Random black screens when Windows Server 2025 is deployed via VMware Cloud director with guest customization enabled.

Products

• VMware Cloud Director

Issue/Introduction

Server 2025 Template deployed via VMware Cloud Director randomly returns a black screen when customization is enabled. 

Environment

VMware Cloud Director

VMware vSphere 8.x

Cause

The root cause of this issue is a failure during the Sysprep process within the Windows Server 2025 guest operating system. Sysprep encountered errors while attempting to stop the clipsvc service and clean up the AppX package repository database.
The following errors were observed in the setupact.log:

setupact.log:

2025-04-10 09:51:57, Info                  SYSPRP Key AppModel\SystemAppData does not exist. Nothing further left to do.
2025-04-10 09:51:57, Info                  SYSPRP Scheduled move of file C:\Windows\system32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\counters.dat
2025-04-10 09:51:57, Info                  SYSPRP Prepared AppxSvc for sysprep generalize
2025-04-10 09:51:57, Error                 SYSPRP Failed to stop clipsvc service: 0x8007045b.[gle=0x0000045b]
2025-04-10 09:51:57, Error                 SYSPRP Failed to clean the package repository database: 0x8007045b.
2025-04-10 09:51:57, Error                 SYSPRP ActionPlatform::LaunchModule: Failure occurred while executing 'SysprepGeneralize' from C:\Windows\System32\AppxSysprep.dll; dwRet = 0x45b
2025-04-10 09:51:57, Error                 SYSPRP SysprepSession::ExecuteAction: Failed during sysprepModule operation; dwRet = 0x45b
2025-04-10 09:51:57, Error                 SYSPRP SysprepSession::ExecuteInternal: Error in executing action for Microsoft-Windows-AppX-Sysprep; dwRet = 0x45b
2025-04-10 09:51:57, Error                 SYSPRP SysprepSession::Execute: Error in executing actions from C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\ActionFiles\Generalize.xml; dwRet = 0x45b
2025-04-10 09:51:57, Info                  SYSPRP SysprepSession::Execute: Sysprep mode was not specified, deleting it from registry
2025-04-10 09:51:57, Error                 SYSPRP RunPlatformActions:Failed while executing Sysprep session actions; dwRet = 0x45b
2025-04-10 09:51:57, Error      [0x0f0070] SYSPRP RunDlls:An error occurred while running registry sysprep DLLs, halting sysprep execution. dwRet = 0x45b2025-04-10 09:51:57, Error      [0x0f00a8] SYSPRP WinMain:Hit failure while processing sysprep generalize internal providers; hr = 0x8007045b2025-04-10 09:51:57, Info       [0x0f004c] SYSPRP WaitThread:Exiting spawned waiting thread
2025-04-10 09:51:57, Info       [0x0f0052] SYSPRP Shutting down SysPrep log2025-04-10 09:51:57, Info       [0x0f004d] SYSPRP The time is now 2025-04-10 09:51:57

Resolution

These errors indicate a problem within the guest operating system's Sysprep process and are not directly related to VMware Cloud Director or vSphere functionality.

To resolve this, ensure that the Windows Server 2025 template is properly prepared for Sysprep before being captured in VMware Cloud Director. Follow Microsoft's best practices for Sysprepping Windows Server operating systems or open a support ticket with MSDN for further assistance.

Additional Information

clipsvc: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/clipsvc-service-error/0efd1654-76f5-444b-8611-3a93b3e58de7
Appx packages: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/setup-upgrade-and-drivers/sysprep-fails-remove-or-update-store-apps