Create media for automated unattended install of Windows 10

Kari · 07 May 2019

hsehestedt said:

However, let's say that I update my Windows ISO image by injecting the latest Windows updates into it. Will that same catalog file still be valid, so long as it is still the same Windows feature release, or is simply adding Windows updates enough of a change that the catalog file needs to be regenerated?

You can always use the same catalog file. To create answer files for current 19H1 version and Insider builds for 20H1 version which will be released first half of 2020, I am still using a catalog file I have originally made for version 1803 PRO edition, and I am using it also for answer files for Education and Enterprise editions.

Of course, new Windows versions might deprecate some old settings. Using an old catalog file is therefore not recommended, you should create a new one after the biannual release of new Windows version. I use old catalog knowing the small risk involved, but I really recommend you to create a new one for each new Windows version.

Catalog file is only required for editing / creating answer files in Windows SIM. It's purpose is to tell Windows SIM which components should be made available.

Reference to catalog file is the second to last line in answer file:

Code:

<cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="catalog://agm-w10pro03/storage/install_windows 10 pro.clg" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />

This line can be deleted as soon as you have saved the answer file in WSIM. It is not reguired by Windows Setup, and if left in answer file, the line will be ignored when you sysprep WIndows, or run Windows Setup from a sysprepped image.

Kari

hsehestedt · 07 May 2019

Thanks greatly for such a comprehensive answer!

DEEPDKHI2 · 21 May 2019

Kari--How do you include a second keyboard setup when you prepare the first answer file.

Kari · 21 May 2019

DEEPDKHI2 said:

Kari--How do you include a second keyboard setup when you prepare the first answer file.

If you mean the answer file for Windows Setup, autounattend.xml, you don't. It only tells Windows Setup which language will be used during the installation.

The second answer file, unattend.xml, in that you can also only set one input language (InputLocale). That will be the default keyboard for all user accounts. To add additional languages and keyboard layouts, you will add them normally in Audit Mode, in Settings app, before you sysprep and capture the image. All languages will then be included in your custom image.

Kari

ludwin79 · 05 Jun 2019

Hi Kari,

I am so happy with this post, it works for me so great.

Now I need to update the current imagen from Windows 10 64bit v1803 to v1903. what is the best steps to do this???. Because I tried to run the v1903 update on my current imagen but that image is on audit mode and it is unable to do any update.

or I need to create from zero or repeat all those steps with the new Win version?

Kari said:

You can always use the same catalog file. To create answer files for current 19H1 version and Insider builds for 20H1 version which will be released first half of 2020, I am still using a catalog file I have originally made for version 1803 PRO edition, and I am using it also for answer files for Education and Enterprise editions.

Of course, new Windows versions might deprecate some old settings. Using an old catalog file is therefore not recommended, you should create a new one after the biannual release of new Windows version. I use old catalog knowing the small risk involved, but I really recommend you to create a new one for each new Windows version.

Catalog file is only required for editing / creating answer files in Windows SIM. It's purpose is to tell Windows SIM which components should be made available.

Reference to catalog file is the second to last line in answer file:

Code:

<cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="catalog://agm-w10pro03/storage/install_windows 10 pro.clg" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />

This line can be deleted as soon as you have saved the answer file in WSIM. It is not reguired by Windows Setup, and if left in answer file, the line will be ignored when you sysprep WIndows, or run Windows Setup from a sysprepped image.

Kari

paracord · 16 Jun 2019

I have some issues with this. Let me explain the steps.
I took one media creation tool 1903 iso and extracted the pro version from the esd to a wim. Created a new iso from this.
This iso is used in SIM to create the catalog file and answer files. ADK 1903 seems to have some issues with the x64 so installed another x86 machine just to run SIM.

Two answer files is created.

autounattend.xml and unattend1903.xml

I use Vmware to create the machine with all installed software I want.

I run sysprep first with:
sysprep.exe /generalize /oobe /shutdown /unattend:E:\Prog\unattend1903.xml

From that, the wim is captured and then converted to iso. This is working to install but it will miss product key, eula. I guess it is as it should.

Next. I take the same wim and put the autounnattend.xml and put this in the iso files folder before I create the iso. But now it will fail to install with different errors. I have tried to add generic license key and volume key just to pass without result. I have also tried without key.

I will have to errors. I get a list to choose windows version, where you normally can choose Home, Pro, Pro N but this is empty.

The other error is that it says "Windows cannot read the <productkey> setting from the unattend answer file."

So I´m pretty stuck without the autounattend.xml file for the moment.

autounattend.pdf

unattend1903.pdf

Create media for automated unattended install of Windows 10-choose-os.png

Kari · 16 Jun 2019

paracord said:

ADK 1903 seems to have some issues with the x64.

I will check your answer files later today when I have more time.

In the mean time, Windows SIM in ADK 1903 had some issues in generating x64 catalog files, which Microsoft addressed only a few days ago:

Microsoft Docs said:

Windows System Image Manager known issue

When using Window System Image Manager (SIM), you might encounter errors if the ADK is installed on a device running a 64-bit version of Windows. To create unattended Windows Setup answer files on a 64-bit version of Windows, download the WSIM 1903 update, and follow the included installation instructions.

Quote from https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/win...er-known-issue

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Kari

Kari · 16 Jun 2019

paracord said:

So I´m pretty stuck without the autounattend.xml file for the moment.

OK. After checking your files, I do not know what to say, where to begin!

Your autounattend.xml file is about as wrong as it could be. Please tell if it was created by following instructions on some website, and if yes, please post a link to it. I mean, it is quite clear you have not followed the instructions in this tutorial.

That answer file cannot work. Too much of required information is missing, and information given has been given wrong.

Please follow the steps 3.1 through 3.21 in this tutorial to see what is required to make a working autounattend.xml file.

Kari

hsehestedt · 16 Jun 2019

The other answer file, the unattend.xml is also way off. It has an entire pass, the Windows PE pass, that should not even be there. Most of those settings, such as the Locale information, should appear in the "oobeSystem" pass.

Kari · 16 Jun 2019

hsehestedt said:

The other answer file, the unattend.xml is also way off. It has an entire pass, the Windows PE pass, that should not even be there. Most of those settings, such as the Locale information, should appear in the "oobeSystem" pass.

Well spotted.

I must admit how lazy I was: I checked first the autounattend.xml, saw how terribly wrong it was, and didn't bother to check the other file before replying.

Kari