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So tired of fighting with answer files please help

gotenks98
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gotenks98

gotenks98

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I am looking for a program that can help with the unattend xml file so I can do unattended installs. The problem is there is always one part of the file it always fails on despite being totally correct. It took me forever to find out that you cant put the product key in certain passes or it fails. Essentially what I want to do is take out all the guess work and just create an answer file easier without having to find out mid way thru the install that answer file is going to fail again.


arwidmark

arwidmark

Posted
Posted

You are not alone out there, and luckily Microsoft also realized the Windows AIK tools where a bit complex for the average user, so they have written a wrapper (UI) for them... it's called Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010...

MDT 2010 has really good unattend.xml templates, and a good UI to manage your deployment solution. Download from http://www.microsoft.com/deployment

johnhc

johnhc

Posted
Posted

I am looking for a program that can help with the unattend xml file so I can do unattended installs. The problem is there is always one part of the file it always fails on despite being totally correct. It took me forever to find out that you cant put the product key in certain passes or it fails. Essentially what I want to do is take out all the guess work and just create an answer file easier without having to find out mid way thru the install that answer file is going to fail again.

gotenks98, you can also run Windows System Image Manager (WSIM) against your .xml file and it will do certain checking of it. It has found several problems for me and allowed to test some things without doing a failed install. I also use VMware Player to test my ISOs. It is free and I am sure there are more available. Enjoy, John.

gotenks98

gotenks98

Posted
  • Author
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I am looking for a program that can help with the unattend xml file so I can do unattended installs. The problem is there is always one part of the file it always fails on despite being totally correct. It took me forever to find out that you cant put the product key in certain passes or it fails. Essentially what I want to do is take out all the guess work and just create an answer file easier without having to find out mid way thru the install that answer file is going to fail again.

gotenks98, you can also run Windows System Image Manager (WSIM) against your .xml file and it will do certain checking of it. It has found several problems for me and allowed to test some things without doing a failed install. I also use VMware Player to test my ISOs. It is free and I am sure there are more available. Enjoy, John.

Thats the thing, it doesnt show errors there. I get errors only during the install. My latest error says "Windows could not parse or process the unattend answer file for pass [specialize]. A component or non-list setting is specified more than once in the answer file." I have no where to begin searching on this. I tried the mdt 2010 thing but seems like over kill on it and the documentation is poor. I been on google for the past few hours search for guides on this thing.

myselfidem

myselfidem

Posted
Posted (edited)

With MDT 2010, I haved the same problem!

I install Windows 7 x86 without using a Domain name. Local install.

And I have modded the Unattend.xml with MDT 2010, like this (no value) and validate the file:

<settings pass="specialize">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-UnattendedJoin" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State">
            <Identification>
                <Credentials>
                    <Username></Username>
                    <Domain></Domain>
                    <Password></Password>
                </Credentials>
                <JoinDomain></JoinDomain>
                <JoinWorkgroup></JoinWorkgroup>
                <MachineObjectOU></MachineObjectOU>
            </Identification>
        </component>

And inside my custumized Customsettings.ini:

[Settings]
Priority=Default
Properties=MyCustomProperty

[Default]
OSInstall=Y
ScanStateArgs=/v:5 /o /c
LoadStateArgs=/v:5 /c /lac /lae
DeployRoot=\\SE7EN\DeploymentShare$

SkipAppsOnUpgrade=YES
SkipCapture=YES
SkipAdminPassword=YES
SkipProductKey=YES

SkipBDDWelcome=YES
SkipDomainMembership=YES
SkipUserData=YES

SkipTaskSequence=YES
TaskSequenceID=WIN7

SkipComputerName=YES
OSDComputerName=Se7en

SkipLocaleSelection=YES
UserLocale=fr-FR
InputLocale=fr-FR
KeyboardLocale=100c:0000100c

SkipTimeZone=YES
TimeZoneName=W. Europe Standard Time

SkipBitLocker=YES
SkipSummary=YES
SkipFinalSummary=YES

I hope that will help you.

All is fine for me!

Edited by myselfidem
johnhc

johnhc

Posted
Posted (edited)

Thats the thing, it doesnt show errors there. I get errors only during the install. My latest error says "Windows could not parse or process the unattend answer file for pass [specialize]. A component or non-list setting is specified more than once in the answer file." I have no where to begin searching on this. I tried the mdt 2010 thing but seems like over kill on it and the documentation is poor. I been on google for the past few hours search for guides on this thing.

gotenks98, please attach your .xml file and we will take a look. Also, please remove all private data as PWs, Keys, etc. Enjoy, John.

EDIT: The unattend.chm file says:

This string type does not support empty elements. Do not create an empty value for this setting.

Edited by johnhc
gotenks98

gotenks98

Posted
  • Author
Posted

after playing around the mdt 2010, I realize this isnt going to help me for what exactly I want to do. Essentially what I want is to create an answer file that wont be buggy. Create an image, inject the drivers into that syspreped image, burn it on dvd with the windows install files or put it on usb key. The thing is I dont have a dedicated server for this kind of deployment so doing anything over the network is kind of out of the question. I did see an option to inject drivers into the boot.wim file but I dont think those drivers would carry over to the windows install.

myselfidem

myselfidem

Posted
Posted (edited)

I attached the xml file.

It's needed to keep the pass specialize even if no value is inside! If there is not you have an error and the installation fails!

Example with my Unattend.xml

I change the name Administrator with my name (RunSynchronousCommand) and I have only one account and no an other Administrator account!

<?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">
            <ImageInstall>
                <OSImage>
                    <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
                    <InstallFrom>
                        <Path>.\Operating Systems\Windows 7 x86\Sources\install.wim</Path>
                        <MetaData>
                            <Key>/image/index</Key>
                            <Value>5</Value>
                        </MetaData>
                    </InstallFrom>
                </OSImage>
            </ImageInstall>
            <UpgradeData>
                <Upgrade>false</Upgrade>
            </UpgradeData>
            <Display>
                <ColorDepth>32</ColorDepth>
                <HorizontalResolution>1280</HorizontalResolution>
                <RefreshRate>60</RefreshRate>
                <VerticalResolution>1024</VerticalResolution>
            </Display>
            <ComplianceCheck>
                <DisplayReport>OnError</DisplayReport>
            </ComplianceCheck>
            <UserData>
                <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
                <ProductKey>
                    <Key>XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX</Key>
                    <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
                </ProductKey>
                <FullName>myselfidem</FullName>
                <Organization>particulier</Organization>
            </UserData>
            <DiskConfiguration>
                <WillShowUI>Always</WillShowUI>
            </DiskConfiguration>
            <DynamicUpdate>
                <Enable>false</Enable>
            </DynamicUpdate>
            <Diagnostics>
                <OptIn>false</OptIn>
            </Diagnostics>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE" 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">
            <SetupUILanguage>
                <UILanguage>fr-FR</UILanguage>
            </SetupUILanguage>
            <InputLocale>100c:0000100c</InputLocale>
            <SystemLocale>fr-FR</SystemLocale>
            <UILanguage>fr-FR</UILanguage>
            <UserLocale>fr-FR</UserLocale>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="generalize">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-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">
            <DoNotCleanTaskBar>true</DoNotCleanTaskBar>
            <RegisteredOrganization>particulier</RegisteredOrganization>
            <RegisteredOwner>myselfidem</RegisteredOwner>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-PnpSysprep" 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">
            <PersistAllDeviceInstalls>true</PersistAllDeviceInstalls>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="specialize">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-UnattendedJoin" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State">
            <Identification>
                <Credentials>
                    <Username></Username>
                    <Domain></Domain>
                    <Password></Password>
                </Credentials>
                <JoinDomain></JoinDomain>
                <JoinWorkgroup></JoinWorkgroup>
                <MachineObjectOU></MachineObjectOU>
            </Identification>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State">
            <ComputerName>Se7en</ComputerName>
            <ProductKey>XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX</ProductKey>
            <RegisteredOrganization>particulier</RegisteredOrganization>
            <RegisteredOwner>myselfidem</RegisteredOwner>
            <TimeZone>W. Europe Standard Time</TimeZone>
            <DoNotCleanTaskBar>true</DoNotCleanTaskBar>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-IE-InternetExplorer" 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">
            <Home_Page>http://www.ville-geneve.ch</Home_Page>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Deployment" 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">
            <RunSynchronous>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Description>EnableAdmin</Description>
                    <Order>1</Order>
                    <Path>cmd /c net user myselfidem /active:yes</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Description>EnableAdmin_ploc</Description>
                    <Order>2</Order>
                    <Path>cmd /c net user Administrator_ploc /active:yes</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
                <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <Description>UnfilterAdministratorToken</Description>
                    <Order>3</Order>
                    <Path>cmd /c reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v FilterAdministratorToken /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f</Path>
                </RunSynchronousCommand>
            </RunSynchronous>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core" 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">
            <InputLocale>100c:0000100c</InputLocale>
            <SystemLocale>fr-FR</SystemLocale>
            <UILanguage>fr-FR</UILanguage>
            <UserLocale>fr-FR</UserLocale>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-TapiSetup" 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">
            <TapiConfigured>0</TapiConfigured>
            <TapiUnattendLocation>
                <AreaCode>""</AreaCode>
                <CountryOrRegion>1</CountryOrRegion>
                <LongDistanceAccess>9</LongDistanceAccess>
                <OutsideAccess>9</OutsideAccess>
                <PulseOrToneDialing>1</PulseOrToneDialing>
                <DisableCallWaiting>""</DisableCallWaiting>
                <InternationalCarrierCode>""</InternationalCarrierCode>
                <LongDistanceCarrierCode>""</LongDistanceCarrierCode>
                <Name>Default</Name>
            </TapiUnattendLocation>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-SystemRestore-Main" 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">
            <DisableSR>1</DisableSR>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP-UX" 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">
            <SkipAutoActivation>true</SkipAutoActivation>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-RemoteAssistance-Exe" 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">
            <fAllowFullControl>false</fAllowFullControl>
            <fAllowToGetHelp>false</fAllowToGetHelp>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="oobeSystem">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State">
            <UserAccounts>
                <AdministratorPassword>
                    <Value>cQB3AGUAcgB0AHoAQQBkAG0AaQBuAGkAcwB0AHIAYQB0AG8AcgBQAGEAcwBzAHcAbwByAGQA</Value>
                    <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                </AdministratorPassword>
                <LocalAccounts>
                    <LocalAccount wcm:action="add">
                        <DisplayName>Antoine</DisplayName>
                        <Group>Administrators</Group>
                        <Name>myselfidem</Name>
                    </LocalAccount>
                </LocalAccounts>
            </UserAccounts>
            <AutoLogon>
                <Enabled>true</Enabled>
                <Username>myselfidem</Username>
                <Password>
                    <Value>cQB3AGUAcgB0AHoAUABhAHMAcwB3AG8AcgBkAA==</Value>
                    <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                </Password>
                <LogonCount>9999999</LogonCount>
            </AutoLogon>
            <Display>
                <ColorDepth>32</ColorDepth>
                <HorizontalResolution>1280</HorizontalResolution>
                <RefreshRate>60</RefreshRate>
                <VerticalResolution>1024</VerticalResolution>
            </Display>
            <FirstLogonCommands>
                <SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <CommandLine>cscript.exe C:\MININT\Scripts\LiteTouch.wsf /start</CommandLine>
                    <Description>Lite Touch new OS</Description>
                    <Order>1</Order>
                </SynchronousCommand>
                <SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <CommandLine>cscript.exe D:\MININT\Scripts\LiteTouch.wsf /start</CommandLine>
                    <Description>Lite Touch new OS</Description>
                    <Order>2</Order>
                </SynchronousCommand>
                <SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <CommandLine>cscript.exe E:\MININT\Scripts\LiteTouch.wsf /start</CommandLine>
                    <Description>Lite Touch new OS</Description>
                    <Order>3</Order>
                </SynchronousCommand>
                <SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <CommandLine>cscript.exe F:\MININT\Scripts\LiteTouch.wsf /start</CommandLine>
                    <Description>Lite Touch new OS</Description>
                    <Order>4</Order>
                </SynchronousCommand>
                <SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    <CommandLine>cmd /C wmic useraccount where "name='Antoine'" set PasswordExpires=FALSE</CommandLine>
                    <Description>making the magic happen</Description>
                    <Order>5</Order>
                </SynchronousCommand>
            </FirstLogonCommands>
            <OOBE>
                <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>
                <NetworkLocation>Home</NetworkLocation>
                <ProtectYourPC>1</ProtectYourPC>
            </OOBE>
            <RegisteredOrganization>particulier</RegisteredOrganization>
            <RegisteredOwner>myselfidem</RegisteredOwner>
            <TimeZone>W. Europe Standard Time</TimeZone>
            <VisualEffects>
                <FontSmoothing>ClearType</FontSmoothing>
            </VisualEffects>
            <ShowWindowsLive>true</ShowWindowsLive>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core" 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">
            <InputLocale>100c:0000100c</InputLocale>
            <SystemLocale>fr-FR</SystemLocale>
            <UILanguage>fr-FR</UILanguage>
            <UserLocale>fr-FR</UserLocale>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="offlineServicing">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-PnpCustomizationsNonWinPE" 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">
            <DriverPaths>
                <PathAndCredentials wcm:keyValue="1" wcm:action="add">
                    <Path>\Drivers</Path>
                </PathAndCredentials>
            </DriverPaths>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-LUA-Settings" 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">
            <EnableLUA>false</EnableLUA>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="catalog://se7en/deploymentshare$/operating systems/windows 7 x86/sources/install_windows 7 ultimate.clg" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

And all works fine for me!

Edited by myselfidem
myselfidem

myselfidem

Posted
Posted

after playing around the mdt 2010, I realize this isnt going to help me for what exactly I want to do. Essentially what I want is to create an answer file that wont be buggy. Create an image, inject the drivers into that syspreped image, burn it on dvd with the windows install files or put it on usb key. The thing is I dont have a dedicated server for this kind of deployment so doing anything over the network is kind of out of the question. I did see an option to inject drivers into the boot.wim file but I dont think those drivers would carry over to the windows install.

You don't need to have a server with MDT 2010. You can make a Media (CD, DVD, USB) for an local install!

My example is with a local install for Windows 7!

gotenks98

gotenks98

Posted
  • Author
Posted

after playing around the mdt 2010, I realize this isnt going to help me for what exactly I want to do. Essentially what I want is to create an answer file that wont be buggy. Create an image, inject the drivers into that syspreped image, burn it on dvd with the windows install files or put it on usb key. The thing is I dont have a dedicated server for this kind of deployment so doing anything over the network is kind of out of the question. I did see an option to inject drivers into the boot.wim file but I dont think those drivers would carry over to the windows install.

You don't need to have a server with MDT 2010. You can make a Media (CD, DVD, USB) for an local install!

My example is with a local install for Windows 7!

Can you go into more detail as to how to do it for dvd or usb key?

gotenks98

gotenks98

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I tried all of this, maybe I am just not getting it. Here is exactly what I am trying to do and what I get. What I am doing is importing all drivers and packages for windows 7 enterprise. Then I want to inject the drivers into the install.wim, not the boot.wim file. For the most part that isnt working for me. It only puts that into boot.wim from what the text is saying. I want to put my install on dvd or usb. But when I go to create media all it does is copy the same folders I have in my distribution share to the same area I specified in a folder. Some one tell me exactly how to do this because this documentation isnt all that great so far. I think I figured out my answerfile issue. It has something to do with the favorite websites had already been added during my initial base install so for some reason it wont let me do this again. I was under the impression that the default profile gets wiped during a sysprep so why is this a problem after the fact? Any ways, now I am just trying to get 2 ISOs made. One is going to have all the drivers for the install.wim for the base install. I plan to sysprep that after all the apps are installed and tweaked. Then take that image and do a second Iso to use for deployment.

myselfidem

myselfidem

Posted
Posted (edited)

You can find more help here:

http://download.microsoft.com/documents/France/TechNet/2009/WIN7/MDT_2010.pdf

And watch this video here for MDT 2010:

http://edge.technet.com/Media/Microsoft-Deployment-Toolkit-building-install-media-for-Windows-7/

I've found an pdf file but it is in French. At the end the creation of a Media is explain:

Deploy Windows 7 MDT2010

Edited by myselfidem

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