Vista Unattened Install

[scarneol]

Has anyone managed to install Vista using a unattend.xml? I've created all sorts of unattend.xml files using the WSIM tool from the Feb CTP but none of them seem to work. I'm not having any problems capturing, modifying or applying sypreped wims to new systems but when the minisetup runs (at least that's what we called it in WinXP) it always prompts me for the information I put in the unattend.xml. e.g. Product Key, Org Name, etc..etc...It never takes any of the settings in the unattend.xml. Either I'm not putting the xml file in the right place, I'm not creating it properly or the unattend function isn't working yet with any of the builds 5308 and greater. I've even tried the floppy method where you copy the unattend.xml file to a floppy, rename it to autounattend.xml and use the original Vista boot DVD. Here is the way I am testing the unattend install:

1. Installing Vista on a GX620 (My Master computer) using build 5365.

2. Install the WAIK from the Feb CTP and any other apps or tools you would like on your Master computer.

3. Run the WSIM tool to build a simple unattend.xml.

4. Copy the unattend.xml file to the c:\windows\system32\sysprep folder.

5. Make a shortcut of c:\windows\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe.

6. Add /generalize /oobe /shutdown /unattend:unattend.xml to the shortcut target properties.

e.g. c:\windows\system32\sysprep\syspre.exe /generalize /oobe /shutdown /unattend:unattend.xml

7. Right click on the Sysprep shortcut and "run as administrator".

8. Sysprep runs and the system shuts down.

9. Turn the system back on and watch the install process begin. (Mini-setup)

In my case, the mini-setup starts prompting me to enter the same information that I entered when I first installed Vista. It never uses any of the settings in the unattend.xml

I also setup a WDS server to perform an unattend install and although I am able to connect using PXE and successfully install the vista.wim on my systems, the unattend.xml never kicks in.

If you've been successful at this, please explain in detail how you did it.

[fizban2]

can you post the info from your xml file?(minus the Cd-key of course )

[scarneol]

My unattend.xml tries to answer the few basic questions that are asked during a typical install. I haven't added any Disk Configuration settings yet since I'm not making any disk or partition changes on my test system.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">

<settings pass="windowsPE">

<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

<UserData>

<ComputerName>

<WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>

<Name>VistaBeta1</Name>

</ComputerName>

<ProductKey>

<WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>

<Key>xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx</Key>

</ProductKey>

<AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>

<FullName>Bogus User</FullName>

<Organization>Microsoft</Organization>

</UserData>

<UseConfigurationSet>true</UseConfigurationSet>

<Restart>Restart</Restart>

<EnableFirewall>true</EnableFirewall>

<LogPath>c:\windows\temp</LogPath>

</component>

</settings>

<cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="C:\Vista WIM\install_5308_Windows Vista STARTER.clg" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />

</unattend>

[fizban2]

hrm,

my vista box crashed today and i need to rebuild it, i will compare this to mine tommorow adn let you know what i get

[fizban2]

garr and now i have the same issue again, cannot create a catalog file for my WIM.... stupid WSIM, scarneol, were you ever able to get WSIM working on 5308?

[fizban2]

ok, fixed issue, no trying to build unattended file,

scarneol, did you have to work with anything special to get the unattended file to open properly?

[scarneol]

Figured it out....almost. I am now able to perform silent unattended installs with Vista 5365 using WDS, a Syspreped captured wim, boot DVD using the autounattend.xml on a USB key or floppy and from a Distribution Point created by the WSIM tool. The main problem was when building the unattend.xml file using the WSIM, I didn't add Component "Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" to Pass 7 oobeSystem. Once you add, "Add Setting to Pass 7 oobeSystem", you will find an OOBE component that needs to have three Settings set to true:

HideEULAPage

SkipMachineOOBE

SkipUserOOBE

Once I did that, all of the installs methods I mentioned above installed without any user interaction.

There is still one BIG problem. I can't get the unattended installs to Join a Domain. It always Joins a Workgroup. Maybe someone out there knows the answer to this problem?

[fizban2]

GAH.

i wish my WSIM would work properly....

[LeveL]

Judging by the small amount of replies to Vista Unattended

topics, I have come to 2 conclusions:

1 - No one is really trying to do unattended Vista?

2 - No one can figure out that mind numbing WAIK thing?

I have downloaded the WAIK and before I kill someone, just ditched it.

I simply copied an Autounattend.xml and used it, but theres a problem

with this - I want to add these 2 commands to the answer file:

<InstallToAvailablePartition>false</InstallToAvailablePartition>

(so I can manually choose the installation destination)

and also:

<SkipAutoActivation>true</SkipAutoActivation>

Of course, typically, naturally... I do not know where in the code these commands

are meant to go, because I am not an XML programmer OK (well WHO IS?) in fact

I have absolutely no clue at all, everything I try doesn't work, although without these

2 commands it does work. The only question is where the hell are you supposed to

put things? How are you supposed to just know where to put things?

Why did Microsoft suddenly decide to move the goalposts like this?

What was wrong with keeping a WINNT.SIF file?

Why have we got to learn an entire new method and an entire new syntax?

Why isn't any of this clearly explained in the WAIK CHM file?

(for example the part about SkipAutoActivation tells you

nothing with regards to what other code tags that command goes

in between!) Does M$ actually do this on purpose, or what?

Why am I even asking, no one has replied to this topic in months so

obviously people must be just as perplexed by all this XML baloney

as I am?

Please, god please don't make me fire up that WAIK again, I like my monitor

screen the way it is thanks.

[Spooky]

I assume; I think part of the reason that not may have replied to this thread in a while is because there is a seperate Unattended Vista forum at:

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showforum=149

I use the WAIK and I do un-attended installs all the time with Vista, have been doing them through the beta and more recently with the RTM. I find that about 99% of my questions are answered by simply reading the help with the WAIK very carefully. I also get answers from the MS web sites for deployment.

"I like my monitor screen the way it is thanks"

Huh? doesn't do anything weird to mine. What are you talking about?

Judging by the small amount of replies to Vista Unattended

topics, I have come to 2 conclusions:

1 - No one is really trying to do unattended Vista?

2 - No one can figure out that mind numbing WAIK thing?

I have downloaded the WAIK and before I kill someone, just ditched it.

I simply copied an Autounattend.xml and used it, but theres a problem

with this - I want to add these 2 commands to the answer file:

<InstallToAvailablePartition>false</InstallToAvailablePartition>

(so I can manually choose the installation destination)

and also:

<SkipAutoActivation>true</SkipAutoActivation>

Of course, typically, naturally... I do not know where in the code these commands

are meant to go, because I am not an XML programmer OK (well WHO IS?) in fact

I have absolutely no clue at all, everything I try doesn't work, although without these

2 commands it does work. The only question is where the hell are you supposed to

put things? How are you supposed to just know where to put things?

Why did Microsoft suddenly decide to move the goalposts like this?

What was wrong with keeping a WINNT.SIF file?

Why have we got to learn an entire new method and an entire new syntax?

Why isn't any of this clearly explained in the WAIK CHM file?

(for example the part about SkipAutoActivation tells you

nothing with regards to what other code tags that command goes

in between!) Does M$ actually do this on purpose, or what?

Why am I even asking, no one has replied to this topic in months so

obviously people must be just as perplexed by all this XML baloney

as I am?

Please, god please don't make me fire up that WAIK again, I like my monitor

screen the way it is thanks.

Edited November 25, 2006 by Spooky

[fizban2]

Judging by the small amount of replies to Vista Unattended

topics, I have come to 2 conclusions:

1 - No one is really trying to do unattended Vista?

2 - No one can figure out that mind numbing WAIK thing?

I have downloaded the WAIK and before I kill someone, just ditched it.

I simply copied an Autounattend.xml and used it, but theres a problem

with this - I want to add these 2 commands to the answer file:

<InstallToAvailablePartition>false</InstallToAvailablePartition>

(so I can manually choose the installation destination)

and also:

<SkipAutoActivation>true</SkipAutoActivation>

Of course, typically, naturally... I do not know where in the code these commands

are meant to go, because I am not an XML programmer OK (well WHO IS?) in fact

I have absolutely no clue at all, everything I try doesn't work, although without these

2 commands it does work. The only question is where the hell are you supposed to

put things? How are you supposed to just know where to put things?

Why did Microsoft suddenly decide to move the goalposts like this?

What was wrong with keeping a WINNT.SIF file?

Why have we got to learn an entire new method and an entire new syntax?

Why isn't any of this clearly explained in the WAIK CHM file?

(for example the part about SkipAutoActivation tells you

nothing with regards to what other code tags that command goes

in between!) Does M$ actually do this on purpose, or what?

Why am I even asking, no one has replied to this topic in months so

obviously people must be just as perplexed by all this XML baloney

as I am?

Please, god please don't make me fire up that WAIK again, I like my monitor

screen the way it is thanks.

WAIK is your only option, you can try and do it by hand but good luck, download the newest WAIK, it works perfectly

[LeveL]

WAIK is your only option, you can try and do it by hand but good luck, download the newest WAIK, it works perfectly

<SkipAutoActivation>true</SkipAutoActivation>

This is not in the WAIK (apart from in the reference guide)

so I cannot add it to the answer file with the WAIK. The

reference guide does not tell you what other tags this

command goes in or anything about it, just tells you

the command exists:

The term "SkipAutoActivation" does not exist on the internet, so I am completely stuck.

Also the WAIK does not account for the fact that no matter which way I

do it - I cannot get it to ask where to install, either it is set so it installs

automatically to Disk 0 Partition 1 (or wherever you want) OR remove

that section (I tried all different combinations but like I said I am not an

XML buff) and it does not work, it gives an error.

Only an expert in XML could make any sense of that XML file and where

things are meant to go, yeah theres the WAIK to do all that for you but

certain things don't exist in the WAIK. If you can find SkipAutoActivation

in the WAIK I will show my a$$ in the street!

EDIT: Eeeesh I found SkipAutoActivation in the WAIK just by pressing Ctrl+F

and its there under the licensing thing. Now I got to show my a$$ in the street,

sorry for being so dumb, its been a VERY long day today... sorry...

Edited November 25, 2006 by LeveL

[Spooky]

"If you can find SkipAutoActivation in the WAIK I will show my a$$ in the street!"

LoL...well...I was going to post again about how to find it and use it because I didn't want you to endure the mental trauma your actions may have caused you.

But...I see from the rest of you post you figured it out...glad it worked out for you

WAIK is your only option, you can try and do it by hand but good luck, download the newest WAIK, it works perfectly

<SkipAutoActivation>true</SkipAutoActivation>

This is not in the WAIK (apart from in the reference guide)

so I cannot add it to the answer file with the WAIK. The

reference guide does not tell you what other tags this

command goes in or anything about it, just tells you

the command exists:

The term "SkipAutoActivation" does not exist on the internet, so I am completely stuck.

Also the WAIK does not account for the fact that no matter which way I

do it - I cannot get it to ask where to install, either it is set so it installs

automatically to Disk 0 Partition 1 (or wherever you want) OR remove

that section (I tried all different combinations but like I said I am not an

XML buff) and it does not work, it gives an error.

Only an expert in XML could make any sense of that XML file and where

things are meant to go, yeah theres the WAIK to do all that for you but

certain things don't exist in the WAIK. If you can find SkipAutoActivation

in the WAIK I will show my a$$ in the street!

EDIT: Eeeesh I found SkipAutoActivation in the WAIK just by pressing Ctrl+F

and its there under the licensing thing. Now I got to show my a$$ in the street,

sorry for being so dumb, its been a VERY long day today... sorry...

Edited November 25, 2006 by Spooky

[LeveL]

Heh, I wish....

The screen comes up to type a product key (its OK its supposed to)

but then, with the <SkipAutoActivation>true</SkipAutoActivation>

setting in the answer file the box under the box for product key is

still ticked to "Activate whenever I am online". I don't want that

box ticked thats the thing.

I looked through the reference guide again, it says if you set up a user called

"Administrator" this will then enable the Administrators account which is normally

disabled by default (THE Administrator, god of the PC, lol) and it also says, unlike

other previous versions of Windows, that you can set a blank password for this in

the autologin settings and it will all work. Well, hate to have to say this but it just

doesn't work... what I ended up with was it asking me to create a user, so I did

that, then it got round to autologon time, or what should be autologon, and I have

THREE USERS ON THE WELCOME SCREEN, what the F! One is the username I

begrudgingly set up (begrudgingly because it was meant to logon on its own with

the single main Administrator) and the other two usernames are "Administrator"

and "Administrator". Yes, two identical usernames, who knows which one is THE

Administrator.

This stupid ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

I think I will leave it a few months until this WAIK thing actually does what it says it does.

The only thing that I did not have to fill in, the only thing that gave any hint that

any of it was even unattended, was the fact that I didn't have to choose the language

at the very beginning, apart from that it screwed up on just about every other thing.

$OEM$ is not supported with this either, this just adds insult to injury! Oh man why

did they have to change it? Really though, its not a joke question - why DID M$

change the entire unattended thing like this? Theres no need to diliberately stop

supporting the $OEM$ folder way of doing it or even the WINNT.SIF way either.

Its just tragic.

Tragic because look, setupmgr.exe from the deployment tools in Windows 2000 is

less than six kilobytes - the new WAIK for Vista is 870Mb. Do you know how much

bigger that actually is? The WAIK is 147,345 times bigger than the setupmgr.exe was

for Windows 2000. The real kicker is - setupmgr.exe works and the Vista WAIK just

screws up. Its great.

Edited November 25, 2006 by LeveL