autounattend file

[digitalmilton]

i have created two wim files. i syspreped the images without the unattend files. my unattend files are setup to add a hostname to the pc and add the pc to the domain, however i cannot get them to apply to the image. after imaging the pc just boots to the setup page asking me for a pc name and the time zone, etc. then i have to add to domain. i also try doing it where i use the win 7 dvd with the autoattend file in a thumb drive and after rebooting it discovers the autoattend but i get an error stating, " windows could not parse or process the unattend answer file for pass [specialize]. the settings specified int he answer file cannot be appplied. the erro was detected while processing settings for component [microsoft-windows-shell-setup]. i have a huge rollout to do and really could use a hand. any ideas?

Edited May 22, 2013 by digitalmilton

[Tripredacus]

For the problem of getting the answer file to be read by the WIM file... Rename your answer file unattend.xml. Then mount your image and put the unattend.xml file into mount\windows\system32\sysprep. Then commit your changes and try to apply your image. Alternatively, another option is you can run setup and use the /unattend switch to specify the location of the answer file, rather than having to manually put it in the image.

For the parsing error, you'll need to attach your xml file to a post (make sure to edit out your domain information and product key) so we can look at it. Otherwise you can validate it in WSIM to make sure you do not have any errors it can find.

[digitalmilton]

thanks for your reply! i've attached a sample of my xml file to this message. i'm a noob so forgive me for this, but what is the exact syntax for mount\windows\system32\sysprep and where exactly would i do that? i begin by mounting using DISM, right?

i'm not sure what you mean by running setup and using /unattend switch to specify the location of the xml file. do you mean i put the dvd into the drive and somehow point it to the xml file? where would i do that exactly? again, i'm a noob so please be patient with me.

thanks again!

AutoUnattend test.txt

Edited May 22, 2013 by digitalmilton

[digitalmilton]

tripredacus...

i've tried both your suggestions and nothing works.

[Tripredacus]

WSIM should have failed validation on this answer file. For example, the value of TimeZone is invalid. The correct value in your case would be:

<TimeZone>Eastern Standard Time</TimeZone>

[digitalmilton]

Is that my only error? did you spot anything else i should fix??? sorry for the hassle, it's the desperation talking.

[digitalmilton]

tripredacus...

is there anything else in my answer file that would cause the parsing error? i changed the time zone to what you suggested and the parsing error still exists.

[Tripredacus]

Yes. The ComputerName object may be invalid. Replace it with * instead and see what kind of name it generates, also if the error is gone.

[digitalmilton]

i've made some config changes so that the image points to the unattend.xml and the oobe.xml file. now the error i get tells me, "windows could not prepare the partition selected for installation". so it would seem that somehow my disk configuration needs to be amended.

[digitalmilton]

tripredacus....

the answer file is finally being read except for two crucial parts. the computer name is not being automatically assigned per my company's naming convention and it is also not being joined to the domain. i have followed the syntax shown in the directory services tab of the server properties in WDS (new client naming policy). for joining the domain, under unattendedjoin_neutral, i have listed the domain under joindomain and the machineobjectOU is listed as workstation.

debugjoin is false

unsecurejoin is false

debugjoinonlyonthiserror is 0.

any ideas???

[Tripredacus]

I have no experience in joining a computer to a domain via the answer file. There are multiple topics about it in this section. Just search for MachineObjectOU to find other (potentially similar) posts and see how their files are built and if they had the same problem.

[digitalmilton]

I've literally reached a point of desperation. i cannot get my answer file to assign a computer name based on my WDS server's directory services naming convention. it always defaults to asking me to assign a computername. i imaged my pc based on this link:

http://www.danscourses.com/Windows-7/how-to-create-a-wim-system-image-file-with-windowsaik-and-windowspe.html

with this link i created my wim file and pe disk. i then created my xml file. i've attached it to this post.

i have a rollout that is due very soon and i've checked every resource i could find online and either they don't work or there are steps that are confusing me or unnecessary.

does anyone even know of any kind of a support line that i could call and speak to someone??

for anybody in the nyc area, the beer would be on me for anyone who provides a viable answer.

AutoUnattend test.txt

[maxXPsoft]

Also <TimeZone>Eastern Standard Time</TimeZone>

sure you read this?

Computer_name

If ComputerName is missing, you must enter a computer name during Windows® Welcome.

If ComputerName is set to an asterisk (*) or is an empty string, a random computer name will be generated. This random name has at most eight characters from the RegisteredOwner and/or RegisteredOrganization strings plus random characters.

Computer_name is a string with a maximum length of 15 characters.

[digitalmilton]

Thanks, MaxXPsoft...

I have tried the * and it still doesn't produce any type of computer name, random or otherwise. what i'm trying to avoid is having to assign a computer name on my own since i want the server to assign one based on my company's naming convention.

[Tripredacus]

Computer name via the answer file leaves much to be desired. If neither of those fit your company's naming pattern, you should set it to * and then use scripts after deployment to change the computer name appropriately.