Windows 10 autounattend file - unable to read product key


  1. Posts : 27
    Windows 10
       #1

    Windows 10 autounattend file - unable to read product key


    I've tried only creating an answer file with just the product key and it works with no issues however when I try to follow the guide here -> Create media for automated unattended install of Windows 10 i am getting "unable to read product key" not quite sure where i'm making an error. any tips or advice is greatly appreciated.

    Here's my xml file :

    <?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="wow64" 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>0409:00000409</InputLocale>
    <SystemLocale>en-us</SystemLocale>
    <UILanguage>en-us</UILanguage>
    <UserLocale>en-us</UserLocale>
    </component>
    <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" processorArchitecture="wow64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
    <DiskConfiguration>
    <Disk wcm:action="add">
    <CreatePartitions>
    <CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
    <Order>1</Order>
    <Size>450</Size>
    <Type>Primary</Type>
    </CreatePartition>
    <CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
    <Order>3</Order>
    <Size>16</Size>
    <Type>MSR</Type>
    </CreatePartition>
    <CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
    <Order>4</Order>
    <Type>Primary</Type>
    </CreatePartition>
    <CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
    <Order>2</Order>
    <Size>100</Size>
    <Type>EFI</Type>
    </CreatePartition>
    </CreatePartitions>
    <ModifyPartitions>
    <ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
    <Format>NTFS</Format>
    <Label>WinRE</Label>
    <PartitionID>1</PartitionID>
    <Order>1</Order>
    <TypeID>DE94BBA4-06D1-4D40-A16A-BFD50179D6AC</TypeID>
    </ModifyPartition>
    <ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
    <Format>NTFS</Format>
    <Label>Windows</Label>
    <Letter>C</Letter>
    <Order>4</Order>
    <PartitionID>4</PartitionID>
    </ModifyPartition>
    <ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
    <Order>3</Order>
    <PartitionID>3</PartitionID>
    </ModifyPartition>
    <ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
    <Format>FAT32</Format>
    <Label>System</Label>
    <Order>2</Order>
    <PartitionID>2</PartitionID>
    </ModifyPartition>
    </ModifyPartitions>
    <DiskID>0</DiskID>
    <WillWipeDisk>true</WillWipeDisk>
    </Disk>
    </DiskConfiguration>
    <ImageInstall>
    <OSImage>
    <InstallTo>
    <DiskID>0</DiskID>
    <PartitionID>4</PartitionID>
    </InstallTo>
    </OSImage>
    </ImageInstall>
    <UserData>
    <ProductKey>
    <Key>VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T</Key>
    </ProductKey>
    <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
    <Organization>Blockhouse</Organization>
    </UserData>
    </component>
    </settings>
    <cpifflineImage cpi:source="wim:c:/install.wim#Windows 10 Pro" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
    </unattend>
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 4,187
    Windows 11 Pro, 22H2
       #2

    @DarkArmy, welcome to TenForums.

    So far, the only thing that I see that looks odd to me is that you have 2 references to "wow64" in your answer file. I believe that those should both be "amd64". Could you possibly try making that change and see if that helps?

    Thanks!

    Update: I looked into this a little further. Those 2 lines should read "x86" if you are performing a 32-bit install on a 32-bit system, "amd64" for a 64-bit install on a 64-bit system, and "wow64" if you are performing a 32-bit install on a 64-bit system (not sure why you would want to do that).
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 4,187
    Windows 11 Pro, 22H2
       #3

    Found another issue:

    You seem to be missing a portion of the definition for partition 4, specifically, you should be extending that partition like this:

    Code:
                            <CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
                                <Extend>true</Extend>
                                <Order>4</Order>
                                <Type>Primary</Type>
                            </CreatePartition>
    Note that you are missing the "extend" section.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 27
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #4

    I used System Image Manager and It looks like when it created the file it changed it to wow64?? However this fixed the issue and its working. thank you for welcoming me to the forum. I am looking forward into contributing and utilizing the platform. Also thank you very much for answering quickly!
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 4,187
    Windows 11 Pro, 22H2
       #5

    @DarkArmy, glad to able to help. Looking forward to seeing you on the forum.

    That's rather interesting. Not sure how you ended up with that wow64 string. I'm going to be doing some testing in a few days. When I do that I'll try to keep a lookout to see if I notice anything that could account for that. If I find anything I'll let you know.

    Out of curiosity, is everything in your workflow 64-bit? The Technician System, the Reference System, the Windows images that you are working with?

    You might also want to see if @Kari (the author of the Tutorial you were following) has any thoughts on what could cause that. Kari is an absolute genius with this stuff!
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 27
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Yep, everything is 64-bit and yes I've been referencing his tutorials which are absolutely life saving!
      My Computer


 

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