Win10 20H2 WDS Unattended installation, stops after creating partition

Hello guys, I wanna create a fully automatic WDS installation.
The image I had was syspreped some time ago without any unattended file, so I am using the WDS options to add my XML files which I create using WSIM.

I can bypass Login details and image selection from server, it does create 2 partitions (System & Windows) (Bios is set to Legacy)
But it won't install automatically , I need to select the second partition and install from there.
If I delete all partitions created by my xml, it won't install at all.

I have two files, one for WinPE and one for OOBE etc.
First one is deployed in Server properties -> Client-> Enable unattended installation (I set my PE.XML to all 6 architectures.
Windows XML file is deployed through Image Properties -> Allow image to install in unattended mode.
(Windows XML works perfectly fine, I skip everything and autolog in Windows with my fresh account).


This is my WinPE file

Code:

<?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>de-DE</UILanguage>
                <WillShowUI>Never</WillShowUI>
            </SetupUILanguage>
            <InputLocale>de-DE</InputLocale>
            <SystemLocale>de-DE</SystemLocale>
            <UILanguage>de-DE</UILanguage>
            <UILanguageFallback>en-US</UILanguageFallback>
            <UserLocale>de-DE</UserLocale>
        </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">
            <DiskConfiguration>
                <Disk wcm:action="add">
                    <CreatePartitions>
                        <CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
                            <Extend>false</Extend>
                            <Order>1</Order>
                            <Type>Primary</Type>
                            <Size>500</Size>
                        </CreatePartition>
                        <CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
                            <Extend>true</Extend>
                            <Order>2</Order>
                            <Type>Primary</Type>
                        </CreatePartition>
                    </CreatePartitions>
                    <ModifyPartitions>
                        <ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
                            <Active>true</Active>
                            <Format>NTFS</Format>
                            <Label>SYSTEM</Label>
                            <Order>1</Order>
                            <PartitionID>1</PartitionID>
                        </ModifyPartition>
                        <ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
                            <Format>NTFS</Format>
                            <Label>Windows</Label>
                            <Letter>C</Letter>
                            <Order>2</Order>
                            <PartitionID>2</PartitionID>
                            <Active>false</Active>
                        </ModifyPartition>
                    </ModifyPartitions>
                    <DiskID>0</DiskID>
                    <WillWipeDisk>true</WillWipeDisk>
                </Disk>
                <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
            </DiskConfiguration>
            <WindowsDeploymentServices>
                <Login>
                    <Credentials>
                        <Domain>domain</Domain>
                        <Password>password</Password>
                        <Username>Administrator</Username>
                    </Credentials>
                </Login>
                <ImageSelection>
                    <InstallImage>
                        <Filename>V31.wim</Filename>
                        <ImageGroup>ImageGroup1</ImageGroup>
                        <ImageName>V31</ImageName>
                    </InstallImage>
                </ImageSelection>
            </WindowsDeploymentServices>
            <ImageInstall>
                <OSImage>
                    <InstallTo>
                        <DiskID>0</DiskID>
                        <PartitionID>2</PartitionID>
                    </InstallTo>
                </OSImage>
            </ImageInstall>
            <UserData>
                <ProductKey>
                    <Key>VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T</Key>
                </ProductKey>
                <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
                <Organization>HOMEOFFICE</Organization>
            </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">
            <AutoLogon>
                <Password>
                    <Value>password</Value>
                    <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                </Password>
                <Username>Username</Username>
                <Enabled>true</Enabled>
            </AutoLogon>
            <ProductKey>VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T</ProductKey>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="wim:c:/users/user/desktop/v31.wim#v31" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

So far the only thing I see that has me wondering is this entry:

<Active>false</Active>

I may be wrong about this, but could you try removing that line and see what happens?

Hi,

I'm far from an expert with this, but this is working for me.

Code:

<DiskConfiguration>
<Disk wcm:action="add">
<CreatePartitions>
<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
<Order>1</Order>
<Type>Primary</Type>
<Size>500</Size>
</CreatePartition>
<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
<Extend>true</Extend>
<Order>2</Order>
<Type>Primary</Type>
</CreatePartition>
</CreatePartitions>
<ModifyPartitions>
<ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
<Active>true</Active>
<Format>NTFS</Format>
<Label>System Reserved</Label>
<Order>1</Order>
<PartitionID>1</PartitionID>
<TypeID>0x27</TypeID>
</ModifyPartition>
<ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
<Active>true</Active>
<Format>NTFS</Format>
<Label>Windows10</Label>
<Letter>C</Letter>
<Order>2</Order>
<PartitionID>2</PartitionID>
</ModifyPartition>
</ModifyPartitions>
<DiskID>0</DiskID>
<WillWipeDisk>true</WillWipeDisk>
</Disk>
</DiskConfiguration>

<ImageInstall>
<OSImage>
<InstallTo>
<DiskID>0</DiskID>
<PartitionID>2</PartitionID>
</InstallTo>
<InstallToAvailablePartition>false</InstallToAvailablePartition>
</OSImage>
</ImageInstall>

Both partition must be Active and System partition must be a Windows RE hidden type

hsehestedt said:

So far the only thing I see that has me wondering is this entry:

<Active>false</Active>

I may be wrong about this, but could you try removing that line and see what happens?

I tried removing the line and then removing active true from the first partition but nothing.

So my problem now is that if I have a formated HDD, I boot with F12, I get immidiatelly to the Disk Configuration page, I press next to install in the one and only partition, then I get an error saying that this partition could not be prepared.
I reboot F12 again, then I can see the 2 partitions made up by my XML, I select the second one, click next and then everything is perfect.
Any other ideas? So strange.

- - - Updated - - -

MaloK said:

Hi,

I'm far from an expert with this, but this is working for me.
Both partition must be Active and System partition must be a Windows RE hidden type

I just copy-pasted your script in my XML and I get the same Results
I need to install in the empty drive, then I get error, re-enter the setup and the partition with the names you declared in the xml are shown with a little bit of data in them, then I have to go to the second partition to continue my setup, I am so confused.

trying to compare with my file I think you are missing some other info

Microsoft-Windows-Setup\ImageInstall\OSImage\InstallTo\DiskID = Diskpart number of disk where Windows to be installed

Microsoft-Windows-Setup\ImageInstall\OSImage\InstallTo\PartitionID = Diskpart number of partition where Windows to be installed

Microsoft-Windows-Setup\ImageInstall\OSImage\WillShowUI = On Error or Never

Can you re-post the script you have at the moment.

Have you seen this thread. AutoUnattend.xml Partitioning Failure It may give you some ideas.

Question: Are you sure that your system is BIOS based and not UEFI based?

Note that having legacy mode or the CSM (Compatibility Support Module) module enabled is not the same thing as having a true BIOS based system. If you install Windows manually, how does Windows configure the drive?

hsehestedt said:

Question: Are you sure that your system is BIOS based and not UEFI based?

Note that having legacy mode or the CSM (Compatibility Support Module) module enabled is not the same thing as having a true BIOS based system. If you install Windows manually, how does Windows configure the drive?

My previous installs have a System Reserved of 500mb, and the windows partition.
Those are some Dell Optiplex 390 SFF mostly, which in their Boot sequence page show as Legacy.
How can I figure out if my system is a true bios one? It has both options, but we are using Legacy.
Image from Google:
https://static.spiceworks.com/shared...oot_Select.png

MaloK said:

trying to compare with my file I think you are missing some other info

Microsoft-Windows-Setup\ImageInstall\OSImage\InstallTo\DiskID = Diskpart number of disk where Windows to be installed

Microsoft-Windows-Setup\ImageInstall\OSImage\InstallTo\PartitionID = Diskpart number of partition where Windows to be installed

Microsoft-Windows-Setup\ImageInstall\OSImage\WillShowUI = On Error or Never

Can you re-post the script you have at the moment.

Have you seen this thread. AutoUnattend.xml Partitioning Failure It may give you some ideas.

The two options on top are inside my XML, but their are under the Image Selection lines.
I just added the 3rd one.
Still the same thing, it won't create partitions unless I try to setup in the one and only, and then reboot to pxe.

This is it currently, and is my only culprit. Everything else is super fine, I even autologin after setup is over thank to @hsehestedt post somewhere in this forum I think:

Code:

<?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>de-DE</UILanguage>
                <WillShowUI>Never</WillShowUI>
            </SetupUILanguage>
            <InputLocale>de-DE</InputLocale>
            <SystemLocale>de-DE</SystemLocale>
            <UILanguage>de-DE</UILanguage>
            <UILanguageFallback>en-US</UILanguageFallback>
            <UserLocale>de-DE</UserLocale>
        </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">
            <DiskConfiguration>
                <Disk wcm:action="add">
                    <CreatePartitions>
                        <CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
                            <Order>1</Order>
                            <Type>Primary</Type>
                            <Size>500</Size>
                        </CreatePartition>
                        <CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
                            <Extend>true</Extend>
                            <Order>2</Order>
                            <Type>Primary</Type>
                        </CreatePartition>
                    </CreatePartitions>
                    <ModifyPartitions>
                        <ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
                            <Active>true</Active>
                            <Format>NTFS</Format>
                            <Label>System Reserved</Label>
                            <Order>1</Order>
                            <PartitionID>1</PartitionID>
                            <TypeID>0x27</TypeID>
                        </ModifyPartition>
                        <ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
                            <Active>true</Active>
                            <Format>NTFS</Format>
                            <Label>Windows10</Label>
                            <Letter>C</Letter>
                            <Order>2</Order>
                            <PartitionID>2</PartitionID>
                        </ModifyPartition>
                    </ModifyPartitions>
                    <DiskID>0</DiskID>
                    <WillWipeDisk>true</WillWipeDisk>
                </Disk>
            </DiskConfiguration>
            <ImageInstall>
                <OSImage>
                    <InstallTo>
                        <DiskID>0</DiskID>
                        <PartitionID>2</PartitionID>
                    </InstallTo>
                    <InstallToAvailablePartition>false</InstallToAvailablePartition>
                    <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
                </OSImage>
            </ImageInstall>
            <WindowsDeploymentServices>
                <Login>
                    <Credentials>
                        <Domain>domain</Domain>
                        <Password>password</Password>
                        <Username>Administrator</Username>
                    </Credentials>
                </Login>
                <ImageSelection>
                    <InstallImage>
                        <Filename>V31.wim</Filename>
                        <ImageGroup>ImageGroup1</ImageGroup>
                        <ImageName>V31</ImageName>
                    </InstallImage>
                </ImageSelection>
            </WindowsDeploymentServices>
            <UserData>
                <ProductKey>
                    <Key>VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T</Key>
                </ProductKey>
                <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
                <Organization>HOMEOFFICE</Organization>
            </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">
            <AutoLogon>
                <Password>
                    <Value>password</Value>
                    <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                </Password>
                <Username>username</Username>
                <Enabled>true</Enabled>
            </AutoLogon>
            <ProductKey>VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T</ProductKey>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="wim:c:/users/user/desktop/v31.wim#v31" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

You can gather the files present in Windows\Panther after a failure. Compress them and share them here.

Extacy said:

Hello, I am at the workplace atm where I am doing this deployments.
Would you like to get the panther folder after the setup of windows completes, or is it possible to get them in the WinPE stage so I can get smaller logs?

Yes in the PE phase, after the failure, if you can press shift-f10, to open a cmd promt, the logs will be located in x:\windows\panther