[Tomorrow]

2 questions:

1. If my xml file does not touch the partitions (meaning i select the disk and format manually during install) then is there any other difference in the xml between installing in normal (MBR) or UEFI (GPT) mode?
2. About after inserting the DVD/USB and after the "Loading windows files" bar has completed part: i know i have a working xml but for some reason im still asked for language,currency and timezone at the beginning of the install. Is automating this part somehow more complicated?

[Tripredacus]

Tomorrow, on 03 January 2013 - 12:59 AM, said:

2 questions:

1. If my xml file does not touch the partitions (meaning i select the disk and format manually during install) then is there any other difference in the xml between installing in normal (MBR) or UEFI (GPT) mode?
2. About after inserting the DVD/USB and after the "Loading windows files" bar has completed part: i know i have a working xml but for some reason im still asked for language,currency and timezone at the beginning of the install. Is automating this part somehow more complicated?

1. MBR and UEFI mode is determined by the boot method of the installation media.
2. Attach your XML file, but redact product key and any sensitive information such as login credentials or domain info, etc.

[Tomorrow]

Tripredacus, on 03 January 2013 - 09:21 AM, said:

Tomorrow, on 03 January 2013 - 12:59 AM, said:

2 questions:

1. If my xml file does not touch the partitions (meaning i select the disk and format manually during install) then is there any other difference in the xml between installing in normal (MBR) or UEFI (GPT) mode?
2. About after inserting the DVD/USB and after the "Loading windows files" bar has completed part: i know i have a working xml but for some reason im still asked for language,currency and timezone at the beginning of the install. Is automating this part somehow more complicated?

1. MBR and UEFI mode is determined by the boot method of the installation media.
2. Attach your XML file, but redact product key and any sensitive information such as login credentials or domain info, etc.

<?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">
  	<InputLocale>0425:00000425;0409:00000409</InputLocale>
  	<SetupUILanguage>
  	<UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
  	</SetupUILanguage>
  	<SystemLocale>et-EE</SystemLocale>
  	<UserLocale>et-EE</UserLocale>
  	<UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
  	<UILanguageFallback>en-US</UILanguageFallback>
 	</component>
 	<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" 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">
  	<ImageInstall>
    	<OSImage>
      	<InstallFrom>
        	<MetaData wcm:action="add">
          	<Key>/IMAGE/NAME</Key>
          	<value>Windows 7 ULTIMATE</value>
        	</MetaData>
      	</InstallFrom>
      	<InstallToAvailablePartition>false</InstallToAvailablePartition>
      	<WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
    	</OSImage>
  	</ImageInstall>
  	<UpgradeData>
  	<Upgrade>false</Upgrade>
  	<WillShowUI>Never</WillShowUI>
  	</UpgradeData>
  	<ComplianceCheck>
  	<DisplayReport>OnError</DisplayReport>
  	</ComplianceCheck>
  	<DynamicUpdate>
  	<Enable>true</Enable>
  	<WillShowUI>Never</WillShowUI>
  	</DynamicUpdate>
  	<Diagnostics>
  	<OptIn>false</OptIn>
  	</Diagnostics>
  	<DiskConfiguration>
  	<WillShowUI>Always</WillShowUI>
  	</DiskConfiguration>
  	<UserData>
  	<AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
  	<FullName>ME</FullName>
  	</UserData>
  	</component>
  </settings>
  <settings pass="specialize">
        	<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" 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">
				<ComputerName>PHOENIX</ComputerName>
            	<ProductKey>removed</ProductKey>
            	<DoNotCleanTaskBar>false</DoNotCleanTaskBar>
            	<TimeZone>FLE Standard Time</TimeZone>
            	<CopyProfile>true</CopyProfile>
            	<DisableAutoDaylightTimeSet>false</DisableAutoDaylightTimeSet>
            	<RegisteredOwner>ME</RegisteredOwner>
				<VisualEffects>
            	<FontSmoothing>ClearType</FontSmoothing>
        	</VisualEffects>
        	</component>
			<component name="Microsoft-Windows-powercpl" 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">
        	<PreferredPlan>8c5e7fda-e8bf-4a96-9a85-a6e23a8c635c</PreferredPlan>
        	</component>
			<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Printing-Spooler-Core" 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">
        	<RemoveMXDW>1</RemoveMXDW>
        	</component>
			<component name="Microsoft-Windows-RemoteAssistance-Exe" 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">
        	<fAllowFullControl>false</fAllowFullControl>
        	<fAllowToGetHelp>false</fAllowToGetHelp>
        	</component>
        	<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP-UX" 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">
            	<SkipAutoActivation>true</SkipAutoActivation>
        	</component>
        	<component name="Microsoft-Windows-SystemRestore-Main" 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">
            	<DisableSR>1</DisableSR>
        	</component>
        	<component name="Microsoft-Windows-ErrorReportingCore" 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">
            	<DisableWER>1</DisableWER>
        	</component>
        	<component name="Microsoft-Windows-SQMApi" 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">
            	<CEIPEnabled>0</CEIPEnabled>
        	</component>
			<component name="Security-Malware-Windows-Defender" 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">
			<DisableAntiSpyware>true</DisableAntiSpyware>
			</component>
        	<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Deployment" 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">
				<RunSynchronous>
                	<RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    	<Order>1</Order>
                    	<Description>Disable Automatic Pagefile Management</Description>
                    	<Path>cmd /c wmic computersystem where name="%computername%" set AutomaticManagedPagefile=False</Path>
                	</RunSynchronousCommand>
                	<RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    	<Order>2</Order>
                    	<Description>Set pagefile to 200MB fixed size</Description>
                    	<Path>cmd /c wmic pagefileset where name="c:\\pagefile.sys" set InitialSize=200,MaximumSize=200</Path>
                	</RunSynchronousCommand>
					<RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    	<Order>3</Order>
                    	<Description>Disable DEP</Description>
                    	<Path>bcdedit.exe /set {current} nx AlwaysOff</Path>
                	</RunSynchronousCommand>
					<RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    	<Order>4</Order>
                    	<Description>Hibernation Off</Description>
                    	<Path>powercfg.exe -h off</Path>
                	</RunSynchronousCommand>
            	</RunSynchronous>  	
        	</component>
    	</settings>
  <settings pass="oobeSystem">
        	<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" 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">
            	<Themes>
                	<ThemeName>Aero Theme</ThemeName>
                	<DefaultThemesOff>false</DefaultThemesOff>
					<WindowColor>Twilight</WindowColor>
            	</Themes>
            	<OEMInformation>
                	<HelpCustomized>false</HelpCustomized>
                	<SupportHours>24/7</SupportHours>
                	<SupportPhone></SupportPhone>
                	<Manufacturer>Custom</Manufacturer>
            	</OEMInformation>
            	<OOBE>
                	<HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>
                	<NetworkLocation>Home</NetworkLocation>
                	<ProtectYourPC>3</ProtectYourPC>
                	<HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>true</HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>
            	</OOBE>
            	<UserAccounts>
                	<AdministratorPassword>
                    	<Value>Administrator</Value>
                    	<PlainText>true</PlainText>
                	</AdministratorPassword>
                	<LocalAccounts>
                    	<LocalAccount wcm:action="add">
                        	<Name>ME</Name>
                        	<Group>Administrators</Group>
                        	<Password>
                            	<Value>UABhAHMAcwB3AG8AcgBkAA==</Value>
                            	<PlainText>false</PlainText>
                        	</Password>
                        	<DisplayName>ME</DisplayName>
                        	<Description>ME</Description>
                    	</LocalAccount>
                    	<LocalAccount wcm:action="add">
                        	<Name>ME2</Name>
                        	<Group>Administrators</Group>
                        	<Password>
                            	<Value>UABhAHMAcwB3AG8AcgBkAA==</Value>
                            	<PlainText>false</PlainText>
                        	</Password>
                        	<DisplayName>ME2</DisplayName>
                        	<Description>ME2</Description>
                    	</LocalAccount>
                	</LocalAccounts>
            	</UserAccounts>
            	<AutoLogon>
                	<Password>
                    	<Value>password2</Value>
                    	<PlainText>false</PlainText>
                	</Password>
                	<Enabled>true</Enabled>
                	<LogonCount>99999</LogonCount>
                	<Username>ME</Username>
            	</AutoLogon>
				<FirstLogonCommands>
                	<SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    	<Order>1</Order>
                    	<Description>Disable Automatic Pagefile Management</Description>
                    	<CommandLine>cmd /c wmic computersystem where name="%computername%" set AutomaticManagedPagefile=False</CommandLine>
                    	<RequiresUserInput>false</RequiresUserInput>
                	</SynchronousCommand>
                	<SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    	<Order>2</Order>
                    	<Description>Set pagefile to 200MB fixed size</Description>
                    	<CommandLine>cmd /c wmic pagefileset where name="c:\\pagefile.sys" set InitialSize=200,MaximumSize=200</CommandLine>
                    	<RequiresUserInput>false</RequiresUserInput>
                	</SynchronousCommand>
										<SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    	<Order>3</Order>
                    	<Description>Disable DEP</Description>
                    	<CommandLine>bcdedit.exe /set {current} nx AlwaysOff</CommandLine>
                    	<RequiresUserInput>false</RequiresUserInput>
                	</SynchronousCommand>
					<SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
                    	<Order>4</Order>
                    	<Description>Hibernation Off</Description>
                    	<CommandLine>powercfg.exe -h off</CommandLine>
                    	<RequiresUserInput>false</RequiresUserInput>
                	</SynchronousCommand>
				</FirstLogonCommands>
			       </component>
  </settings>
  <settings pass="offlineServicing">
   <component name="Microsoft-Windows-LUA-Settings" 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">
 	<EnableLUA>false</EnableLUA>
   </component>
  </settings>
</unattend>

[maxXPsoft]

when PC is booting make sure it loads the uefi part of bios

made corrections in WinPE pass try this xml

Attached File(s)

•  Autounattend.xml (13.15K)
  Number of downloads: 31

This post has been edited by maxXPsoft: 03 January 2013 - 07:33 PM

[Tomorrow]

maxXPsoft, on 03 January 2013 - 07:32 PM, said:

when PC is booting make sure it loads the uefi part of bios

made corrections in WinPE pass try this xml

Sorry for the delayed answer. No luck im afraid. Still got the prompt. But it's not a big problem. It would be a problem if my install was fully automated, but since i always configure disk to install to manually then these few extra clicks arent killing me. Besides im ok with my current xml anyway and it's not every time that the dialog box is displayed. Sometimes it goes directly to disk config like it should.

EDIT 10.01.2013: Ok so i could not let it go so easily. Atleast not without finding the cause. Apparently no matter the settings in the xml: if i boot in EFI mode the dialog always pops up. However if i boot in normal MBR mode everything works as it should and the xml settings are respected. So for some reason in EFI setup mode the xml settings are not respected.

The next thing i did was looking at how i achieve the EFI install. Unfortunately when using USB stick i have to use a hack to get the EFI setup to even boot (detailed here: http://forums.bit-te...ad.php?t=209045 ). Apparently when booting from DVD the hack is unnesesary (cannot confirm this as i dont have a DVD anymore for over a year now). Also does not seem to matter if i use my sysprepped ISO or unmodified MSDN ISO. With both the problem above stands. So it's not ISO/Customization specific issue tho it is entirely possible that the dialog pops up because i use a hack to get into EFI setup. If someone could test and try to launch EFI setup from DVD without the hack and see if the xml setting are respected it would put my mind at ease.

Btw also rearranged the passes as per first post. Apparently the offlineservicing pass was at the wrong place (too late).

This post has been edited by Tomorrow: 10 January 2013 - 03:07 AM

[maxXPsoft]

To do EFI you must create an MSR partition. Maybe you already know that.
http://www.msfn.org/...ost__p__1007331

I done it once since my desktop is capable but seen no advantage for me with extra steps so I went back

[maxXPsoft]

Another of my programs that some use. I've added a new feature
download from my link in my Sig

'Jump2reg 3.0.0 February 15, 2013, 12:24:35 PM
' Fix to add a right click 'Jump2reg with key'. Merge reg file if you want to use that
' Copy a reg key then right click anywhere on desktop or white space in any folder or drive
' Credit to Mr Jinje for initial code I modified.
' To work it now installs the Jump2reg.exe in Windows directory
' Fix to use registry HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Jump2Reg for writing 'Lastkey' instead of ini

 Jump2reg with key.png (5.74K)
Number of downloads: 3

If you use Appswitch.dat then update entry to

[Jump2reg]
REM     http://veegertx.com/files/jump2reg.php?
REG ADD %KEY%\iAdd /VE /D "Jump2reg 3.0.0 x64 Aware" /f
REG ADD %KEY%\iAdd /V Inum /D "CMD /C Start /Wait %SystemDrive%\APPS\Jump2reg\Jump2regsetup3.0.0 /SILENT /SP-" /f
REG ADD %KEY%\iAdd /V Inum /D "REGEDIT /S %SystemDrive%\APPS\Jump2reg\OpenJump2regwithkey.reg" /f
FLAG2=%windir%\Jump2Reg.J2R

Tested and working on Windows 8 with UAC ON

This post has been edited by maxXPsoft: 22 February 2013 - 05:45 PM

[TheWalrus]

Question: does computer name have to different from user name? I am getting some weird behavior here.

(specialize)

        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" 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">
            <CopyProfile>true</CopyProfile>
            <ComputerName>Octopuss</ComputerName>
            <ShowWindowsLive>false</ShowWindowsLive>
            <ProductKey></ProductKey>
        </component>

(oobe)

            <UserAccounts>
                <AdministratorPassword>
                    <Value>*</Value>
                </AdministratorPassword>
                <LocalAccounts>
                    <LocalAccount wcm:action="add">
                        <Name>Octopuss</Name>
                        <DisplayName>Octopuss</DisplayName>
                        <Group>Administrators</Group>
                        <Password>
                            <Value></Value>
                        </Password>
                    </LocalAccount>
                </LocalAccounts>
            </UserAccounts>
            <AutoLogon>
                <Enabled>true</Enabled>
                <Username>Octopuss</Username>
                <LogonCount>3</LogonCount>
                <Password>
                    <Value></Value>
                </Password>
            </AutoLogon>

I am getting prompted for user name and it wouldn't let me choose Octopuss saying it's already in use. If I type in something else, it results in standard account type without any of the customizations that should be there.

This post has been edited by TheWalrus: 28 March 2013 - 05:18 AM

[Tripredacus]

Yes, username cannot be the same as the computer name. If you did the OOBE manually and attempted to type both the same, it would say it on that screen.

[TheWalrus]

Oh. Okay. Simple solution to that

One more thing I've been trying to figure out (and it might very well not be possible). Is there any registry or whatever setting that controls the "replace generic device icons with enhanced blabla" option under Windows Update driver settings? The general values on that page are controlled - I believe - by the "Protect your computer" settings, but I can't seem to google up anything about the former thing.

[maxXPsoft]

TheWalrus, on 28 March 2013 - 12:59 PM, said:

replace generic device icons with enhanced

to put a check in that box
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Device Metadata]
"PreventDeviceMetadataFromNetwork"=dword:00000000

This post has been edited by maxXPsoft: 28 March 2013 - 09:46 PM

[TheWalrus]

It's THAT simple? Whoa... I googled and googled with no luck.
I even ran a registry comparison at some point and still nothing.

Well, thanks

[TheWalrus]

Another minor thing I am curious about.
Is there a way to somehow set user account picture during unattended installation?

[Tomorrow]

TheWalrus, on 31 March 2013 - 08:28 AM, said:

Another minor thing I am curious about.
Is there a way to somehow set user account picture during unattended installation?

Not trough unnatend but trough OEM folders:
$OEM$\$1\ProgramData\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\user.bmp will be the main user picture. You can include others in Default Pictures folder in the same folder.
Let me know if anything is unclear.

[TheWalrus]

That's probably not exactly what I meant.
I didn't ask how to set account picture for account called user, I meant user account (or just accout) in general. In fact, I had an account with specific name in mind.

[Tomorrow]

TheWalrus, on 01 April 2013 - 11:43 AM, said:

That's probably not exactly what I meant.
I didn't ask how to set account picture for account called user, I meant user account (or just accout) in general. In fact, I had an account with specific name in mind.

How many accounts do you create?
You can set the default picture with user.bmp (all users will have this) but as far as i know there is no way to set pic for a specific user. I suspect this setting might be stored on ntuser.dat and not in registry. Atleast thats the impression i got when i tried to set the icon order in the notification area.
I used regshot to capture registry from before and after i changed the order. I suppose you could do the same with the account picture to see if its location is stored in the registry.
http://sourceforge.n...ojects/regshot/

[maxXPsoft]

TheWalrus, on 01 April 2013 - 11:43 AM, said:

That's probably not exactly what I meant.
I didn't ask how to set account picture for account called user, I meant user account (or just accout) in general. In fact, I had an account with specific name in mind.

actually not done in the reg so we can do this
Use a more advanced reg and file change program like InstallwatchPro_Inno.zip available in my Signature Download ++>. Still works on Win 8

Take ownership of say like this file C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\usertile10.bmp. Replace with same size
Change the picture to the usertile10.bmp
Place that in the $OEM$\$1\ProgramData\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\usertile10.bmp

User is not created till desktop loads so we can do this during Firstlogoncommands
Copy the C:\Users\YOURUSERNAME\Contacts\YOURUSERNAME.contact somewhere to $OEM$ so we can copy during install
Copy YOURUSERNAME.contact to here C:\Users\YOURUSERNAME\Contacts\YOURUSERNAME.contact

EDIT: I haven't tested this but it should work. Might be able to even create the $OEM$\$1\Users\YOURUSERNAME\Contacts folder and it may work. I'll try myself soon
Just copying the files to OEM doesn't work, files are present but image was default. Might have to try with Firstlogoncommands. Or either figure out the command to register the .contact file

This post has been edited by maxXPsoft: 02 April 2013 - 11:12 AM

[TheWalrus]

Heh I doubted it was possible, and apparently it's not And if so, it's probably not worth the pain in the a**

[maxXPsoft]

Quote

Is there a way to somehow set user account picture during unattended installation?

TheWalrus, on 03 April 2013 - 01:10 PM, said:

Heh I doubted it was possible, and apparently it's not And if so, it's probably not worth the pain in the a**

Fully 100% possible.
I have discovered really easy method which works instantly. I may make a separate post for this soon.
It may not work for first login but it will replace this after that. I have to test in Firstlogoncommands which will take me a bit

This post has been edited by maxXPsoft: 11 April 2013 - 01:48 PM

[ricktendo]

oobe.xml can set usertile, but it does not work if your install is 100% unattended

This post has been edited by ricktendo: 11 April 2013 - 11:24 PM