I am trying to create a Windows 8.1 image on Lenovo ThinkCentre M73z's. I can go through the process of creating and applying an image with no errors, but the workstation doesn't boot. I would appreciate anyone looking through our steps below, please let me know if you can figure out what we're doing wrong or missing. Thanks in advance.
Create Image
Boot to WinPE
diskpart
select disk 0
clean
exit
Boot to Win8 install disk
Allow Windows install to create partitions
Install Windows, customize
Sysprep: OOBE, Generalize, Shutdown
Boot to WinPE
diskpart
assign System partition S:
assign Windows partition C:
assign my USB disk D:
exit diskpart
Dism /Capture-Image /ImageFile:D:\test-windows-partition.wim /CaptureDir:C:\ /Name:"Windows partition"
Dism /Capture-Image /ImageFile:D:\test-system-partition.wim /CaptureDir:S:\ /Name:”System partition"
Apply Image
Boot to WinPE
diskpart
select disk 0
clean
create System partition size=100, format NTFS, assign letter=S
create Windows partition, format NTFS, assign letter=C
assign my USB disk D:
exit diskpart
Dism /apply-image /imagefile:D:\test-windows-partition.wim /index:1 /ApplyDir:C:\
Dism /apply-image /imagefile:D:\test-system-partition.wim /index:1 /ApplyDir:S:\
Things we have tried that have failed:
Switch BIOS to Legacy, use MBR disk
Switch BIOS back to UEFI boot, use GPT disk
Make our own partitions in diskpart
Have Windows install create partitions, then shift-F10 to open command window in Install, enter diskpart, apply image
Apply only Windows partition image, leaving System alone
Use BCDBoot in WinPE to create boot files on system partition
Boot to Win8 install disk, Repair - Advanced - Repair Startup
Setting partitions as Active in diskpart