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How to change SID of a Windows VM

  • Updated
Applies to:
  • Virtuozzo Server 7.x

Symptoms

A new VM cannot be created from a Windows template due to SID doesn't change.

When you try to create a new VM based on a windows template by using --changesid option you may notice this output because sid is not changed and this avoids the proper creation.

[root@pcscm020 ~]# prlctl  create newVM -t win2016-std-en --vmtype vm --changesid 
WARNING: You are using a deprecated CLI component that won't be installed by default in the next major release. Please use virsh instead
Creating the VM on the basis of the win2016-std-en template...
Clone the win2016-std-en VM to VM newVM...
Copying hard disk 0    100%
Copying hard disk 0    100%

Failed to clone the VM: Unable to change the Windows security identifier. The Windows security identifier could not be changed.

Cause

From the latest Windows versions, the option --changesid of prlctl tool doesn't work because Microsoft has changed its way to manage SID settings and now it should be through using of sysprep.

Reference:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/sysprep--generalize--a-windows-installation?view=windows-11

 

Resolution

Procedure

  1. Inside Windows VM used to create the new template:
    Via UI:
    a. Open file explorer and enter: 
    %systemroot%\System32\Sysprep
    b. Open sysprep.exe tool
    c. Click Generalize, click Shutdown, and then click OK to generalize the image and shut down the VM.

    or

    Via Command:

    a. Run Sysprep from Command Prompt: 
    %WINDIR%\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe /generalize /shutdown /oobeb) Shutdown the VM

    Reference:
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/sysprep--generalize--a-windows-installation?view=windows-11

  2. Create a new Windows template based on the recent VM modification.

    Reference:
    https://docs.virtuozzo.com/virtuozzo_hybrid_server_7_command_line_reference/managing-virtual-machines/prlctlvm.html?#prlctl-clone

  3. Test creating a new VM by using new template generated.
     
    # prlctl  create VMname -t win2016-std-en --vmtype vm

    * -t option: to specify the template used

Related Tickets

#398202

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