Apply unattended answer file to Windows 10 install media  

realtebo said:

After committing changes to my .wim file, how can I add to the starting ISO, replacing the .esd file ?

See Part Five in this tutorial: Create Windows 10 ISO image from Existing Installation

Kari

So I have to do a 1903 update for all the systems in my home LAN, and I've put that off because of all the time it takes babysitting each install. The unattended XML approach seems attractive.

Here are my questions. If these questions show that I'm not understanding key parts of the unattended install process, Your Honor I plead Guilty As Charged.

• Can I create just one unattended.xml file that would prompt me for system-specific info like system name but would answer all the questions about timezone, keyboard, language, etc. All systems are 64 bit, and all but 1 are PRO. That other 1 is HOME (but I'm seriously thinking about upgrading to PRO.
• All these installs are updates, but when I read through this thread and others, they perform new installs where they wipe the drive clean. Can I do an update install with unattended.xml?

Danielx64 said:

Is it possible to create an unattended file that will apply 2 msu files and one cab file durning install?

You should add MSU and CAB packages to WIM image after image has been customized, sysprepped and captured. Please see this Microsoft Docs support article: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/win...ws-updates-sxs

I've written a PowerShell script to do it: PowerShell Scripting - Update Windows 10 USB install media

Kari

What brought me to this tutorial is that this one discusses using unattend.xml in the panther folder and that's the method I'm having problems with.

I'm trying to follow the instructions on https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/win...sktop-editions to deploy an OEM customized Windows 10 Pro image but it's not working right.

I found your guide here in hopes for a solution. The Microsoft guide indicates extracting image index 1 (Windows 10 Home) but I need index 6 (Windows 10 Pro), so I extract index 6 to start. But no matter what I do, WINVER reports Windows 10 Enterprise, not Pro.

I have verified the extracted basicimage.wim is Windows 10 Pro using "Dism /Get-ImageInfo" and verified the mounted image is Windows 10 Pro using "Dism /Get-CurrentEdition" and the customized install.wim file with my added drivers and customizations is Windows 10 Pro using "Dism /Get-ImageInfo". I've tried many variations of the default Windows 10 product keys specified in unattend.xml phase 1 and/or 4. I've tried both the default keys; the one beginning with VK7JG- and the key beginning with RHGJR-. I've even tried with no product key at all. The unattend.xml file is set to boot into audit mode. I've even tried using "Dism /Set-Edition:Professional".

I've tried a source image comes from an official Windows 10 Professional 1909 OEM DVD I purchased on Amazon (which has an install.esd file). And I've also tried an Windows 10 Professional 2004 ISO provided by my Microsoft Action Pack Subscription (which has an install.wim file).

The unattend.xml file passes validation. I'm trying to do the minimum necessary things in unattend.xml at this point until I successfully get a Windows 10 Pro installation, so I'm no using any locale options or user account settings. I'm not using any partition information in the unattend.xml file since I am using the diskpart scripts specified in the Microsoft guide so that the recovery partition is at the end of the disk. Here is the (current iteration) of the unattend.xml file:

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
    <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>
                <Manufacturer>MFG</Manufacturer>
                <SupportHours>08:30 - 16:30</SupportHours>
                <SupportPhone>+1 (555) 555-2222</SupportPhone>
                <SupportURL>http://www.mydomain.com</SupportURL>
                <Model>Model</Model>
                <Logo>%windir%\system32\OEM\Logo.bmp</Logo>
            </OEMInformation>
            <CopyProfile>true</CopyProfile>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="windowsPE">
        <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">
            <UserData>
                <ProductKey>
                    <Key>VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T</Key>
                    <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
                </ProductKey>
                <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
                <Organization>Organization</Organization>
            </UserData>
        </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">
            <OOBE>
                <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>
                <HideOEMRegistrationScreen>true</HideOEMRegistrationScreen>
                <HideOnlineAccountScreens>true</HideOnlineAccountScreens>
                <HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>true</HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>
                <ProtectYourPC>3</ProtectYourPC>
                <UnattendEnableRetailDemo>false</UnattendEnableRetailDemo>
            </OOBE>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="wim://3rs8532/cmodel1/source/install.wim#Windows 10 Pro" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

Because I've now had to remake the image over a dozen times to try various unattend.xml and source image combinations, I've written a script that automates creating the custom install.wim file. Here is that make.cmd file:

Code:

@echo off
If "%model%" == "" Set model=%cd%

rem Set this to the source index for Windows 10 Pro within the ISO's install.wim or install.esd file.
rem When specifying an install esd file you may need to use windows_source_compress or the extraction may fail.
set windows_source=%model%\source\install.wim
set windows_source_index=6
rem set windows_source_compress=/Compress:max

rem If preinstall_drivers using offline services is set to Y then all drivers with INF files in the Drivers folder will be preinstalled into the running image using Dism Add-Driver /Recurse.
set preinstall_drivers=N

if "%1" == "clean" goto CLEAN
if "%1" == "build" goto BUILD
if "%1" == "install" goto INSTALL
if "%1" == "help" goto HELP

echo USAGE
echo.
echo %0 parameter [ CLEAN ^| BUILD ^| INSTALL ^| HELP ]
echo.
GOTO END

:HELP
echo ** * * ALERT: You must run this script from Deployment and imaging tools environment started in Administrator mode
echo.
echo Prepare your technician PC:
echo.
echo 1. Install Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK)
echo    https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2120254
echo.
echo 2. Install Windows PE Add-On
echo    https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2120253
echo.
echo 3. Create a working folder for this model with subfolders as follows.
echo.   If the working folder for this model is C:\model1\ you will have the following folder tree:
echo.
echo.     C:\model1\		- Place this make file here.
echo.     C:\model1\Source\	- Place the original install.wim file here.
echo.     C:\model1\Source\	- Also place your custom unattend.xml file here.
echo.     C:\model1\Logos\	- Place your OEM 120x120 pixel logo.bmp and logo.png file here.
echo.     C:\model1\Drivers\	- Place all model specific drivers here.
echo.     C:\model1\USB-B\	- Extract the contents of the USB-B-1803.ZIP here.
echo.
echo      NOTE: USB-B-1803.ZIP can be found at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=872894
echo.
echo NOTE: The Windows ADK version must match the Windows source version. i.e. If The Windows source is version 2004, then the Windows ADK must also be for version 2004.
echo Also, CD to the root folder of hte model before running this command.
GOTO END

:BUILD
echo *****************************************
echo ** Checking for required files         **
echo *****************************************
if not exist "%windows_source%" (
  echo FILE NOT FOUND ERROR: "%windows_source%"
  echo Edit this script and change the ^%windows_source^% setting
  GOTO HELPNEXT
)
if not exist "%model%\Source\Unattend.xml" (
  Echo FILE NOT FOUND ERROR: "%model%\Source\Unattend.xml"
  GOTO HELPNEXT
)
if not exist "%model%\Logos\logo.*" (
  Echo FILE NOT FOUND ERROR: "%model%\Logos\logo.*"
  GOTO HELPNEXT
)
echo OK
GOTO BUILDNEXT

:HELPNEXT
GOTO HELP

:BUILDNEXT
echo *****************************************
echo ** Prepare WinPE image                 **
echo *****************************************

echo ** Prepare WinPE files
call copype amd64 "%model%\winpe_amd64"

echo ** Mount your WinPE image
if not exist "%model%\winpe_amd64\mount" md "%model%\winpe_amd64\mount"
Dism /mount-image /imagefile:"%model%\WinPE_amd64\media\sources\boot.wim" /index:1 /mountdir:"%model%\winpe_amd64\mount"
if errorlevel 1 goto ERROR

echo ** Add drivers to WinPE (If needed).
rem Not needed for this model

echo ** Set the power scheme to high-performance
echo powercfg /s 8c5e7fda-e8bf-4a96-9a85-a6e23a8c635c >> "%model%\Winpe_amd64\mount\windows\system32\startnet.cmd"

echo ** Cleanup your WinPE image
Dism /image:"%model%\winpe_amd64\mount" /Cleanup-image /StartComponentCleanup
if errorlevel 1 goto ERROR

echo ** Commit your changes and unmount your image
Dism /unmount-image /mountdir:"%model%\winpe_amd64\mount" /commit
if errorlevel 1 goto ERROR
if exist "%model%\winpe_amd64\media\sources\boot2.wim" del "%model%\winpe_amd64\media\sources\boot2.wim"
Dism /export-image /sourceimagefile:"%model%\winpe_amd64\media\sources\boot.wim" /sourceindex:1 /DestinationImageFile:"%model%\winpe_amd64\mount\boot2.wim"
if errorlevel 1 goto ERROR
del "%model%\winpe_amd64\media\sources\boot.wim" /q
copy /y "%model%\winpe_amd64\mount\boot2.wim" "%model%\winpe_amd64\media\sources\boot.wim"

echo *****************************************
echo ** Customize your Windows image        **
echo *****************************************

md "%model%\images"

echo ** Extract image
Dism /Get-ImageInfo /imagefile:"%windows_source%"
if errorlevel 1 goto ERROR
Dism /export-image /sourceimagefile:"%windows_source%" /sourceindex:%windows_source_index% /destinationimagefile:"%model%\images\basicimage.wim" %windows_source_compress% /CheckIntegrity
if errorlevel 1 goto ERROR
if not exist "%model%\images\basicimage.wim" goto ERROR

echo ** Verify image edition
Dism /Get-ImageInfo /ImageFile:"%model%\images\basicimage.wim"
if errorlevel 1 goto ERROR
echo ALERT: Verify that the image is for Windows 10 Pro

echo ** Mount the Windows image
Md "%model%\mount"
Md "%model%\mount\windows"
Dism /Mount-Wim /WimFile:"%model%\images\basicimage.wim" /index:1 /MountDir:"%model%\mount\windows"
if errorlevel 1 goto ERROR
if not exist "%model%\mount\windows\windows\*" goto ERROR

echo ** Verify the Windows edition
Dism /Get-CurrentEdition /Image:"%model%\mount\windows"
if errorlevel 1 goto ERROR
echo ALERT: Verify that the image is for Windows 10 Pro

echo ** Mount your WinRE image
Md "%model%\mount\winre"
Dism /Mount-Wim /WimFile:"%model%\mount\windows\Windows\System32\Recovery\winre.wim" /index:1 /MountDir:"%model%\mount\winre"
if errorlevel 1 goto ERROR

echo ** Add drivers to your Windows image
If "%preinstall_drivers%"=="Y" Dism /Add-Driver /Image:"%model%\mount\windows" /Driver:"%model%\drivers" /Recurse
XCopy /s /e /y /q "%model%\Drivers\*" "%model%\mount\windows\drivers\"

echo ** Add drivers to your WinRE image
If "%preinstall_drivers%"=="Y" Dism /Add-Driver /Image:"%model%\mount\winre" /Driver:"%model%\drivers" /Recurse

rem echo ** Set the Windows edition
rem Dism /Set-Edition:Professional /Image:"%model%\mount\windows"
rem if errorlevel 1 goto ERROR
rem echo ALERT: Verify that the image is for Windows 10 Pro

echo ** Add additional customizations
if exist "%model%\customize.cmd" call "%model%\customize.cmd"

echo ** Make an answer file using Windows System Image Manager (WSIM).
if not exist "%model%\mount\windows\Windows\panther" md "%model%\mount\windows\Windows\panther"
copy /y "%model%\Source\Unattend.xml" "%model%\Mount\Windows\Windows\Panther"
if not exist "%model%\Mount\Windows\Windows\System32\OEM" md "%model%\Mount\Windows\Windows\System32\OEM"
copy /y "%model%\Logos\logo.*" "%model%\Mount\Windows\Windows\System32\OEM"

echo ** Keep Windows settings through a recovery
md "%model%\Mount\Windows\Recovery\OEM"
copy /y "%model%\Source\Unattend.xml" "%model%\Mount\Windows\Recovery\OEM"
xcopy /s /e /y "%model%\Mount\Windows\Sytem32\OOBE\*" "%model%\Mount\Windows\Recovery\OEM\OOBE\"
copy /y "%model%\USB-B\Recovery\RecoveryImage\ResetConfig.xml" "%model%\Mount\Windows\Recovery\OEM"
copy /y "%model%\USB-B\Recovery\RecoveryImage\EnableCustomizations.cmd" "%model%\Mount\Windows\Recovery\OEM"

echo ** Prepare the ScanState tool
xcopy /E /Y /Q "C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Assessment and Deployment Kit\User State Migration Tool\amd64" "%model%\USB-B\ScanState_amd64"
xcopy /E /Y /Q "C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Windows Setup\amd64\Sources" "%model%\USB-B\ScanState_amd64"

echo ** Optimize WinRE (part 1)
Dism /image:"%model%\mount\winre" /set-scratchspace:512
if errorlevel 1 goto ERROR
Dism /image:"%model%\mount\winre" /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase
if errorlevel 1 goto ERROR

echo ** Unmount your images
Dism /Unmount-Image /MountDir:"%model%\mount\winre" /Commit
if errorlevel 1 goto ERROR
attrib -h -a -s "%model%\mount\windows\windows\system32\recovery\winre.wim"
Dism /export-image /sourceimagefile:"%model%\mount\windows\windows\system32\recovery\winre.wim" /sourceindex:1 /DestinationImageFile:"%model%\images\winre_bak.wim"
if errorlevel 1 goto ERROR
Del "%model%\mount\windows\windows\system32\recovery\winre.wim"
Copy /y "%model%\images\winre_bak.wim" "%model%\mount\windows\windows\system32\recovery\winre.wim"
Dism /Image:"%model%\mount\windows" /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup
if errorlevel 1 goto ERROR
Dism /Unmount-Image /MountDir:"%model%\mount\windows" /Commit
if errorlevel 1 goto ERROR
Dism /Export-Image /SourceImageFile:"%model%\Images\basicimage.wim" /SourceIndex:1 /DestinationImageFile:"%model%\Images\install.wim"
if errorlevel 1 goto ERROR

Dism /Get-ImageInfo /imagefile:"%model%\Images\install.wim"
if errorlevel 1 goto ERROR

Dir "%model%\images\winre_bak.wim"
echo * * * ALERT: Edit the following files to make sure the recovery partition is at least 1000 MB larger than the size of winre_bak.wim
echo - "%model%\USB-B\Recovery\RecoveryImage\ResetPartitions-UEFI.txt
echo - "%model%\USB-B\Deployment\CreatePartitions-BIOS.txt
echo - "%model%\USB-B\Deployment\CreatePartitions-UEFI.txt
echo - "%model%\USB-B\Deployment\CreateRecoveryPartitions-BIOS.txt
echo - "%model%\USB-B\Deployment\CreateRecoveryPartitions-UEFI.txt
pause

GOTO END

:INSTALL
echo Prepare the USB drive as follows:
echo.
echo 1. Format the USB drive using the following process:
echo.
echo    diskpart
echo    list disk
echo    select [disk number]
echo    clean
echo    rem === Create the Windows PE partition. ===
echo    create partition primary size=2000
echo    format quick fs=fat32 label="WinPE"
echo    assign letter=P
echo    active
echo    rem === Create a data partition. ===
echo    create partition primary
echo    format fs=ntfs quick label="USB-B"
echo    assign letter=O
echo    list vol
echo    exit
echo.
echo 2. The USB drive's partitions must be mounted as P: "WinPE" and O: "USB-B".
echo.
pause

echo *****************************************
echo ** Prepare USB drive                   **
echo *****************************************
echo ** Create a bootable WinPE drive
call MakeWinPEMedia /UFD "%model%\winpe_amd64" P:

echo ** Create USB-B drive
XCopy /s /e /y /q "%model%\USB-B\*" O:\
copy /y "%model%\images\install.wim" O:\images
copy /y "%model%\images\winre_bak.wim" O:\images

echo Boot the target PC and enter the commands:
echo ^> D:
echo ^> cd Deployment
echo ^> ApplyImage D:\Images\install.wim
echo Select Y , Y , N and N to the prompts
echo After complete, remove usb drive and type exit to reboot.
echo.
echo DONE
GOTO END

:CLEAN
echo *****************************************
echo ** Cleaning build files                **
echo *****************************************
if exist "%model%\winpe_amd64" (
  echo Cleaning "%model%\winpe_amd64"
  Dism /unmount-image /mountdir:"%model%\winpe_amd64\mount" /discard > nul
  Dism /unmount-image /mountdir:"%model%\winpe_amd64\mount" > nul
  Rmdir /s /q "%model%\winpe_amd64"
)
if exist "%model%\mount\winre" (
  echo Cleaning "%model%\mount\winre"
  Dism /unmount-image /mountdir:"%model%\mount\winre" /discard > nul
  Dism /unmount-image /mountdir:"%model%\mount\winre" > nul
  Rmdir /s /q "%model%\mount\winre"
)
if exist "%model%\mount\windows" (
  echo Cleaning "%model%\mount\windows"
  Dism /unmount-image /mountdir:"%model%\mount\windows" /discard > nul
  Dism /unmount-image /mountdir:"%model%\mount\windows" > nul
  Rmdir /s /q "%model%\mount\windows"
)
if exist "%model%\mount" (
  echo Cleaning "%model%\mount"
  Rmdir /s /q "%model%\mount"
)
if exist "%model%\images" (
  echo Cleaning "%model%\images"
  Rmdir /s /q "%model%\images"
)
GOTO END

:ERROR
:END
rem Based on https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/oem-deployment-of-windows-10-for-desktop-editions

Hopefully someone can help me identify the problem.

- - - Updated - - -

It figures that after 20 hours of failed attempts and then I post the question, then I start getting Win 10 Pro installations working. Sigh. I don't know what specific change resolve it, yet.

Dism /Mount-Image /ImageFile:X:\Sources\install.wim /Index:6 /MountDir:C:\Mount

Again, replace the X:\ in /ImageFile switch with actual drive letter for your USB media, or path to folder containing files copied from ISO image. Also, replace the index number with index of your preferred Windows edition:

I have an ISO image here :D: \ ISO_Files", which will be the command:

ImageFile:X:

Thank you so much for your help.

Ahaaaaa I got it:

Dism /Mount-Image /ImageFile:D:\ISO_Files\Sources /Index:1 /MountDir:C:\Mount

Great tutorial, so long I searched, much thanks.