I've been struggling with this forever and have even posted in other forums with very little luck so hoping maybe here will be different.
Recently setup a new SCCM 2012 environment, fully patched. I cannot seem to get the Configuration Manager client to run when using a distribute image task sequence. Basically here is what I've tried. Setup a reference PC with Windows 7 SP1 x64 like I've been doing for years, i.e. NOT joined to a domain, very little added software installed, using a local admin user to setup some basic profile preferences. From there I have tried numerous methods to capture/create the image, all of which seem to work fine. The first method is using MDT 2013 toolkit package job ultimately using ZTIBackup.wsf script. When I use this method I manually run sysprep myself, pointing to an answer file, and shut the machine down.
The 2nd method is using standard Capture Media (Cd-rom) created from the SCCM 2012 environment. Once captured I then use an 'Install existing image package' task sequence. Nothing fancy here, the usual steps, ending with the Setup Windows and Configuration Manager step. Everything runs fine, I see that last step happen in WinPE, I even see the config manager client package get downloaded, and once done it finally says the computer will restart.
I've also tried via build and capture, all with the exact same results. Once it restarts the pc kicks into mini setup, does it regular installing devices, etc, reboots one last time, checks video performance, and ultimately boots to Windows. The image seems fine, it joined the domain as specified in the TS, but it never runs the config mgr client part. The smsts.log file does not appear to show me any glaring errors, except one line that says 'SMS client is not installed' and the 'Action (Setup Windows and Configuration Manager) requested a retry. But it also says 'Successfully completed the action (Setup Windows and Configuration Manager). I'm also left with the _SMSTaskSequence folder on the root of the C drive since the TS never knows it's finished and thus never deletes it. I have googled for days and can't seem to find a solution. SMSts.log file attached. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
smsts.log