hi there, i have an issue which i would like to be solved

this is a relevant part of my winnt.sif

[Data]
    AutoPartition=0
    MsDosInitiated="0"
    UnattendedInstall="Yes"
    AutomaticUpdates=yes

[Unattended]
    UnattendMode=DefaultHide
    UnattendSwitch="yes"
    WaitForReboot="No"
    OemPreinstall=Yes
    TargetPath=\WINDOWS
    Repartition=No
    OemSkipEula=Yes 
    DriverSigningPolicy=Ignore
    KeyboardLayout="Croatian"

so, when i select a partition for setup to use, it doesn't offer me a format options (unless partiton is not fat32/ntfs) so I always have to recreate first partition. personaly for me this is not a problem, but it's still an issue.

now, default windows installation asks you this, but unattended versions doesn't.

any solution?

what format do you want? fat32 or NTFS.

ok under unattended you need a section called FileSystem

[Unattended]
    UnattendMode=ReadOnly
    OemSkipEula=Yes
    OemPreinstall=Yes
    UnattendSwitch=Yes
    TargetPath=\WINDOWS
    Repartition=No
    FileSystem=*
    WaitForReboot=No

I want the setup to ASK me whether I want to format it as a NTFS, FAT32 or leave it as it is...just like the ordinary Windows Setup does.

What does thie star means? Just enter it like this or?

FileSystem=*

ok, thanx wyattXP, i think i got it now...

(didn't know about this * possibilty...)

I got it as:

[unattended]

FileSystem = *

It will ask what partition to install, also asks about formating,

I've been using VM like over 100 time (atleast in this week allready)

and I do the quick-format to ntsf everytime.

I want to get rid of anything on the partition so there would

be no conflicts etc.

If you delete and recreate the partition, it will ask you which file system to format it with.

i know, but i'm tired of explaing the others (friendz) who enjoy my unattended installation about this issue...

As far as I'm aware, it's the only way.

But yeesh, that's far from the biggest part of an unattended install. So what if you have to be there an extra 15 seconds at the beginning of setup to specify the partition?

well, if

  [unattended]

  FileSystem = *

is going to work, ill be more than happy...

Well, then - this fits the last piece in the unattended puzzle. No need anymore for me to delete and re-create partitions.

Thanks - will test out this proposal on the next re-install.

it works!

Just a NOTE!!!

[Data]

AutoPartition=0

[unattended]

Repartition=No

Will ask about which partition and ask what file system.

If in VM just do the opposite, save's time.

Hmm....

Actually, it doesn't seem to work that way. I know, since I myself was using those all along, and had resigned to the fact that I couldn't format a partition from unattended setup. You will see that if you choose to install onto an existing windows (FAT32/NTFS) partition, you aren't offered the option to format it. So you end up having the old files onboard, and threfore not a clean install. You HAVE to delete and re-create the partition to get the option to format using the winnt.sif settings you have mentioned above.

But adding the new settings to what I already have (which you have mentioned in post above) do help in fulfilling what was needed all along:

 [Unattended]
  FileSystem = *

...and it finally makes me very happy