Can't get WDS to see Unattend XML

[heyjim]

Hi all,

I have a problem with WDS on Server 2012 where it doesn't seem to see the XML file when deploying an image.

A bit of background:

• Windows 7 x64 with my applications installed
• Capture the image with WDS with a x64 boot.wim
• Created an answer file with Windows System Image Manager just for the PE section (not bothered about Windows setup at the moment)
• Added the XML to the server properties in WDS under x64

All I want the XML to do is set the language, create the partitions as I've selected, told it where the image.wim and added the credentials.

But whenever I PXE boot into WDS, it brings up the menus as if it's ignoring the XML.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks!

WDSClientUnattend.xml

[Tripredacus]

When you get to the first page, open a CMD and then notepad and look at the wpeinit log file that is on the ramdrive. It will show whether or not it picked up the answer file.

[heyjim]

When you get to the first page, open a CMD and then notepad and look at the wpeinit log file that is on the ramdrive. It will show whether or not it picked up the answer file.

Thanks - Do you know what directory that log file is in?

[Tripredacus]

X:\windows\system32\wpeinit.log

[heyjim]

X:\windows\system32\wpeinit.log

There doesn't seem to be a wpeinit.log, only a wpeinit.exe - any ideas?

Edited February 3, 2014 by heyjim

[Tripredacus]

Use notepad to search for any log files created at the time of boot. It may also use setupact.log instead.

[heyjim]

I ended up (by accident) rebooting the WDS server and it started working for some reason

Thanks for your help anyway!