Help Windows 7 deployment image

Question

Hi,
I have recently created a custom Windows 7 reference image, I have changed the background, installed programs and configured. I then uploaded to my deployment server (Using server 2012, WDS and MDT 2012) and then deployed to a test machine. However
when I came to log into the test machine the desktop background had changed back to the Windows 7 default and although the programs were installed, it appeared that none of them had ever been opened and I had to re-configure them all. Is there anyway where
I can capture an image and deploy exactly as it is when I have fully configured it?
Apologies if this has already been asked

Answer 1

The best practice for standard imaging best practices is to make all OS tweaks and enhancements from the local Administrator account. Then once you are ready to sysprep the image and prepare for capture, you will need to utilize the CopyProfile=TRUE option
in your Unatten.xml answer file. 
Below is a sample of the Unattend.xml answer file with the CopyProfile feature enabled which allows the profile settings captured to be seen across all other profiles that log in for the first time, post-deployment:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
<settings pass="specialize">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<CopyProfile>true</CopyProfile>
</component>
</settings>
<cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="wim:h:/sources/install.wim#Windows 7 PROFESSIONAL" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>
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