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NodorinaT
Contributor
Contributor

ESX 5.5 Server 2016

Hi

When we create new VM from the Windows SErver 2016 template that created in VMware. It gave error.

"A specified parameter as not correct. spec.options.changeSID"

The 'Generate new SID' option was not selected when create the VM because we have already performed sysprep in the template.

What could be the issue? Is there a workaround?

Thank you

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TheBobkin
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Hello,

Try the steps outlined here:

https://communities.vmware.com/thread/507180

by proden20

"

Use the "guest customization" feature when cloning or deploying from template, and "Generate a New SID."  It works well. In addition to any possible application-specific SID bindings, I've seen Windows Update failures in WSUS environments.  Mark Russinovich makes note of that as well:

"Note that Sysprep resets other machine-specific state that, if duplicated, can cause problems for certain applications like Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), so MIcrosoft's support policy will still require cloned systems to be made unique with Sysprep."

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/markrussinovich/2009/11/03/the-machine-sid-duplication-myth-and-...

"

Bob

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TheBobkin
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KB article giving more information to the same effect:

When you create a linked-clone desktop pool and use Sysprep, pool creation might fail during customi...

Details

This issue affects Windows 7 and Windows Vista operating systems.

Starting with Windows Vista, if the Generate New Security ID (SID) option in the Sysprep customization specification is not selected, new SIDs are not generated on the linked-clone desktops during customization. The customization process fails, causing pool creation to fail with the error:
A specific parameter was not correct. Spec.options.changeSID.

Solution

When you create a Sysprep customization specification, make sure that the Generate New Security ID (SID) option is selected.

Alternatively, you can use QuickPrep to customize the linked-clone desktops.

Bob

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NodorinaT
Contributor
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Hi,

Thanks for the info.

However, we 'create' new VM from template instead of 'Clone' - does it make a different in term of sysprep?

When we use 'OS Customization' to generate SID when 'Create' new VM from template - no error, however doubt that it actually generate a SID properly.

Comparing 'Create' new VM, with and without select the generated SID option for Windows Server 2012/2016 template.

With 'generated SID' --- no error, however the BootExecute registry is set to:

autocheck autochk /q /v*

sysprepDecrypter.exe

>> This cause VM to sysprep every time when it is reboot (which cause some option issues).

Is this incompatible issue of version VMware with WS2012/2016? or is this a bug?

Is there a workaround?

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jdmarshall3
Contributor
Contributor

I have what appears to be exactly the same problem with a 2016 template.  When I run sysprep within Windows and check Generate new SID in the customization spec I experience the following when deploying a new VM from template:

no error, however the BootExecute registry is set to:

autocheck autochk /q /v*

sysprepDecrypter.exe

>> This causes VM to sysprep every time it is rebooted and the customization spec doesn't appear to apply (VM is not named properly, etc)

If I run sysprep in the template and don't  generate a new SID in the Customization spec, I get 'specified parameter was not correct: spec.options.changeSID' error during the clone process

If I don't run sysprep in the image and use Generate New SID in the customization spec the VM errors out and won't boot.

Do we need to handle customization specs differently with Windows 2016?

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