Sysprep Error - Windows 8.1 Sysprep Generalize Failure

A very frustrating issue when it comes to trying to sysprep a windows 8.1 image its not uncommon to get the following errors [error logs in Windows\System32\Sysprep\Panther\setuperr.log]

- [0x0f0073] SYSPRP RunExternalDlls:Not running DLLs; either the machine is in an invalid state or we couldn't update the recorded state, dwRet = 0x1f
-[0x0f00ae] SYSPRP WinMain:Hit failure while processing sysprep cleanup external providers; hr = 0x8007001f
-SYSPRP SPPNP: Failed to secure driver file C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Intel\OpenCL\bin\x64\clang_compiler64.dll. Err = 0x3

The culprit is usually

- Windows Store applications
- Pre-installed software


Setting up SysPrep for Success

1.  Do a search for powershell , then right click it and "Run as Administrator"

2. Enter the following command

Get-AppxPackage | Remove-AppxPackage

if this does not run , change the working path to ->  C:\Windows\System32

to Set Location :

PS> Set-Location -Path C:\Windows\System32

(note: also note you may get errors if you are not logged in with an 

Administrator account)

3. Navigate to the windows 8.1 metro menu and uninstall windows games 

and music (if they are there)

                                                      right click and uninstall music and games

4. You can now run sysprep with generalize flag with no issues

(note: if you have already tried to run sysprep on the current machine/image and it has failed and after performing the steps above it still does not work you will need to modify some registry entries.)


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\Status\SysprepStatus (check values for cleanupstate and generalizationstate match image)


hooray that is all , hope that helps all the best.