I am trying to create a Windows 8.1 image on Lenovo ThinkCentre M73z's. I can go through the process of creating and applying an image with no errors, but the workstation doesn't boot. I would appreciate anyone looking through our steps below, please let me know if you can figure out what we're doing wrong or missing. Thanks in advance.

Create Image

Boot to WinPE
diskpart
select disk 0
clean
exit


Boot to Win8 install disk
Allow Windows install to create partitions
Install Windows, customize
Sysprep: OOBE, Generalize, Shutdown


Boot to WinPE
diskpart
assign System partition S:
assign Windows partition C:
assign my USB disk D:
exit diskpart

Dism /Capture-Image /ImageFile:D:\test-windows-partition.wim /CaptureDir:C:\ /Name:"Windows partition"
Dism /Capture-Image /ImageFile:D:\test-system-partition.wim /CaptureDir:S:\ /Name:System partition"



Apply Image

Boot to WinPE
diskpart
select disk 0
clean
create System partition size=100, format NTFS, assign letter=S
create Windows partition, format NTFS, assign letter=C
assign my USB disk D:
exit diskpart

Dism /apply-image /imagefile:D:\test-windows-partition.wim /index:1 /ApplyDir:C:\
Dism /apply-image /imagefile:D:\test-system-partition.wim /index:1 /ApplyDir:S:\




Things we have tried that have failed:


Switch BIOS to Legacy, use MBR disk

Switch BIOS back to UEFI boot, use GPT disk

Make our own partitions in diskpart

Have Windows install create partitions, then shift-F10 to open command window in Install, enter diskpart, apply image

Apply only Windows partition image, leaving System alone

Use BCDBoot in WinPE to create boot files on system partition

Boot to Win8 install disk, Repair - Advanced - Repair Startup

Setting partitions as Active in diskpart

Hi,

workstation doesn't boot

Can you provide more detail on this? Did you get any error, black screen or blue screen?

Check DISM log.

Hi.

The system won't boot even if you force it? What is the error message?

Have you tried setting up the bcdedit entries when using UEFI.

Bcdedit /set {FWbootmgr} displayorder {bootmgr} /addfirst

Or used the following bcdboot:

(uefi)

Bcdboot c:\windows /s S: /f uefi

(legacy)

Bcdboot c:\windows /s S:

Hi all,

Thanks for your input - the process now appears to be working as described above although I have an uneasy feeling since it just started working with no clear reason why.

I am currently only creating an image for the Windows partition, and when I test it I am only creating a single partition and marking it as Active - no separate System partition.

It still fails on first boot (Windows Boot Manager or an unlabeled, pre-Windows environment, black screen - Failed to find boot media or similar error). I have to boot from the Win8 install disk and go through the Startup Repair process. However, that seems to work now instead of failing consistently as it did before.

I'll update if I get a better insight about what's going on here.

• Edited by STKaye Tuesday, January 27, 2015 9:27 PM

Hi all,

Thanks for your input - the process now appears to be working as described above although I have an uneasy feeling since it just started working with no clear reason why.

I am currently only creating an image for the Windows partition, and when I test it I am only creating a single partition and marking it as Active - no separate System partition.

It still fails on first boot (Windows Boot Manager or an unlabeled, pre-Windows environment, black screen - Failed to find boot media or similar error). I have to boot from the Win8 install disk and go through the Startup Repair process. However, that seems to work now instead of failing consistently as it did before.

I'll update if I get a better insight about what's going on here.

• Edited by STKaye Tuesday, January 27, 2015 9:27 PM
• Proposed as answer by Michael ShaoMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Thursday, February 05, 2015 8:23 AM
• Marked as answer by STKaye 20 hours 24 minutes ago

Hi all,

Thanks for your input - the process now appears to be working as described above although I have an uneasy feeling since it just started working with no clear reason why.

I am currently only creating an image for the Windows partition, and when I test it I am only creating a single partition and marking it as Active - no separate System partition.

It still fails on first boot (Windows Boot Manager or an unlabeled, pre-Windows environment, black screen - Failed to find boot media or similar error). I have to boot from the Win8 install disk and go through the Startup Repair process. However, that seems to work now instead of failing consistently as it did before.

I'll update if I get a better insight about what's going on here.

• Edited by STKaye Tuesday, January 27, 2015 9:27 PM
• Proposed as answer by Michael ShaoMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Thursday, February 05, 2015 8:23 AM
• Marked as answer by STKaye Thursday, February 05, 2015 3:19 PM

Hi,

What is the current situation? Did you get any further?

Please feel free to let me know if the issue persist.

Thanks all,

I'm marking my previous reply as the answer since it seems to be holding up. I'm not feeling positive about it since it seems like it just "started working," but I'll update this thread if I get more substantial information in the future. Once we start rolling out the image later in the spring I'll get more repetitions on the process.

Up next, wading through the myriad of options in Group Policy.