key SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :  DEBUG] Size of reg_multi_sz 21.

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :  DEBUG] Read multi_sz value from registry autocheck autochk *, size 21.

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :  DEBUG] string value from registry autocheck autochk *.

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :  DEBUG] Returning 1 elements

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :  DEBUG] Got BootExecute from session mgr.

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :  DEBUG] Native App sysprepDecrypter.exe, arguments ''

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :  DEBUG] Copied file sysprepDecrypter.exe to C:\Windows\system32\sysprepDecrypter.exe

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :  DEBUG] Updated boot execute value.

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :  DEBUG] Successfully created/opened key SOFTWARE\VMware, Inc.\Guest Customization\

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :  DEBUG] New boot execute:

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :  DEBUG] autocheck autochk *

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :  DEBUG] sysprepDecrypter.exe

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :  DEBUG] Temporary sysprep dir path: C:\sysprep

[2016-03-22T13:18:48:                              :  DEBUG] Moving directory 'sysprep' to 'C:'

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] select * from win32_networkadapter where Manufacturer != 'Microsoft' and ServiceName != 'VMnetAdapter' and  manufacturer is not null and MACAddress is not null

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Found 1 objects. Pointer 26e4bd0. return code 0(0x0)

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Found 0 objects. Pointer 0. return code 1(0x1)

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Returning value 00:50:56:9D:72:70 for system property

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Setting dhcp for nic # 0

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Returning value \\WIN8X64-TMP\ROOT\CIMV2:Win32_NetworkAdapter.DeviceID="10" for system property

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] ASSOCIATORS OF {\\WIN8X64-TMP\ROOT\CIMV2:Win32_NetworkAdapter.DeviceID="10"} where ResultClass = Win32_NetworkAdapterConfiguration

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Found 1 objects. Pointer 26e8dc8. return code 0(0x0)

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Found 0 objects. Pointer 0. return code 1(0x1)

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Clearing gateway ip addresses.

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Enabling DHCP on the computer

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Returning value \\WIN8X64-TMP\ROOT\CIMV2:Win32_NetworkAdapterConfiguration.Index=10 for system property

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Setting DNS Server to ip

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Resetting NIC's static IPv6 settings...

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                         Netsh:  DEBUG] Fetching adapters information...

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                         Netsh:  DEBUG] Interface 14 is not found

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :   WARN] Resetting NIC's static IPv6 settings has failed. Ignoring

[2016-03-22T13:18:49: SysprepDriveLettersWorkaround:  DEBUG] Backing up HKLM MountedDevices before sysprep runs

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Enabling SE_BACKUP_NAME privilege

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Retrieving process access token for SeBackupPrivilege

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Getting LUID

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Adjusting privileges

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Backing up SYSTEM\MountedDevices to C:\sysprep\MountedDevicesBackup

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Executing command C:\windows\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe /quiet /generalize /oobe /reboot /unattend:C:\sysprep\sysprep.xml

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Successfully executed command C:\windows\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe /quiet /generalize /oobe /reboot /unattend:C:\sysprep\sysprep.xml

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Trying to connect network interfaces, attempt 1

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Rpci: Sending request='deployPkg.update.state 4 103 C:/Windows/TEMP/vmware-imc/guestcust.log@4000'

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Rpci: Sent request='deployPkg.update.state 4 103 C:/Windows/TEMP/vmware-imc/guestcust.log@4000', reply='queryNicsSupported', len=18, status=1

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Got VMX response 'queryNicsSupported'

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                 GuestCustUtil:  DEBUG] Status marker file C:/Windows/.post-gc-status doesn't exist

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Rpci: Sending request='deployPkg.update.state 4 104 C:/Windows/TEMP/vmware-imc/guestcust.log@4000'

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Rpci: Sent request='deployPkg.update.state 4 104 C:/Windows/TEMP/vmware-imc/guestcust.log@4000', reply='disconnected', len=12, status=1

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                              :  DEBUG] Got VMX response 'disconnected'

[2016-03-22T13:18:49:                 GuestCustUtil:  DEBUG] Status marker file C:/Windows/.post-gc-status doesn't exist

[2016-03-22T13:18:50:                              :  DEBUG] Rpci: Sending request='deployPkg.update.state 4 104 C:/Windows/TEMP/vmware-imc/guestcust.log@4000'

[2016-03-22T13:18:50:                              :  DEBUG] Rpci: Sent request='deployPkg.update.state 4 104 C:/Windows/TEMP/vmware-imc/guestcust.log@4000', reply='connected', len=9, status=1

[2016-03-22T13:18:50:                              :  DEBUG] Got VMX response 'connected'

[2016-03-22T13:18:50:                 GuestCustUtil:  DEBUG] Status marker file C:/Windows/.post-gc-status doesn't exist

[2016-03-22T13:18:50:                              :   INFO] The network interfaces are connected on 1 second

[2016-03-22T13:18:50:                              :   INFO] GuestCustUtil exiting.

[vijayrana968]

Upgrade your template's VM Version to 11 (latest) and then check with deploying, I faced same issue, resolved after Virtual hardware upgrade.

[Joseph Cooper]

HW 11 doesn't seem to solve the problem.  I've just completed a brand new Windows 10 VM install on vSphere 6.0U2 (all components, esxi, vcenter, etc).  The VM is on HW v11.  It simply won't customize.  It fails with the error:

Got VMX response 'disconnected'

Status market file c:/Windows/.post-gc-status doesn't exist

The network interface are connected on 1 second

GuestCustUtil existing.

Any ideas? Anyone?

[Chronos74]

Having the exact same issue, made more frustrating by the fact that we deployed 15 VMs from this template last week and they all completed.

[Chronos74]

I've tracked my issue down to a problem with SysPrep. Looking at the log I see that it is failing due to the Candy Crush and Twitter apps, if I uninstall those apps I can then SysPrep manually. I am going to try uninstalling them on my template system and deploying a new VM from it, I will update this with my results.

[Chronos74]

So this ended up not being caused by Candy Crush and Twitter - though it does affect some of my new install templates. For those I followed the steps in this article, it is specifically talking about Candy Crush, so I had to find the name for the Twitter app, but otherwise it was the same steps.

In this specific case however it ended up being the fact that if you update to Win 10 build 1511 on an image that was originally installed with build 1024, Windows registers it as an upgrade - and you can't sysprep upgrade installs. The officially supported solution is to build a new image with a fresh install of 1511, however that was not an option for the specific situation I am working on. I followed the instructions here to get this template to deploy VMs successfully.

Remove this KEY from the Registry:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\Upgrade

Remove this REG_DWORD from the Registry:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\Upgrade

Set this REG_DWORD from the Registry:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\Status\SysprepStatus\CleanupState [Set Hexadecimal Value: 7]

Run this command as Administrator:
slmgr /dli