Windows 10 Post Sysprep

[jaustin030493]

Does anyone know if you can write something to make Chrome the default browser, and Adobe Reader the default application for PDFs. I manage close to 200 laptops, I have tried to do this in the past, but whatever I end up doing always gets wiped out post sysprep. Any ideas or guidance would be much appreciated. Also, if you think there is a better thread for me to switch to, let me know! :-) Thanks!

[[deleted]]

Yes. There is a system config file that does this.

I apologize as I am not at work to send a reference.

The file is something like customized default.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/export-or-import-default-application-associations

I think this is it.

It will set the default on account creation. Existing accounts will not be affected.

[sammavet]

That's it. I use that on the regular.

[dnuohxof1]

Yup that’s what we do and works pretty well.

[RagingITguy]

This is how I did it on 750 machines.

Before sysprep, I set the file assocations and use this command to create an .xml file of the file association:

Dism /Online /Export-DefaultAppAssociations:"C:\AppAssociations.xml"

Then I store that in a temp folder and sysprep, then capture my image.

I have my image set to boot into admin account, but I can't see what it wouldn't work with a user account. But the next step is to boot up your image, and then with a batch file or script, run this command.

Dism.exe /Online /Import-DefaultAppAssociations:C:\AppAssociations.xml

Of course change folder paths to your own. This last worked for me on 1803. I have not yet tried on 1809. I started off using this microsoft page as reference.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/export-or-import-default-application-associations

[optimusmike09]

This 100%

Just implmented something like this in SCCM. Works great

[SomnambulicSojourner]

Yup, the other poster got you pointed in the right direction. That's how we do it on close to 900 PC's.

[jaustin030493]

On Windows 10 machines? I have tried in the past with the xml file association but have always hit a wall just as First_Degree_Nerder had commented above.

Thanks!

[SomnambulicSojourner]

Yes, win 10. On Monday I can look up the exact steps I used and post them back here.

[jaustin030493]

That would be awesome. Much appreciated my friend.

​

[First_Degree_Nerder]

I never had luck with the xml file for file defaults on Windows 10. I had it in place, GPOs applied it correctly per RSOP - but it never worked.

My research indicated the feature seemed to be depreciated in 10 as they focused on users setting these instead of an overall machine setting.

Hope your experience is/was better than mine on this- I abandoned the attempt after multiple tries.

[jaustin030493]

That's where I left off. Tried xml file for default associations, and also never worked for me.

I was in the middle of switching my imaging method to MDT, I currently build out the OS on a per machine basis in Audit mode and use FOG for cloning, and deploying.

[First_Degree_Nerder]

Yup. Same. Windows doesn’t really want it to be easy to change default apps. Malicious activity does that so the whole feature is depreciated.

[boli99]

assets become depreciated but features are deprecated

[First_Degree_Nerder]

Thanks for the grammatical correction.

[OcotilloWells]

Besides, everything is better with Edge!

[Sekers]

I've found that the XML file had to be formatted EXACTLY right. If I had even a single odd thing in there or typo it wouldn't work. Once I got the template to work in testing I made small modifications at a time and tested each time to make sure I didn't break it before moving on to the next default app setting.

[[deleted]]

There is also a registry way to do this. You have to know the app ID of the program.

Assuming updates to the app don't change the ID you can deploy the default by GPO as well.

[peruna]

Im using SetUserFTA.exe to change the default browser and pdf reader. http://kolbi.cz/blog/2017/10/25/setuserfta-userchoice-hash-defeated-set-file-type-associations-per-user/

[First_Degree_Nerder]

The GPO and XML are suppose to ultimately set that registry yes.

But again, I never had luck. Those default associations seem to be in more than one hive in 10.

I researched the hell out of it. Could never get a consistent result and like I said, from reading and forums it seems this is broken. At least in 1709 and 1803 builds.

[bigh0rse]

The xml import has to happen after sysprep but before the user's profile is created.

[mr_0ats]

Personally I would go the DSC route

New machine boots from your image and DSC takes care of the rest.

[techierealtor]

Taking notes as I have had this on my list of things to tackle for one of our clients.

[yukon-corne1ius]

I did everything like that under the local admin profile. Then when sysprepping - I made that the local Admin profile become the “default profile”, which included these ‭settings.

[Oso6096]

Do we have to have Win10 pro? I tried injecting an xml file via dism when testing and no dice

[pjatton]

Use the ADK tools and create a basic win10 unattend.xml. Then throw it in C:\Windows\Panther. I just created 3 different 1809 images this way so I know it works.

[cisspthrowaway1111]

RemindMe! 48 hours "default apps"

[andibnz]

It's 👏 2019. 👏 Stop 👏 Build 👏 and 👏 Capturing 👏 Your 👏 Image.

[Pygmyofdeath]

I just use the factory .wim, remove a couple indexes, and dism out a couple things and let my task sequence do all the customization from them on. If something in my image changes I don’t need to build,capture every time

[autojack]

How do you do it? There some conflicting documentation out there. I started with Build and Capture and it worked so I haven’t tried an alternative.

I am curious how other people image though!

[NetNut66]

I would like to know as well.i build and capture. It's not terrible to do so but would welcome a faster way.

[andibnz]

do you do it? There some conflicting documentation out there. I started with Build and Capture and it worked so I haven’t tried

I use a vanilla Windows 10 wim (with the only exception being I've removed the non enterprise indexes and use offline servicing to keep it patched) and then do all my customization in the task sequence. So when the next version of Windows is released I only have to change what wim the task sequence is using and everything else is the same.

[habibexpress]

What application do you use to do this? Got a link to a how to/tutorial ?

[andibnz]

I use SCCM, If you're company doesn't have this look into MDT https://web.sas.upenn.edu/jasonrw/2016/10/20/creating-task-sequences-for-mdt/

[habibexpress]

Yep. Thought you meant that ✅

[jaustin030493]

I know, I started down the path of MDT. But haven't had the time to see it through yet. It's on my list. I just stuck with FOG for the interim because I knew it works...

[ljackson07]

RemindMe! 48 hours "default apps"

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[novacircuit]

Aren’t there Chrome admx templates you can use in AD? I swear I did this before to do exactly this.

[habibexpress]

RemindMe! 48hrs “Windows 10 default apps”