Win7 Unattend.xml Not Being Applied

[djameson]

The name I use is "ImageUnattend.xml". Once you point to the unattend file in the properties of the image, it automatically moves the file where it wants it (image folder\image\unattend\) and renames it to "unattend.xml".

Thanks.

[sukh]

Hi

When trying the $OEM$, dont forget to remove the unattend.xml attached to the image under WDS.

Are you trying to deploy Windows 7 x86 or x64?

How big is the setupact.log file?

Regards
Sukh

[djameson]

The setupacct.log is 533 kbs. I'm limited to 488.

Deploying Win7 x86. Again, the image works fine, I am just not getting the changes in the unattend file applied.

Thanks again.

[sukh]

Hi

Can you try to cut and paste the log file into two text files and upload each one in a seperate post?

Regards
Sukh

[djameson]

The following errors occurred with your submission

The text that you have entered is too long (546473 characters). Please shorten it to 12000 characters long.

Sorry......

[sukh]

Hi

Email to me.

Regards
Sukh

[sukh]

Hi

Can you confirm your boot image is x86?

I can see from the log that the unattend.xml is not being applied during setup mode. Still investigating. Please confirm the boot image.

Regards
Sukh

[djameson]

Yes....X86 image.

[sukh]

Hi

When you create the unattend.xml with WSIM. There is a section called ImageSelection under components>microsoft-windows-setup>windowsdeploymentservices.

Can you check to see if this is configured correctly. If not can you configure and try.

Can you check to see if the FileName, ImageGroup and ImageName are configured or empty?

Before you try deployment again, let me know if this is configured properly or not?



Regards

[djameson]

With the ImageUnattend.xml, I did not include that section. I understood to leave that blank to prompt for the image.

With the WDSUnattend.xml it is configured:

<InstallImage>
<ImageName>Image Name as displayed in WDS</ImageName>
<ImageGroup>Image Group</ImageGroup>
<FileName>WIM Image Filename</FileName>
</InstallImage>

[sukh]

Hi

Can you post the WDS Client unattend.xml?

Regards
Sukh

[djameson]

WDSUnattend.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
<settings pass="windowsPE">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<DiskConfiguration>
<WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
<Disk wcm:action="add">
<CreatePartitions>
<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
<Order>1</Order>
<Type>Primary</Type>
<Extend>true</Extend>
</CreatePartition>
</CreatePartitions>
<ModifyPartitions>
<ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
<Active>true</Active>
<Format>NTFS</Format>
<Label>WinXP</Label>
<Letter>C</Letter>
<Order>1</Order>
<PartitionID>1</PartitionID>
</ModifyPartition>
</ModifyPartitions>
<DiskID>0</DiskID>
<WillWipeDisk>true</WillWipeDisk>
</Disk>
</DiskConfiguration>
<WindowsDeploymentServices>
<Login>
<Credentials>
<Domain>acsd4.local</Domain>
<Username>wds</Username>
<Password>###</Password>
</Credentials>
</Login>
<ImageSelection>
<WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
<InstallImage>
<ImageName>Image Name as displayed in WDS</ImageName>
<ImageGroup>Image Group</ImageGroup>
<FileName>WIM Image Filename</FileName>
</InstallImage>
<InstallTo>
<DiskID>0</DiskID>
<PartitionID>1</PartitionID>
</InstallTo>
</ImageSelection>
</WindowsDeploymentServices>
</component>
</settings>
</unattend>

Thanks.

[sukh]

Hi

Can you let me know how the results of the $OEM$ test ?

If this failed, can you also do the following.

1. From WSIM save the answer file as Autounattend.xml

2. Copy the Autounattend.xml file to a USB flash drive, then try to install Windows 7 from DVD on an reference computer. Or copy the Autounattend.xml to the root od the DVD which has the Windows 7 source files.



Note: Windows 7 Setup (Setup.exe) will begin automatically. By default, Windows Setup will search the root directory of all removable media for an answer file called Autounattend.xml.

Regards
Sukh

[tarquel]

just to add another option to point 2, with a particularly nippy USB pen, put the install on the pen, along with the answer file, and boot and install it from that

To do that easily, use this: Microsoft Store: Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool Help

Direct link to the download: http://images2.store.microsoft.com/p...B-DVD-tool.exe

Instruction on how to do it (tho its very very simplez) are on the page of the first link

Cheers

[djameson]

I continue to appreciate all the help and suggestions but I am not trying to "install" Win7....I am working with a reference image.

I began with saving the unattend file with the name "Autounattend.xml". The name appeared to make no difference as some resources referred to it as the autounattend, others as imageunattend, and still others as just unattend. Regardless of the name I use, WDS moves the unattend file to a location of it's choosing and renames it when it is assigned to the image through the image properties.

I will give the older WinXP $OEM$ format a go and see what that does.

So far my testing shows parts of both unattends are being applied while parts of both are not. The WDSunattend is naming the drive but not adding the computer to the domain or prompting for our naming convention for the computer name. The imageunattend is handling the EULA correctly and the time zone correctly, but not the Network type (Home, Work), not adding the CD Key, or the administrator password. If I remove the imageunattend, the WDSunattend works as expected....and the computer reboots with all prompts (time, EULA, etc.)

I feel as though there is some WDS setting or setting on the reference computer itself that is set up incorrectly or not at all. Since the unattend is being copied from the WDS server to the computer during imaging, I feel something is failing to "tell" the imaging process to apply the unattend file completely.......or there is confusion between the two unattends.

Again, thanks for all the time, help, and suggestions. It is GREATLY appreciated.