[biatche]

I've slimmed down a sample said to be working x64 working AutoUnattend.xml to simply what's below. I've even tried modifying autorun.inf to open=setup.exe /unattended:AutoUnattended.xml and even this still don't work.

My AutoUnattended.xml (shouldn't be case sensitive right?) is placed in the root directory of my USB harddisk where the follow files/folder resides: boot, efi, sources, support, upgrade, autorun.inf, bootmgr, bootmgr.efi, MediaMeta.xml, setup.exe. Thing is, as soon as it boots off the usb hdd, I arrive at Language to install, English, time currency english.. and you know the rest - the very initial GUI screen of a normal setup. I hope I've explained clear.

So, what exactly am I doing wrong. Believe me, I've tried many AutoUnattend.xml samples, I just thought.. I could slim it down to below since I was having issues and work from there.

<?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-US</SystemLocale>
			<UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
			<UserLocale>en-US</UserLocale>
		</component>
	<cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="catalog:f:/sources/install_windows 7 ultimate.clg" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

Many thanks!!

This post has been edited by biatche: 13 November 2009 - 11:47 PM

[maxXPsoft]

compared that with my 64 and it looks ok except
AutoUnattend.xml not AutoUnattended.xml

[biatche]

ok, its definitely autounattend.xml and not autounattended.xml, typos. I did have autorun.inf wrong, but even after fixing the typo in autorun.inf, same stuff. Mind giving me a checklist on preparing an unattended setup? I might have missed out something. Ty

[maxXPsoft]

http://www.msfn.org/board/sample-autounatt...ml-t139572.html

[biatche]

Used your exact sample. Not working still. Have I missed out a vital step? I didn't do vista btw.

[maxXPsoft]

I haven't tried from a usb yet although Virtualbox supports my usb drive finally
Including the xml on root of dvd or usb has been the norm for awhile
something wrong and i cannot even guess what
I've done hundreds of installs off a dvd-rw with xml on my usb and also in a vm with an iso

[biatche]

I'm gonna make a screenshot just to be sure all is correct.

I'm using a USB HDD... not a pendrive. there any implication?

[Raoul90]

maxXPsoft, on Nov 11 2009, 03:35 PM, said:

I haven't tried from a usb yet although Virtualbox supports my usb drive finally
Including the xml on root of dvd or usb has been the norm for awhile
something wrong and i cannot even guess what
I've done hundreds of installs off a dvd-rw with xml on my usb and also in a vm with an iso

I am having problems with installing from USB, and the first I thought of was the .xml, but if you saying that it isnt that, I will try other things then.

[urie]

biatche, on Nov 11 2009, 04:10 PM, said:

I'm gonna make a screenshot just to be sure all is correct.

I'm using a USB HDD... not a pendrive. there any implication?

Yes obviously go to

Administrative Tools, and then open Computer Management.

Click Disk Management, then find your external hard drive in the list on the right (in the upper pane).
Right-click the drive and choose Mark Partition as Active. Approve whatever warnings Windows issues.

remember you will need to select usb hdrive when booting.

This post has been edited by urie: 11 November 2009 - 01:27 PM

[biatche]

Raoul90, on Nov 12 2009, 12:58 AM, said:

maxXPsoft, on Nov 11 2009, 03:35 PM, said:

I haven't tried from a usb yet although Virtualbox supports my usb drive finally
Including the xml on root of dvd or usb has been the norm for awhile
something wrong and i cannot even guess what
I've done hundreds of installs off a dvd-rw with xml on my usb and also in a vm with an iso

I am having problems with installing from USB, and the first I thought of was the .xml, but if you saying that it isnt that, I will try other things then.

Share with me what issues you are having. In the very beginning. I couldn't get it to boot off the USB HDD, but not my pendrive. With the USBHDD, all I got was "_" I think it was a blinking underscore. I had to wipe the USB hdd mbr, mark partition as active, use bootsect and copy the files for everything to be ok. So now that I can boot to USB HDD, i just can't get it unattended. I must say though, it does work when I created the setup using MDT2010.
Bummer. I wonder what my next step should be. Perhaps trying unattended from dvd or usb pendrive.

[maxXPsoft]

that is possible unless maybe you need to inject the drivers for the USB HDD in to your image for that drive be my thought.

[ricktendo64]

I had this same problem with my autounattend.xml not being detected/used when installing from (gigabank) usb hdd...to solve this I mounted boot.wim (image #2) and added my autounattend.xml next to mounted setup.exe

99% certain this will fix your problem

This post has been edited by ricktendo64: 12 November 2009 - 01:39 PM

[biatche]

rick, im gonnna try that. for a couple of days, ive been waiting to catch you on msn to ask you about this. how come i rarely see you on? you on for just very few hours now? hope i can catch you online sometimes. name is irwin if im in your list.

[ricktendo64]

What also sucks is the Win7 USB DVD Download Tool doe not recognize my USB HDD as a valid USB drive, it may think its an external one and this probably would be a solution to fix this autounattend.xml problem...I have to use the old way with diskpart to make mine, but hey, I found a way to make it work so no worries here

This post has been edited by ricktendo64: 12 November 2009 - 11:36 PM

[Raoul90]

ricktendo64, on Nov 13 2009, 06:35 AM, said:

What also sucks is the Win7 USB DVD Download Tool doe not recognize my USB HDD as a valid USB drive, it may think its an external one and this probably would be a solution to fix this autounattend.xml problem...I have to use the old way with diskpart to make mine, but hey, I found a way to make it work so no worries here

Yes I used Diskpart also now, and I think its working, still need to test tho, but when I go to Computer it looks like the USB is using the Win7 setup.exe icon, which wasnt happening before.

Diskpart explained:
http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-install-...-working-guide/

[biatche]

ricktendo64, on Nov 13 2009, 01:35 PM, said:

What also sucks is the Win7 USB DVD Download Tool doe not recognize my USB HDD as a valid USB drive, it may think its an external one and this probably would be a solution to fix this autounattend.xml problem...I have to use the old way with diskpart to make mine, but hey, I found a way to make it work so no worries here

Yes, that USB DVD too don't recognize as valid USB drive, but is it a necessary program really, and does it really speed things up? Now, even after adding autounattend.xml to boot.wim, I STILL can't get it unattended. I'm so confused now. I've yet to try my usb flash drive, but what I hate about it is it's slower than my usb hdd, a lot slower. PM me on msn when you're on. I hope timezone won't collide.

I think I might have added autounattend.xml to the wrong folder?? It's currently in the root dir of boot.wim, where inside i see program files, program data, sources, users, windows. I don't see any setup.exe in there though.

[ricktendo64]

Make sure you are in boot.wim (image number 2)

This post has been edited by ricktendo64: 13 November 2009 - 11:55 AM

[biatche]

Ah so you used 7zip, i used http://www.windows-now.com/blogs/robert/ar...s-explorer.aspx to mount. I never saw a 1 and 2. So, what's 1 and 2 for? one for x86 one for amd64?

[MrJinje]

biatche, on Nov 13 2009, 12:16 PM, said:

Ah so you used 7zip, i used http://www.windows-now.com/blogs/robert/ar...s-explorer.aspx to mount. I never saw a 1 and 2. So, what's 1 and 2 for? one for x86 one for amd64?

Nope they are different bootable PE images.

Image # 2 is what does the main installation, think Image # 1 is when you boot into recovery tools. But will defer if someone has the better answer.

The x64 disk has an different x64 version of boot.wim.

7z can view the contents, but it cannot edit the WIM, only way I know how is via DISM. For future readers see here to learn about DISM

[ricktendo64]

biatche, on Nov 13 2009, 01:16 PM, said:

Ah so you used 7zip

No I did NOT use 7zip I used dism...I was just using 7zip to show you setup.exe & yes my boot.wim is from x86 so IDK what image number the x64 version uses

This post has been edited by ricktendo64: 13 November 2009 - 08:35 PM