Answers file doesn't seem to trigger a complete silent install

redgunner · 19 May 2017

Hello,

1. I have created a Windows 10 Image in audit mode by press CTRL SHIFT F3

2. I then done a few group policy options and ran sysprep.exe /generalize /oobe /shutdown /unattend:C\windows\system32\sysprep\customize.xml

3. Loaded Windows PE and ran imagex /capture D:\ F:\captured.wim “Windows 7 Enterprise 64bit” /check

4. I opened the ISO for Windows 10 Enterprise x64 and browsed to sources, then deleted the install.wim

5. Copied my capture.wim to this iso and renamed to install.wim

6. Loaded the ISO and it still doesn't recognise my answers file, it appears to be asking me for a language / keyboard

Kari · 19 May 2017

Windows installation is clearly divided in two phases, Windows Setup phase and when it's done the OOBE (Windows Welcome). On a standard installation region and keyboard layout will be asked twice, separately for Setup and OOBE.

Region selection in Setup phase, beginning of installation:

Answers file doesn't seem to trigger a complete silent install-region-setup.jpg

Region selection in OOBE (Windows Welcome) phase, beginning of initial user setup:

Answers file doesn't seem to trigger a complete silent install-region-oobe.jpg

Both Setup and OOBE can and must be automated separately for an unattended install. Apparently you have only made an answer file to be used with Sysprep which only affects OOBE and can only make the it unattended by automating user input in OOBE / Windows Welcome (region, keyboard, privacy settings, user accounts).

A sample unattended answer file to be used with Sysprep to do the above (for x64 Windows 10 EN-GB, region = United Kingdom, default keyboard layout = Finnish):

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
    <settings pass="oobeSystem">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-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">
            <InputLocale>040b:0000040b</InputLocale>
            <SystemLocale>en-GB</SystemLocale>
            <UILanguage>en-GB</UILanguage>
            <UILanguageFallback>en-GB</UILanguageFallback>
            <UserLocale>en-GB</UserLocale>
        </component>
        <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">
            <OOBE>
                <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>
                <HideOEMRegistrationScreen>true</HideOEMRegistrationScreen>
                <HideOnlineAccountScreens>true</HideOnlineAccountScreens>
                <ProtectYourPC>3</ProtectYourPC>
                <UnattendEnableRetailDemo>false</UnattendEnableRetailDemo>
            </OOBE>
            <UserAccounts>
                <LocalAccounts>
                    <LocalAccount wcm:action="add">
                        <Description>Main local admin account</Description>
                        <DisplayName>Admin</DisplayName>
                        <Group>Administrators</Group>
                        <Name>Admin</Name>
                    </LocalAccount>
                    <LocalAccount wcm:action="add">
                        <Description>My daily standard account </Description>
                        <DisplayName>Kari</DisplayName>
                        <Group>Users</Group>
                        <Name>Kari</Name>
                    </LocalAccount>
                    <LocalAccount wcm:action="add">
                        <Password>
                            <Value>UwBvAG0AZQBQAGEAcwBzAHcAbwByAGQAMQAyADMAUABhAHMAcwB3AG8AcgBkAA==</Value>
                            <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                        </Password>
                        <Description>A guest account</Description>
                        <DisplayName>Visitor in Casa Kari</DisplayName>
                        <Group>Guests</Group>
                        <Name>House Guest</Name>
                    </LocalAccount>
                </LocalAccounts>
            </UserAccounts>
            <TimeZone>W. Europe Standard Time</TimeZone>
            <RegisteredOwner>Kari</RegisteredOwner>
            <RegisteredOrganization>ACME Computers</RegisteredOrganization>
        </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">
            <OEMInformation>
                <Logo>C:\Windows\System32\oemlogo.bmp</Logo>
                <Manufacturer>ACME Computers</Manufacturer>
                <SupportHours>24/7</SupportHours>
                <SupportPhone>+44 123 456 789</SupportPhone>
                <SupportURL>http://AcmeMonsterRigs.com</SupportURL>
            </OEMInformation>
            <CopyProfile>true</CopyProfile>
            <OEMName>ACME Computers</OEMName>
            <RegisteredOrganization>ACME</RegisteredOrganization>
            <RegisteredOwner>Kari</RegisteredOwner>
            <TimeZone>W. Europe Standard Time</TimeZone>
        </component>
    </settings>
</unattend>

To make setup phase unattended use another answer file. name it as autounattend.xml and place it on the root of the install media. This answer file automates user input in setup phase (region, EULA, product key, partitioning, installation).

Sample autounattend.xml file for Windows 10 PRO x64 setup on an UEFI based machine with a GPT disk (for x64 Windows 10 EN-GB, region = United Kingdom, default keyboard layout = Finnish):

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>en-GB</UILanguage>
            </SetupUILanguage>
            <InputLocale>040b:0000040b</InputLocale>
            <UILanguage>en-GB</UILanguage>
            <UILanguageFallback>en-GB</UILanguageFallback>
            <UserLocale>en-GB</UserLocale>
            <SystemLocale>en-GB</SystemLocale>
        </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>
                            <Size>450</Size>
                            <Type>Primary</Type>
                        </CreatePartition>
                        <CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
                            <Order>2</Order>
                            <Size>100</Size>
                            <Type>EFI</Type>
                        </CreatePartition>
                        <CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
                            <Order>3</Order>
                            <Size>16</Size>
                            <Type>MSR</Type>
                        </CreatePartition>
                        <CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
                            <Extend>true</Extend>
                            <Order>4</Order>
                            <Type>Primary</Type>
                        </CreatePartition>
                    </CreatePartitions>
                    <ModifyPartitions>
                        <ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
                            <TypeID>DE94BBA4-06D1-4D40-A16A-BFD50179D6AC</TypeID>
                            <Order>1</Order>
                            <PartitionID>1</PartitionID>
                            <Format>NTFS</Format>
                            <Label>WinRE</Label>
                        </ModifyPartition>
                        <ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
                            <Order>2</Order>
                            <PartitionID>2</PartitionID>
                            <Label>System</Label>
                            <Format>FAT32</Format>
                        </ModifyPartition>
                        <ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
                            <Order>3</Order>
                            <PartitionID>3</PartitionID>
                        </ModifyPartition>
                        <ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
                            <Order>4</Order>
                            <PartitionID>4</PartitionID>
                            <Letter>C</Letter>
                            <Label>Windows</Label>
                            <Format>NTFS</Format>
                        </ModifyPartition>
                    </ModifyPartitions>
                    <WillWipeDisk>true</WillWipeDisk>
                    <DiskID>0</DiskID>
                </Disk>
            </DiskConfiguration>
            <UserData>
                <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
                <Organization>ACME Computers</Organization>
                <ProductKey>
                    <Key>VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T</Key>
                </ProductKey>
            </UserData>
            <ImageInstall>
                <OSImage>
                    <InstallTo>
                        <DiskID>0</DiskID>
                        <PartitionID>4</PartitionID>
                    </InstallTo>
                </OSImage>
            </ImageInstall>
        </component>
    </settings>
</unattend>

Both above answer files can be used alone without the other (unattended Setup + attended OOBE or attended Setup + unattended OOBE). For a complete unattended (silent) install you need to use both.

Kari