Activation Required to Customize Image

O

Opteron185

I am working on setting up a custom Server 2016 image for a client who will be getting their license keys for Server 2016 Standard soon.

I want to preconfigure the operating system and sysprep the default account so it has a custom profile. The problem is - without the product keys - even in Audit Mode - I can't customize certain settings (well, I can - but only by doing it through the registry).

For example, I want to customize the taskbar settings, but I get the message "You need to activate Windows before you can personalize your PC". How are we supposed to create a custom image if we aren't allowed to get at all the settings on a non-activated copy of Windows? I've run into this on consumer Windows 10 as well - but I think it's absolutely ridiculous on Server to make us jump through these hoops. Did anyone think about what we're supposed to do when we make a Server 2016 template OS? I'm not going to activate a template VM just so I can customize all of the settings.

I see that there are TechNet trial editions, but that will only work this one time. I need a way to get around this issue long term.

Thank you.

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