When creating virtual machines through Machine Creation Services while using a VMware hypervisor created machines can be built with hidden Ghosted NICs. This can cause VMs to have communication issues with the domain controller resulting in symptoms such as Group Policies not applying.

To view and confirm open an elevated command prompt (On a machine built FROM the template, this may not be seen on the master):

1. set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1
2. start devmgmt.msc
3. Click Show hidden devices on the View menu in Device Manager to view the devices that are not connected to the computer.
   • Example:

Solution

• For Windows 2008 R2 or Windows 7 versions prior to Service Pack 1, install the hotfix described in the Microsoft Knowledge Base article 2344941 before deploying the template.
• For Windows 2008 R2 or Windows 7 versions post Service Pack 1, install the hotfix described in the Microsoft Knowledge Base article 2550978 before deploying the template.

• Reconfigure the virtual machine template to use the E1000 network interface.
• *Note that this may affect DHCP reservations so confirming the fix may need new DHCP reservations or test on a new VM built from the template

• After deploying a virtual machine from a template or performing a clone, remove references to the previous PCI Express virtual network interfaces in the destination virtual machine. Use Device Manager to remove network interface devices named similar to "VMXNET Device". For more information, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article 241257 and 2550978.

Workaround 3:

1. Edit the virtual machine configuration to remove the virtual network interface.
2. Power the virtual machine on.
3. Use Device Manager to remove network interface devices named similar to "VMXNET Device". For more information, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base articles 241257 and 2550978.
4. Shut down the guest operating system.
5. Edit the virtual machine configuration to add a new virtual network interface.
6. Convert the virtual machine to a template.

When a new virtual machine is created by deploying this template, the network interface will have a new serial number and MAC address. Windows will detect this network interface as a new device, but there will be no previous network device retaining old settings.

Problem Cause

Ghosted NICS being created on VMs based off of a VMware template.