I am attempting to create an image for silent installation of Windows 7 Professional x64. I have created the answer file as instructed from Step-by-Step: Basic Windows Deployment for IT Professionals page. I have placed the Autounattend.xml file in the root directory of the iso installation file. On installation the answer file is being detected but no matter what I try it keeps asking me to choose an operating system. Am I missing something? I am about to tear my hair out. Can anyone please help?

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">    <settings pass="windowsPE">        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE" processorArchitecture="amd64" 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>en-US</InputLocale>            <SystemLocale>en-AU</SystemLocale>            <UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>            <UserLocale>en-AU</UserLocale>        </component>        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" 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>                <Disk wcm:action="add">                    <DiskID>0</DiskID>                    <WillWipeDisk>true</WillWipeDisk>                    <CreatePartitions>                        <CreatePartition wcm:action="add">                            <Order>1</Order>                            <Size>100</Size>                            <Type>Primary</Type>                        </CreatePartition>                        <CreatePartition wcm:action="add">                            <Extend>true</Extend>                            <Order>2</Order>                            <Type>Primary</Type>                        </CreatePartition>                    </CreatePartitions>                    <ModifyPartitions>                        <ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">                            <Active>true</Active>                            <Format>NTFS</Format>                            <Label>System</Label>                            <Order>1</Order>                            <PartitionID>1</PartitionID>                        </ModifyPartition>                        <ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">                            <Format>NTFS</Format>                            <Order>2</Order>                            <PartitionID>2</PartitionID>                            <Letter>C</Letter>                        </ModifyPartition>                    </ModifyPartitions>                </Disk>                <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>            </DiskConfiguration>            <ImageInstall>                <OSImage>                    <InstallFrom>                        <Path>install.wim</Path>                        <MetaData wcm:action="add">                            <Key>/image/index</Key>                            <Value>1</Value>                        </MetaData>                    </InstallFrom>                    <InstallTo>                        <DiskID>0</DiskID>                        <PartitionID>2</PartitionID>                    </InstallTo>                    <InstallToAvailablePartition>false</InstallToAvailablePartition>                    <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>                </OSImage>            </ImageInstall>            <UserData>                <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>            </UserData>        </component>    </settings>    <settings pass="oobeSystem">        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Deployment" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">            <Reseal>                <Mode>Audit</Mode>            </Reseal>        </component>        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" 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>                <ProtectYourPC>1</ProtectYourPC>            </OOBE>            <TimeZone>AUS Eastern Standard Time</TimeZone>        </component>    </settings>    <cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="wim:c:/windows7professional/sources/install.wim#Windows 7 Professional" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" /></unattend>

Look here http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/139572-ask-your-seven-xml-here/

BTW try this:

<InstallFrom>            <MetaData wcm:action="add">              <Key>/IMAGE/NAME</Key>              <value>Windows 7 PROFESSIONAL</value>            </MetaData>          </InstallFrom>

You don't need "path" either unless it's on a network share. On first glance that's all I could see.

Delete this line: <cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="wim:c:/windows7professional/sources/install.wim#Windows 7 Professional" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />

Thanks guys! I tried both your suggestions but the problem persists.

Are you using WDS to deploy? or You put them into a CD?

I have everything automatic with WDS setup with following in xml. If you are doing WDS, you need 2 xml files. I have never tried to put the image into the dvd.

<WindowsDeploymentServices><ImageSelection>                    <InstallImage>                        <Filename>Windows 7 SP1 Ultimate Post Update.wim</Filename>                        <ImageName>Windows 7 SP1 ULTIMATE x64 Post Update</ImageName>                        <ImageGroup>Windows 7 SP1 Deployment x64 Post Update</ImageGroup>                    </InstallImage></InstallImage>

Edited October 22, 201312 yr by bbmak

what does your ei.cfg fie in sources say? for Ultimate it would be like this for a Retail

[EditionID]
Ultimate
[Channel]
Retail
[VL]
0

You can delete that file and remake iso if it contains anything but the Professional if that is a Pro dvd copy