Well to get to the problem I'll just explain what I do, which doesn't work.

1. I install windows 8.1 pro (x64) on a test-pc.
2. After installation I press cntrl shift f3 to get into audit mode.
3. I install all software/drivers etc. I also place shortcuts and change the background.
4. I insert my usb, which contains a file called "unattend.xml" in which this is written:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
    <settings pass="specialize">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <CopyProfile>true</CopyProfile>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="wim:e:/usb/windows%207%20en%208/win81pro/sources/install.wim#Windows 8.1 Pro (x64)" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

5. After that I use CMD and use this command: C:\windows\system32\sysprep\sysprep /oobe /generalize /shutdown /unattend:F:\unattend.xml

6. when it is done working and turns off, I turn it back on and walk through the oobe. After that my shortcuts and background are standard windows 8.1 and not the ones I used.

Can anyone see what I did wrong? I can't seem to figure it out. Thanks!

Btw: This unattend.xml file is created with windows system image manager of the same install.wim which is used to install that OS.

Note: If I generalize a pc after an installation, doesn't that cancel the activation? So when I bring it to a customer he needs to fill in the activation key? 

• Edited by Tom1993 12 hours 48 minutes ago

Hi,

After the step 5 (I mean after we customize the default user profile and reference PC sutts down), generally as I know, we should then capture image, you can boot into Windows PE and then capture the Windows installation by using DISM.

See full guide in the link below

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-in/library/hh825135.aspx?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396

The article also contains some conditions in which user profile settings aren't successfully copied, such as you can not use a domain account, there are no additional user accounts other than the built-in administrator account that you configured,, etc and sysprep will remove all the security settings of your Windows including windows activation.

Regards