Run diskpart before install

[Ulaiphur]

I'm using an unattended sheet in order to install windows 8. I'm fairly new in unattended procedures ans was wondering if I could integrate in my sheet a way to launch a batch in order to create partitions.

Here is my unattended sheet:

<?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"> 
            <UserData> 
                <ProductKey> 
                    <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI> 
                    <Key></Key> 
                </ProductKey> 
                <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula> 
                <FullName></FullName> 
                <Organization></Organization> 
            </UserData> 
        </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>en-US</UILanguage> 
            </SetupUILanguage> 
            <InputLocale>0409:00000409</InputLocale> 
            <UserLocale>en-US</UserLocale> 
            <SystemLocale>en-US</SystemLocale> 
            <UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage> 
        </component> 
    </settings> 
    <settings pass="specialize"> 
        <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"> 
            <ComputerName></ComputerName> 
            <RegisteredOwner></RegisteredOwner> 
            <RegisteredOrganization></RegisteredOrganization> 
        </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" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> 
            <OOBE> 
                <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage> 
                <NetworkLocation>Work</NetworkLocation> 
                <ProtectYourPC>3</ProtectYourPC> 
            </OOBE> 
            <TimeZone>GTB Standard Time</TimeZone>
        </component> 
    </settings> 
</unattend> 

Is it possible to do it this way?

[Tripredacus]

Windows Setup can do it. No need for diskpart. Not sure if Setup uses Diskpart or what. Here is an example of an MBR setup:

If you are doing an EFI deployment, I can find that too.

[MrJinje]

Or in case the built in disk configuration is not granular enough for your needs, can easily launch a batch during the windowsPE pass by using a RunSynchronous command. Greater details can be found inside your unattend.chm from the W8 ADK.

Microsoft-Windows-Setup | RunSynchronous

<RunSynchronous>
   <!-- First synchronous command to execute -->
   <RunSynchronousCommand>
      <Order>1</Order>
      <Path>\\MyNetworkShare\MyApplication.bat</Path>
      <Description>DescriptionOfMyApplication</Description>
      <Credentials>
         <Domain>FabrikamDomain</Domain>
         <UserName>MyUserName</UserName>
         <Password>MyPassword</Password>
      </Credentials>
   </RunSynchronousCommand>
<!-- Second synchronous command to execute -->
   <RunSynchronousCommand>
      <Order>2</Order>
      <Path>C:\AnotherApplication.cmd</Path>
      <Description>DescriptionOfMyApplication</Description>
   </RunSynchronousCommand>
</RunSynchronous>

Edited September 11, 2012 by MrJinje