Windows virtual machine fails to join domain when using Guest OS Customization Specifications

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

• After deploying a Windows virtual machine from a template, the guest OS fails to join the Active Directory domain, even though the Customization Specification is configured correctly.
• The following log entries were captured from the guest OS at C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\Panther\setuperr.log

YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS, Error SYSPRP Package Microsoft.NetworkSpeedTest_1.0.0.23_x64_8wekyb3d8bbwe was installed for a user, but not provisioned for all users. This package will not function properly in the sysprep image.
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS, Error SYSPRP Failed to remove apps for the current user: 0x80073cf2.
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS, Error SYSPRP Exit code of RemoveAllApps thread was 0x3cf2.
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS, Error SYSPRP ActionPlatform :: LaunchModule: Failure occurred while executing 'SysprepGeneralizeValidate' from C:\Windows\System32\AppxSysprep.dll; dwRet = 0x3cf2
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS, Error SYSPRP SysprepSession :: Validate: Error in validating actions from C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\ActionFiles\Generalize.xml; dwRet - 0x3cf2
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS, Error SYSPRP RunPlatformActions: Failed while validating Sysprep session actions; dwRet = 0x3cf2
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS, Error SYSPRP RunDl1s:An error occurred while running registry sysprep DLLs, halting sysprep execution. dwRet = 0x3cf2
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS, Error SYSPRP WinMain:Hit failure while pre-validate sysprep generalize internal providers; hr = 0x80073cf2

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 8.x

Cause

The error message "SYSPRP Package Microsoft.NetworkSpeedTest_1.0.0.23_x64_8wekyb3d8bbwe was installed for a user, but not provisioned for all users. This package will not function properly in the sysprep image" highlights a common issue during Sysprep execution. It arises when a Microsoft Store app such as NetworkSpeedTest in this case is installed only for a single user account rather than provisioned system-wide. Since Sysprep generalize phase requires all applications to be provisioned for every user to create a consistent and reliable deployment image, the process fails when it detects user-specific apps.

Resolution

• Deploy a new virtual machine with required OS configuration without any applications installed and convert it into template.
• Apply the guest OS customization (using virtual machine name as hostname) when deploying virtual machine from this template. 
• Check whether the virtual machine name is reflecting as hostname within guest OS post deployment.

Additional Information

Guest OS Customization Specification fails to apply correctly during virtual machine deployment from a template
Windows fails to join domain with customization specification