Yeah, it turns out we need to apply some hotfix after all. So this is what the script workflow looks like right now...
Check if hotfix is applied
if not, copy hotfix and execute
reboot
Check to see if network adapter is of type e1000
if so then copy network adapter settings
shutdown
remove e1000 adapter
add vmxnet3 adapter
power on
wait for Windows to install driver
copy network adapter settings back to new adapter
move on to next VM...