Certain Dell models are not enjoying my Universal image
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@Andy-Abplanalp probably too many. 5-10 at this point. I sysprep each time before I upload the image again.
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@george1421 I really don’t think it is the HDD space or anything with the HDD. The image size is only 45GB and I am throwing it onto at least an 80GB HDD. I’ll keep digging.
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The crazy part is that it is only affecting models Optiplex 740, 745, and 380 now. I have successfully used this image on Dell Optiplex 990, 360, GX520, 755, 760 and 780 as well as HP 6200, 6300, and 7800.
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@mlnancejr8808 On these devices, have you updated the bios to the latest (yes I know they are old) as well as set the bios back to factory default. These are of the vintage that back in the XP days there were issues with the hard disk mode ata/achi/legacy. The errors that I have found so far refer to disk issues.
In regards to Andy’s question. He’s probably asking about the number of rearms of your master image. But if you are building it from MDT source every time that shouldn’t be a problem.
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@george1421 I’ll have to check on the BIOS versions. I think they are up to date but I’ll double check. Should I reset them to factory default and then try?
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@mlnancejr8808 is sysprep adding any local accounts with your answer file? The reason I ask is…I’ve seen the exact symptoms you’ve described where a local account gets added during sysprep from the answer file but stops with that exact error because that account already exists from being added during previous syspreps. Make sure the ProfileList registry keys are cleaned up before subsequent/repeated sysprepping.
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@Andy-Abplanalp yes, it is adding the local admin account. Strange thing, i booted the image off of the domain, added to workgroup and then uploaded it again. Didn’t sysprep this time, reimaged a 745 and it worked without issue. I guess because it was no longer looking for that unattend.xml correct?
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@mlnancejr8808 when you say “adding the local admin account”, do you mean other than ‘Administrator’? If so, then yes, I’m guessing my last reply is on the right track.
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I had an epiphany. I think I enabled the local account already in the image then when the unattend.xml runs it is unable to do what it needs to. Do you think that could be the issue?
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@mlnancejr8808 that still doesn’t answer my question. If you are creating a local admin account with your answer file, then make sure it doesn’t exist already in the image before you sysprep it again. Delete it from Local Users and remove any corresponding entries in the registry under the ProfileList key. That should solve this problem.
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@Andy-Abplanalp I believe that is what was happening. That local admin account did exist that was also in my unattend.xml to create and enable. I am working on that now.
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@Andy-Abplanalp So I think it was the fact that I had enabled the local administrator account in windows but also had the settings in my unattend to enable that account. It was done out of habit. Once I disabled that account in windows, sysprepped again, and uploaded the image, I haven’t had a client fail yet, no matter the model.
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@mlnancejr8808 Hmmm… interesting. But if that is what it takes then I think you are on your way. You now have a solid image that will support your fleet with a common image. Well done!!
