diff --git a/ansible/roles/vm_template/tasks/main.yml b/ansible/roles/vm_template/tasks/main.yml
index d173b94..73362c7 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/vm_template/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/ansible/roles/vm_template/tasks/main.yml
@@ -1,11 +1,29 @@
 ---
 
-- name: sysprep the template vhd
- # when: template_created is changed
+- name: create the qcow mount point
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    state: directory
+    path: "{{ qcow_mountpoint }}"
+
+- name: mount the guest qcow template image
   ansible.builtin.shell:
     cmd: |
-      virt-sysprep -a {{ root_vhd_pool_dir }}/{{ vhd_template }} \
-      --format qcow2 \
-      --delete /etc/systemd/network/* \
-      --keep-user-accounts ladmin \
-      --enable user-account,firewall-rules \
+      guestmount --format=qcow2 \
+      -a {{ root_vhd_pool_dir }}/{{ vhd_template }} \
+      -m /dev/vda2 \
+      {{ qcow_mountpoint }}
+
+- name: sysprep the template image
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    state: absent
+    path: "{{ item }}"
+  with_items:
+    - "{{ qcow_mountpoint }}/home/ladmin/.ssh/"
+    - "{{ qcow_mountpoint }}/root/.ssh/"
+    - "{{ qcow_mountpoint }}/etc/machine-id"
+    - "{{ qcow_mountpoint }}/etc/hostname"
+
+- name: unmount the guest qcow image
+  ansible.builtin.shell:
+    cmd: |
+      guestunmount {{ qcow_mountpoint }}
diff --git a/notes/arch_install_notes.txt b/notes/arch_install_notes.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..559421e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/notes/arch_install_notes.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+fdisk on /dev/vda
+
+part 1 start 2048 +512M type UEFI
+part 2 remaining type 23 (Linux root x86-64)
+
+mkfs.vfat -F 32 /dev/vda1
+mkfs.ext4 /dev/vda2
+
+update archinstall
+
+extra packages:
+
+    qemu-guest-agent
+    nano
+    openssh
+    ufw
+
+chroot:
+
+    systemctl enable sshd
+    systemctl enable systemd-networkd
+    systemctl enable systemd-resolved
+
+manual sysprep steps:
+
+    remove /etc/hostname
+    remove /etc/machine-id
+    remove /etc/systemd/network/*
+    remove /home/ladmin/.ssh
+    remove /root/.ssh
+    remove /home/ladmin/.bash_history
+    remove /root/.bash_history
+    remove /etc/ssh/ssh_host_*
+    remove /tmp/*
+    remove /var/tmp/*
+