Solved Really need help with Windows 7 unattend.xml file for Windows 7 deploy

[computergal]

Hi,
I am in charge of creating the Windows 7 image to deploy to about 150 computers, and I am about to lose my job because I can't get this going. We are not using a server, and because of our slow network, I would like to have everything on a flashdrive so we don't use the network. I installed WAIK and have been working on the AutoUnattend.xml (using SIM) for days, and I can't get it to work correctly. I created a 'Configuration Set' on my flash drive after finishing the AutoUnattend file, and have 2 out-of-box drivers, and 3 applications that I would like to install as a test (many more to come). It seems to pick up the AutoUnattend file, (doesn't ask me any questions) but when it finishes installing windows, none of my applications are installed, and when I restart after exiting from the Sysprep box, it asks me what language I want to use. Could anyone look at my AutoUnattend file and tell me what I am doing wrong?

It looks like the Configuration Set only created one folder named AutoUnattend_Files with my 2 drivers and my AutoUnattend.xml, but no $OEM$ Folders at all (where I put the applications). Maybe I should not have created the Configuration Set. I saved a copy of the unattend.xml file before I created the Configuration Set. Here is the AutoUnattend.xml after I created the Configuration Set:

<?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="x86" 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-us</UILanguage>
</SetupUILanguage>
<InputLocale>en-us</InputLocale>
<SystemLocale>en-us</SystemLocale>
<UILanguage>en-us</UILanguage>
<UserLocale>en-us</UserLocale>
</component>
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" 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>
<Extend>true</Extend>
<Type>Primary</Type>
</CreatePartition>
</CreatePartitions>
<ModifyPartitions>
<ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
<Active>true</Active>
<Format>NTFS</Format>
<Label>Windows 7</Label>
<Letter>C</Letter>
<PartitionID>1</PartitionID>
<Order>1</Order>
</ModifyPartition>
</ModifyPartitions>
<DiskID>0</DiskID>
<WillWipeDisk>true</WillWipeDisk>
</Disk>
<WillShowUI>Never</WillShowUI>
</DiskConfiguration>
<ImageInstall>
<OSImage>
<InstallTo>
<DiskID>0</DiskID>
<PartitionID>1</PartitionID>
</InstallTo>
<InstallToAvailablePartition>false</InstallToAvailablePartition>
<WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
</OSImage>
</ImageInstall>
<UserData>
<AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
</UserData>
<UseConfigurationSet>true</UseConfigurationSet>
</component>
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-PnpCustomizationsWinPE" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<DriverPaths>
<PathAndCredentials wcm:keyValue="c9dc93d" wcm:action="add">
<Path>%configsetroot%\AutoUnattend_Files\win7\Out-of-Box Drivers\LAN_Realtek_v.7.003.0522.2009_Win7x86</Path>
</PathAndCredentials>
<PathAndCredentials wcm:keyValue="6b0433dc" wcm:action="add">
<Path>%configsetroot%\AutoUnattend_Files\win7\Out-of-Box Drivers\Chipset_Intel_v.9.1.1.1015_Win7x86</Path>
</PathAndCredentials>
</DriverPaths>
</component>
</settings>
<settings pass="specialize">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-IE-InternetExplorer" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<Home_Page>REMOVED</Home_Page>
</component>
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" 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>bgBAAHcAcwBwAEAAcABAAHIAcwBQAGEAcwBzAHcAbwByAGQA</Value>
<PlainText>false</PlainText>
</Password>
<Domain>REMOVED</Domain>
<Enabled>true</Enabled>
<LogonCount>4</LogonCount>
<Username>administrator</Username>
</AutoLogon>
<DisableAutoDaylightTimeSet>true</DisableAutoDaylightTimeSet>
<TimeZone>Eastern Standard Time</TimeZone>
<CopyProfile>true</CopyProfile>
<RegisteredOrganization>REMOVED</RegisteredOrganization>
<ComputerName>TEST2</ComputerName>
<ProductKey>REMOVED</ProductKey>
<RegisteredOwner></RegisteredOwner>
<ShowWindowsLive>false</ShowWindowsLive>
</component>
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-UnattendedJoin" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<Identification>
<Credentials>
<Domain></Domain>
<Password></Password>
<Username></Username>
</Credentials>
<UnsecureJoin>false</UnsecureJoin>
<JoinWorkgroup>Workgroup</JoinWorkgroup>
</Identification>
</component>
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Deployment" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<RunSynchronous>
<RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
<Path>net user administrator /active:yes</Path>
<Order>1</Order>
</RunSynchronousCommand>
</RunSynchronous>
</component>
</settings>
<settings pass="oobeSystem">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Deployment" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<Reseal>
<Mode>Audit</Mode>
</Reseal>
</component>
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" 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>
<ProtectYourPC>3</ProtectYourPC>
<NetworkLocation>Work</NetworkLocation>
</OOBE>
<UserAccounts>
<AdministratorPassword>
<Value>bgBAAHcAcwBwAEAAcABAAHIAcwBBAGQAbQBpAG4AaQBzAHQAcgBhAHQAbwByAFAAYQBzAHMAdwBvAHIAZAA=</Value>
<PlainText>false</PlainText>
</AdministratorPassword>
</UserAccounts>
<FirstLogonCommands>
<SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
<Order>1</Order>
<CommandLine>C:\win7\$OEM$ Folders\App1-FFX\Firefox Setup Stub 30.0.exe</CommandLine>
</SynchronousCommand>
<SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
<Order>2</Order>
<CommandLine>C:\win7\$OEM$ Folders\App2-MSupdater\windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe</CommandLine>
</SynchronousCommand>
<SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
<Order>3</Order>
<CommandLine>C:\win7\$OEM$ Folders\Adobe-Reader\install_reader11_en_gtbd_chrd_dn_aaa_aih.exe</CommandLine>
</SynchronousCommand>
</FirstLogonCommands>
</component>
</settings>
<settings pass="generalize">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-PnpSysprep" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<PersistAllDeviceInstalls>true</PersistAllDeviceInstalls>
<DoNotCleanUpNonPresentDevices>true</DoNotCleanUpNonPresentDevices>
</component>
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<SkipRearm>1</SkipRearm>
</component>
</settings>
<cpiofflineImage cpi:source="wim:c:/users/REMOVED/sources/install.wim#Windows 7 PROFESSIONAL" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

 

[computergal]

It seems like it did install the 2 drivers and partition the way I wanted so I guess it is picking up the AutoUnattend file. Maybe I should add the $OEM$ Folders manually to get it to install the applications. But no applications have been installed.

 

[Anshad Edavana]

Hi

I am no expert in "Sysprep" but i know the basic steps of adding applications and divers to the installation image. Basically what you need to do is ;

1. Install Windows to a master system.

2.Enter Audit mode.

3.Install applications.

4.un "Syspep" and "Generalize" the image.

5.Boot fom the "WinPE" disc and capture the installation using "Imagex" (Install.wim).

6.Use DISM to add custom drivers to the new captured image.

6.Delete the default "Install.wim" on you USB and copy new modified "Install.wim" to the "Sources" folder.


I would recommend watching this video guide - Windows 7 Application Preinstall and Image Capture - YouTube


Also refer http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/319903-windows-7-image-customize-audit-mode-sysprep.html

 

[computergal]

Thanks for your response to my problem. I was not planning to use WinPE because we weren't going to boot from the network. I will check out the videos for sure.

 

[Anshad Edavana]

I was not planning to use WinPE because we weren't going to boot from the network.

Whether to deploy images via USB or Network, you need WinPE to capture the installation and create new "Install.wim" file if you are using a real PC. Alternatively use a VM like in the video example. That is the easiest way - just attach the VHD and capture the image from within Windows.

For the record, WDS is the tool used for network based deployment.

 

[computergal]

Ok, I will give the WinPE a try. Thanks for your help.

 

[computergal]

Not able to deploy Wiindows 7 from .wim on flashdrive

Hi,
We are going to be deploying Windows 7 on about 150 computers. I have gone through the process to create the answer file, customize Windows 7, sysprepped/generalized it (in audit mode), and captured the image using imagex. It created a .wim file, which I then copied onto a bootable flashdrive. It is the only file on the flashdrive. When I try to boot from the .wim on the flashdrive I get a black screen that says bootmgr is missing. What am I missing? I would really appreciate any help I could get with this problem.

Thank

 

[Kari]

It seems that your phase one is OK, correctly done: image is created and ready to be deployed. For phase two, the deployment, see this excellent and easy to follow Microsoft support article:

• Walkthrough: Deploy an Image by using Windows Setup

The thing you seem to have misunderstood is that you need to boot your destination machines with bootable WinPE media, not the media containing your wim file.

Kari

 

[computergal]

Use original answer file when deploying captured Win 7 install.wim?

We are getting ready to deploy Windows 7 in our company, and I have installed Windows 7 using an answer file, sysprepped, and captured the image using image x. I understand that I copy all the files from the install cd onto my usb (I want to deploy from a usb without using a network), and substitute my install.wim for the one from the cd. Do I need to include the answer file that I created the custom image with or is that now integrated into the image when I sysprepped?

I would really appreciate any suggestions and help with this,

Thanks

 

[computergal]

Sysprep - Audit mode or OOBE? End users don't want oobe

Hi,
For a Windows 7 company deployment - I know that before I sysprep an image, I want to boot into Audit mode to customize it. When I am ready to generalize the image, do I stay in Audit mode and check the 'Generalize' box or do I select OOBE instead of Audit mode? I don't want the end user to have to go through making all the choices such as Language, accept Eula, Time Zone, etc. I just want the end users to be able to boot to the desktop.

Any help is much appreciated!

 

[Kari]

   Note

I asked moderators to merge two of your other threads here as they are about the same deployment issue. Your threads have disappeared but the questions and responses are here.

Hi,
For a Windows 7 company deployment - I know that before I sysprep an image, I want to boot into Audit mode to customize it. When I am ready to generalize the image, do I stay in Audit mode and check the 'Generalize' box or do I select OOBE instead of Audit mode? I don't want the end user to have to go through making all the choices such as Language, accept Eula, Time Zone, etc. I just want the end users to be able to boot to the desktop.

Any help is much appreciated!

If you have finished the customization in Audit Mode and shutdown the reference PC to capture the image, you must of course select OOBE and GENERALIZE. If you select Audit Mode instead of OOBE, when the end user boots the PC first time it would go to Audit Mode for no reason. Most normal users would not even know what Audit Mode is and how to exit from it to get a normal OOBE boot.

About your PM to me, I think it's better I quote it here first:

Hi Kari,
Thanks for giving me some input on my question about deploying Windows 7. I read the link you referred to, and I am still not sure what to do from this point. After I sysprepped and generalized the image, it created a myimage.wim which I copied and pasted to my flash drive. I need to be able to deploy Windows 7 to about 150 computers without using the network, so I want to have all the files be on the flashdrive. Is there a way to do this without using the network? I also used an autounattend.xml answer file to create the windows 7 installation that I sysprepped. Do I need to have that answer file on the flash drive in order to install the .wim?
I have spent a lot of time on this and I feel like I am getting close but just not sure what to do with my .wim in order to deploy it.
Thanks in advance for any help you might be able to give me.

When responding to your original question I did not know that you don't have network access on those 150 PCs you told you need to deploy your image.

See this post at Microsoft TechNet for how to deploy from a flash drive: How to Deploy Windows 7 from a USB Drive - TechNet Articles - United States (English) - TechNet Wiki

The same in a MSDN support article: Deploy an Image from a USB Flash Drive Using ImageX (Standard 8) (this article is for Windows 8 Embedded but same principles apply for all post XP versions).

Kari

 

[computergal]

Thanks for responding to my question. I guess I'll have to recreate my image since I generalized it in Audit mode and captured it. I thought that generalizing it in oboe mode meant the end user would see all the boxes with language choices, etc and I did not want them to have to go through making all those choices, that's why I generalized the image in Audit mode.

To install my captured .wim on a test machine - do I just substitute my .wim for the wim on the win 7 DVD and put it on my flash drive? I'm assuming that I don't need the answer file to be on it since the image is already captured.

Thanks again for your help

 

[computergal]

I just now saw your other response with the links to information about deploying from flash drive. I will take a look at those articles.
Thanks again for your help

 

[Kari]

Remember these rules:

• Enter Audit Mode to prepare you image to be captured
• When ready, sysprep with OOBE to give a ready to use Windows for end users

Kari

 

[computergal]

Although I have already generalized in Audit mode, shutdown, and captured that image, would I be able to just restart and run sysprep/generalize again but in OOBE this time?

 

[Kari]

Although I have already generalized in Audit mode, shutdown, and captured that image, would I be able to just restart and run sysprep/generalize again but in OOBE this time?

In case my previous posts did not make this point clear, let's be sure you have understood. First a reminder, what have we been talking about previously:

First, your earlier question and my answer:

Hi,
For a Windows 7 company deployment - I know that before I sysprep an image, I want to boot into Audit mode to customize it. When I am ready to generalize the image, do I stay in Audit mode and check the 'Generalize' box or do I select OOBE instead of Audit mode? I don't want the end user to have to go through making all the choices such as Language, accept Eula, Time Zone, etc. I just want the end users to be able to boot to the desktop.

Any help is much appreciated!

If you have finished the customization in Audit Mode and shutdown the reference PC to capture the image, you must of course select OOBE and GENERALIZE. If you select Audit Mode instead of OOBE, when the end user boots the PC first time it would go to Audit Mode for no reason. Most normal users would not even know what Audit Mode is and how to exit from it to get a normal OOBE boot.

Then I repeated the same:

Remember these rules:

• Enter Audit Mode to prepare you image to be captured
• When ready, sysprep with OOBE to give a ready to use Windows for end users

Kari

So, final try:

Assuming you are talking about selecting System Cleanup Action: Audit Mode as shown in the screenshot below, the image is worthless to you. If you have it on DVD, the best use for the disk would be to use it as shotgun practicing target. You cannot deploy an Audit Mode image to users who have no idea what to do with it, how to exit Audit Mode and use Windows normally.

​

Two options:

1. Deploy that image to one PC, boot to OOBE, enter Audit mode, Sysprep with generalize & OOBE, capture the new image
   
   -- OR --
   
   
2. Start from scratch, enter Audit mode, install your stuff, customize the image as you want to, Sysprep with generalize & OOBE, capture the new image

Kari

 

[computergal]

Thank you, I got it!

 

[computergal]

One last question if you would be so kind as to help. I created my answer file thinking it was for the initial Windows 7 install right before I customize my image. But I am seeing that it is really necessary while Sysprep runs. Would I use that same answer file? Do I need to put it in the Sysprep folder? I have named it autounattend.xml because I am doing disk partitioning. Windows 7 installs without asking me anything, but in order for Sysprep to use it, do I need to change anything?

 

[Kari]

Honestly, I am not sure I understand your question.

There's not much Sysprep can do without an answer file. It can generalize a Windows image to prepare it for hardware independent deployment but that's it.

The purpose of image deployment is to install Windows to a computer as the creator of the image wants. This includes partitioning, customizing default use profile, IE favorites, preinstalled software, drivers and updates and so on. All this must be told to Sysprep, the method to tell it is called unattended answer file. I often talk about script because that's what it is, a script containing batch of commands written in XML.

Answer file is needed on your reference computer, the one you are using to create the image. The Sysprep GUI cannot handle answer files so you need to use Command Prompt or PowerShell to run Sysprep command and add an Unattend switch, together with other required switches.

Following command would run Sysprep, generalize and prepare the image for an OOBE boot, quit when ready to allow image capture, getting its instructions from an answer file called MyAnswerFile.xml which is located on root of the drive X:

%windir%\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe /generalize /oobe /quit /unattend:X:\MyAnswerFile.xml

When Sysprep has finished you can capture the install.wim file, or you can shutdown the computer and use WinPE and external imaging tool to capture a system image. This image does no longer need nor does it contain the answer file used for Sysprep.

I have one suggestion for you: Make a pot of coffee or get a few beers (I prefer the latter ), sit down, relax and read this tutorial through once: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/319903-windows-7-image-customize-audit-mode-sysprep.html. Check the included videos, too, at least the shorter one.

The tut is made for private users but the process is about the same even with you, preparing 150 computers as you have told us. The difference is that the tut uses a third party imaging tool to capture a system image whereas you are using the more traditional method, ImageX to create and capture your own install.wim file and deploy using it. Other than that the tut will give you a bit more in-depth idea of Sysprep and Audit Mode.

Notice that I only suggest you using the tutorial as a reference in familiarizing yourself a bit more with the process; you should not use it as step by step guide because as I mentioned before, your case differs from that of a normal private user preparing a customized system image for his / her own use.

Kari

 

[computergal]

Thank you for the information. Your tutorial was very easy to read and understand. It sounds like I will need to use WinPE to capture and save the finished image, and I have made a disk. I am going to have to figure out the correct syntax for the WinPE commands but I think I am getting this figured out. I was under the impression that I needed to copy my unattend.xml file to C: drive, but you are saying that is not correct. Since I am using a driver path (trying to insert a few .inf drivers) in the WindowsPE pass, will I need to copy my entire distribution share over since that is where I have the actual drivers?
Thank you for all your help