You can customize the Windows guest operating systems of the virtual machines when you deploy a new virtual machine from a template or clone an existing virtual machine. Customizing the guest operating system helps prevent conflicts that might result
if you or other users deploy virtual machines with identical settings, such as duplicate computer names. You can prevent Windows from assigning new virtual machines or templates with the same Security IDs (SIDs) as the original virtual machine. Duplicate SIDs do not cause problems when the computers are part of
a domain and only domain user accounts are used. However, if the computers are part of a Workgroup or local user accounts are used, duplicate SIDs can compromise file access controls. For more information, see the documentation for your Microsoft Windows operating system. Important: After customization, the default administrator password is not preserved for Windows Server 2008. During customization, the Windows Sysprep utility deletes and recreates the administrator account
on Windows Server 2008. You must reset the administrator password when the virtual machine starts the first time after customization. This page of the wizard appears only if the selected specification requires additional customization. When the new virtual machine starts for the first time, the guest operating system runs finalization scripts to complete the customization process. The virtual machine might restart several times during this process. If the guest operating system pauses when the new virtual machine starts, it might be waiting for you to correct errors, such as an incorrect product key or an invalid user name. To determine whether the system is waiting for information, open the virtual machine console. What to do nextAfter you deploy certain Windows operating systems that are not volume licensed, you might need to reactivate your operating system on the new virtual machine. If the new virtual machine encounters customization errors while it is starting, the errors are logged to %WINDIR%\temp\vmware-imc. To view the error log file, from the Windows Start menu navigate to . Microsoft giveth, and Microsoft taketh away. Such is the lifecycle of Windows OS releases. Microsoft wows us with new features and slick animations, but it forgets to mention everything we give up when we transition to a new OS. One feature that’s become far less reliable with each new Windows OS release is the ability to customize the default profile using Sysprep. Let’s cover these changes and what we can do to achieve similar results with default profiles in Windows 11. What happened to CopyProfileIn years past, sysadmins could make changes to the local Administrator account in audit mode and run a Sysprep command with the “CopyProfile” option enabled; those changes would be copied into the default user account. These customizations would replicate across new user accounts that logged in to that computer. If this was a reference VM and captured for imaging purposes, the customized default profile would be distributed to all endpoints and applied to all users who log in to those endpoints. Unfortunately, this procedure hasn’t worked reliably since very early in the lifespan of Windows 10 (mid-2016) and even less so on Windows 11. However, that won’t stop us from finding new ways to customize the default profile. Customize the Windows 11 Start menuThe drastically different Start menu was probably the most significant change introduced in Windows 11. Not only did Microsoft change the look, feel, and location of the Start menu, but the company also changed the way we manage it. We’ll talk about this a bit more in a later section, but for now, here’s how we can customize the start menu and copy it to the default profile.
Once the file has been copied, we’re ready to move on to the next step: customizing the taskbar. Customizing the Windows 11 taskbarTo customize the taskbar in Windows 11, we’ll create a LayoutModification.xml file that contains the apps we want pinned to the taskbar. This method remains unchanged from Windows 10. Here’s how it works:
Configuring default application associationsDefault application associations ensure the correct application launches when a user opens a specific file type. While the process of exporting and importing applications associations hasn’t changed much since Windows 10, it’s worth highlighting. Setting default applicationsHere’s how to set default apps in Windows 11:
Exporting a default application association XMLWith our defaults configured, the next thing we need to do is export these settings.
Import a default application association XMLWe can use a few different methods to import a default application association XML. The first is to mount an
offline Windows image, then import the file using these commands: With the image mounted, use this command to import the app association file: Alternatively, you can use a script to run the import command during a post-deployment task, such as during the Specialize or First Boot phases. Lastly, you can distribute the application association file with Group Policy.
If you choose to utilize this policy, the default app association file is processed and default associations are applied during logon. Using Group Policy to set the desktop background imageLast but not least, we’ll configure a desktop background image to round out our default profile. And, if you’re feeling particularly power-hungry, we can also make it so users can’t change the image. Don’t worry; I won’t judge you. Here’s how to do it:
Now your users will be stuck rocking that sweet company background image. I hope you’re proud of yourself. Adapting to changeLet’s be honest; just because something isn’t broke doesn’t mean Microsoft won’t try to fix it. Such is the case with the CopyProfile setting. To be fair, Microsoft has every right to evolve the Windows ecosystem to adapt to societal trends and defend against security threats. As the market changes, Windows must also change. Hopefully, future iterations of Windows operating systems provide administrative controls that are efficient and easy to manage. Better yet, why wait for Microsoft when you can power up your administrative tasks and endpoint management right now? SmartDeploy has everything you need to manage your local and remote devices. Deploy applications, drivers, OS updates, and even Windows images to all of your local and remote devices with an internet connection — no VPN required. Download a free trial and experience what the next generation of endpoint management has to offer. Brock Bingham Born in the '80s and raised by his NES, Brock quickly fell in love with everything tech. With over 15 years of IT experience, Brock now enjoys the life of luxury as a renowned tech blogger and receiver of many Dundie Awards. In his free time, Brock enjoys adventuring with his wife, kids, and dogs, while dreaming of retirement. Which option is used to customize the desktop?You can choose a picture for your desktop background or change the accent color for Start, the taskbar, and other items. Select Start > Settings > Personalization. The preview window gives you a sneak peek of your changes as you make them.
Which provides options to Personalize Windows?Windows themes
A theme is a combination of pictures, colors, and sounds that help you personalize your PC.
What is Windows 10 and its configuration?Windows 10 is a Microsoft operating system for personal computers, tablets, embedded devices and internet of things devices. Microsoft released Windows 10 in July 2015 as a follow-up to Windows 8. Windows 10 has an official end of support date of October, 2025, with Windows 11 as it's successor.
What are the items contained on the Windows desktop?The Windows desktop has the following program access points:. Work area. The onscreen area where users can perform their work, as well as store programs, documents, and their shortcuts. ... . Start button. ... . Quick Launch. ... . Taskbar. ... . Deskbands. ... . Notification area.. |