Windows 7 AIK, New Setup

So I'm trying to build a Windows 7 AIK image / answer file, but running into some problems.

Before I get to involved, is the following even possible?

- Create a Windows 7 install image or answer file that will install windows
- skip all dialogs
- once installed, automatically go get any/all updates
- install a set of drivers (mobo / video / etc..) (I believe I saw in googling that I could add the .inf's as part of the AIK, so I may have stated it incorrectly, but the effect is what i'm going for)
- install a set of programs
- reset to OOBE when done

Welcome Zxurian,

Zxurian said:

- Create a Windows 7 install image or answer file that will install windows
- skip all dialogs
- once installed, automatically go get any/all updates
- install a set of drivers (mobo / video / etc..) (I believe I saw in googling that I could add the .inf's as part of the AIK, so I may have stated it incorrectly, but the effect is what i'm going for)
- install a set of programs
- reset to OOBE when done

Yes it's possible,
but I'm not sure what you mean by skip all dialogs?

codekiddy said:

Welcome Zxurian,

Zxurian said:

- Create a Windows 7 install image or answer file that will install windows
- skip all dialogs
- once installed, automatically go get any/all updates
- install a set of drivers (mobo / video / etc..) (I believe I saw in googling that I could add the .inf's as part of the AIK, so I may have stated it incorrectly, but the effect is what i'm going for)
- install a set of programs
- reset to OOBE when done

Yes it's possible,
but I'm not sure what you mean by skip all dialogs?

Mainly be able to insert DVD, (and USB flash drive if necessary), turn system on, and let it do its thing, so that when it's done, it's fully patched, all programs installed, drivers updated, etc.. without me having to intervene at any point.

Yes that's possible to, but the cost is that you'll have to create image wich will be prepaired for exact hardware.
that means, image can't be installed on any computer/laptop except those targeted.

if you create image on toshiba satellite P300D for example, then that image will be ready only for that series of laptops.(if I remember correctly)

this is called sysprep,
have a look:
How Sysprep Works

also see technet library if you wanna learn all:
Phase 4: Image Deployment

codekiddy said:

Yes that's possible to, but the cost is that you'll have to create image wich will be prepaired for exact hardware.
that means, image can't be installed on any computer/laptop except those targeted.

if you create image on toshiba satellite P300D for example, then that image will be ready only for that series of laptops.(if I remember correctly)

this is called sysprep,
have a look:
How Sysprep Works

also see technet library if you wanna learn all:
Phase 4: Image Deployment

Yup, I was planning on that. We have 3 different builds that we sell, so I'd make 3 different install images.

Seems I'm getting stuck on the initial setup though, I followed the readme that comes with the Microsoft Windows 7 AIK download, leading me to an answer file of http://pastebin.com/hRg1qC64 that i copied to USB root /autounattend.xml, but trying to boot with the Windows 7 x64 OEM DVD is still stopping on the initial language select dialog.

sorry, I've newer worked with answer file but just found an interesting link describing this:
Sysprep a Windows 7 Machine
scrol down to step #6

Last time when setting up my own image I've folowed thechnet library for reference and I didn't need work around answer file at all

codekiddy said:

sorry, I've newer worked with answer file but just found an interesting link describing this:
Sysprep a Windows 7 Machine
scrol down to step #6

Last time when setting up my own image I've folowed thechnet library for reference and I didn't need work around answer file at all

Thanks for the assistance.

Do you have a link to the technet library reference you used, or is that what you linked earlier?

technet has changed a little and I can't find exact link

anyway, install windows 7, boot it,(look the video) install other stuff .... once you install all the software, drivers, service pack and all that stuff into windows folow this video to capture the image:
Build a Windows 7 Image - Sysprep, ImageX, Deployment | TechNet

EDIT:
Here is another cool video to follow once you have the captured image.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dd320282

codekiddy said:

technet has changed a little and I can't find exact link

anyway, install windows 7, boot it,(look the video) install other stuff .... once you install all the software, drivers, service pack and all that stuff into windows folow this video to capture the image:
Build a Windows 7 Image - Sysprep, ImageX, Deployment | TechNet

EDIT:
Here is another cool video to follow once you have the captured image.
Windows 7 Videos - Deployment, Migration, Compatibility | TechNet

thanks for the link!

sysprep does alot for what I was going for, the only question I have left is after you prep a windows install, is it possible to have it auto-search for any newer updates since the time the image was made?

Yes, of course.
once you install "sysprep-ed" windows, it will be able to download new updates.
If that's what you tought.

also once captured image(sysprep-ed windows) can be upgraded furthermore but on the same machine only.
but I've never test that