I tried to create an unattended install disk from a Microsoft XP Home SP2 OEM disk using the beginner instructions. The Microsoft XP Home SP2 OEM disk contains XP Home OEM and includes SP2. I copied the entire disk for use in my new unattend disk. I created a Winnt.sif file containing some default settings for the install. After copying the XP Home disk to my hard drive I removed the I386\unattend.txt file and added my Winnt.sif file to the I386 directory. I did not add any files to the install, no hotfixes, no app's, no drivers, no nothin'. I used 'cdimage' to create the ISO and used the 'boot.img' file included with cdimage to make the cd bootable. I used 'cdburn.exe', from the resource kit, to burn the ISO image to a cdrw.

When I tried to install XP Home from the unattend disk it ran fine until the graphical portion just after the first re-boot. During the 'preparation phase' I was prompted for the 'XP HOME SP2 SETUP DISK'. I am not normally prompted for any disks during the install. I tried entering F: and G:, these are my cd drives, but this did not work. I think that setup is trying to copy more files to my hard drive. I don't understand why it doesn't just copy the files from the cd it ran from.

1. Any thoughts on why I am being prompted for the disk? This doesn't happen with the microsoft disk. Keep in mind that I copied the entire contents of the original microsoft disk to my new disk.

2. I have only a winnt.sif, and the other install files, in the I386 directory. Should I add an unattend.txt file or an unattend.bat file. I am trying to create and unattneded setup cdrom so thought a winnt.sif was what I needed. Where should I put the Winnt.sif file?

my Winnt.sif--------------------------------------------------------

;SetupMgrTag

[branding]

BrandIEUsingUnattended = YES

[Components]

AccessOpt = Off

BitsServerExtensionsISAPI = Off

BitsServerExtensionsManager = Off

chat = Off

dialer = Off

Fax=off

freecell = Off

hearts = Off

indexsrv_system = Off

licenseserver = Off

media_clips = Off

minesweeper = Off

msmsgs=off

msnexplr=off

OEAccess = Off

pinball = Off

solitaire = On

spider = Off

WMAccess = Off

zonegames=off

[Data]

AutomaticUpdates=1

AutoPartition=0

MsDosInitiated=0

UnattendedInstall=Yes

UseBIOSToBoot=1

[Display]

BitsPerPel=32

Xresolution=1280

YResolution=1024

Vrefresh=85

[FavoritesEx]

Title1 = WindowsUpdate.url

URL1 = "http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us"

[GuiUnattended]

TimeZone=4

ProfilesDir="D:\Documents and Settings"

AdminPassword = *

AutoLogon = Yes

AutoLogonCount = 1

[Homenet]

EnableICS = No

[identification]

JoinWorkgroup=YELLOWSTONE

[iEPopupBlocker]

BlockPopups = Yes

FilterLevel = High

ShowInformationBar = Yes

[Networking]

InstallDefaultComponents=Yes

[PCHealth]

ER_Display_UI = 1

ER_Enable_Applications = All

ER_Enable_Kernel_Errors = 1

ER_Enable_Reporting = 1

ER_Enable_Windows_Components = 1

ER_Force_Queue_Mode = 0

ER_Include_MSApps = 1

ER_Include_Shutdown_Errs = 1

RA_AllowFullControl = 0

RA_AllowToGetHelp = 0

RA_AllowUnsolicited = 0

[Proxy]

Proxy_Enable = 0

[RegionalSettings]

LanguageGroup=1

Language=00000409

[unattended]

Factory=No

FileSystem=*

ForceHALDetection = Yes

Hibernation = No

KeyboardLayout = US

NTUpgrade = NO

UnattendMode=ProvideDefault

OemPreinstall=No

ProgramFilesDir="D:\Program Files"

CommonProgramFilesDir="D:\Program Files\Common Files"

Repartition=No

TargetPath=\WINDOWS

AutoConfig = 0

Home_Page = "http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us"

[userData]

ProductKey="valid-product-key-entered"

FullName="user name"

OrgName="org name"

ComputerName=SEQUOIA

END of Winnt.sif: ---------------------------

Edited July 12, 200521 yr by SoylentGreen

Sound like your drive is just having trouble reading from the cdrw.

Try burning at a slower speed or try a different disk, cd-r maybe.

put winnt.sif in i386 directory

Thank you for your replies. I believe that the DVD reader is at fault. Tried again after using nLite. Left the disk in the CD-RW drive and the instal worked perfectly.

Many Thanks to both of you!

SoylentGreen