This article is intended to give a reliable method for using Ghost to capture Windows 8.1 update 1 images for deployment. Currently, Ghost has difficulty with Apps. Apps in Windows 8.1 refer specifically to a class of programs installed via the Windows Store that, once installed, appear on the Apps screen.
Prerequisite:
The firmware of the machine where the image will be captured should be updated to the latest revision, and Secure Boot should be turned off in the firmware. Please consult the machine manufacturer's website for the latest firmware revisions and instructions for how to apply these.
1. Create a new local Admin account. (E.g create a new local account named ‘labadmin’ and make sure this account is a member of the local Administrators group).
2. Delete all other local accounts
3. Login to the computer as the built-in Administrator account
a. Open a command prompt as an administrator
b. Type ‘powershell’
c. Type ‘Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage’.
Ignore the error messages.
4. Logout of the system
5. If applicable login as domain admin (domain admin usually has local administrator rights)
a. Open a command prompt as an administrator
b. Type ‘powershell’
c. Type ‘Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage’. Ignore the error messages.
6. Logout of the system
7. Login to the system as the newly created Local Admin account. E.g labadmin
a. Open a command prompt as an administrator
b. Type ‘powershell’
c. Type ‘Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage’. Ignore the error messages.
8. Run Sysprep manually from the C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep directory. For Shutdown Options, choose Shut Down.
For all other Sysprep options, please consult Microsoft's documentation or follow your organization's deployment policies.
9. You may now boot the machine with a UEFI-compliant Ghost boot package and create the image. Instructions for making this type of boot package can be acquired here.