This is a list of commands that I use when setting up a Windows Server 2012 Core template (can also be used for GUI template). I run all of these commands in PowerShell, either as a script or manually. In server core you start PowerShell by typing powershell.

Windows Server 2012: VM template tuning using PowerShell

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## 	ВСЕ ДЕЙСТВИЯ ВЫПОЛНЯЮТСЯ В powershell.exe ИЗ ПОД АДМИНИСТРАТОРА!
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# Change Drive Letter on DVD Drive to E:
gwmi Win32_Volume -Filter "DriveType = '5'" | swmi -Arguments @{DriveLetter = 'E:'}


# Set Power plan to High performance
powercfg.exe /SETACTIVE 8c5e7fda-e8bf-4a96-9a85-a6e23a8c635c


# Disable the hibernate feature
powercfg.exe /HIBERNATE off


# Set Password Never Expires on the local Administrator account
gwmi Win32_UserAccount -Filter "name = 'Administrator'" | swmi -Arguments @{PasswordExpires = 0}


# Initialize RAW disks
Get-Disk | Where-Object PartitionStyle –eq 'RAW' | Initialize-Disk –PartitionStyle MBR


# Disable Indexing on all drives
gwmi Win32_Volume -Filter "IndexingEnabled=$true" | swmi -Arguments @{IndexingEnabled=$false}


# Turn off automatically manage paging file size for all drives
gwmi Win32_ComputerSystem -EnableAllPrivileges | swmi -Arguments @{AutomaticManagedPagefile=$false}


# Allow all MMC snap-ins to connect from remote
Enable-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup 'Windows Remote Management'


# Enable Remote Desktop for Administration mode to accept connections 
cscript C:\Windows\System32\Scregedit.wsf /ar 0


# Allow server response to Ping
netsh firewall set icmpsetting 8


# Turn off DHCP on Ethernet Interface
# _Verify InterfaceAlias_
Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias Ethernet -Dhcp Disabled


# Install Windows Updates, reboot and repeat until no updates exist - alternative is to use sconfig
cscript c:\Windows\System32\en-US\WUA_SearchDownloadInstall.vbs


# Start Disk Optimization and Defrag all disks
Get-Volume | Where-Object {$_.DriveType -eq 'Fixed'} | Optimize-Volume -Defrag


# Zero out free space with SDelete (download it and copy to C:\Windows\System32)
sdelete -z c: -accepteula


# Remove static IP before creating a template from this VM
$Adapter = Get-NetAdapter -Name Ethernet
$Adapter | Set-NetIPInterface -Dhcp Enabled
Remove-NetRoute -InterfaceAlias $Adapter.Name -Confirm:$false
ipconfig /release



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##	[Source:](http://johansenreidar.blogspot.ru/2013/06/windows-server-2012-vm-template-tuning.html)
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