answer-file questions - Page 1

jdm

Asked: 2020-07-11 02:56:04 +0800 CST

Answer file for clonable windows installation

1

I would like to create a windows image that can be cloned to multiple different computers, with different (known) hardware. And I would like Windows to resize the partitions after cloning. I read that you should "sysprep /generalize" from audit mode before cloning an image.

Now my question is, can I just install windows normally and interrupt the installation before the specialize step, in order to make a copy? Or do I have to let it proceed into OOBE, then enter audit mode, and then generalize manually? Whats the simplest scheme to achive this?

Things that are confusing me:

Can I do everything from one answer file, or do I have to create separate autounattend.xml and unattend.xml like in this tutorial? How do I chain them then?
There is <Generalize ForceShutDownNow="true" Mode="OOBE" /> which seems to let me interrupt the installation, but it only goes in the 5 auditSystem block. So that means I will go twice through generalize? I want to use ExtendOSPartition, which only makes sense in 4 specialize (after cloning)... But if I go twice though generalize, then I need to run this only the second time (unattend.xml)... but to achive this I'd have to go through audit mode and call sysprep manually.

f3tt

Asked: 2011-05-04 09:36:49 +0800 CST

Windows 7 unattended install

6

I've created a simple answer file for an unattended install, but when booting from USB, it still asks me what language, and requires that I click the 'Install Now' button before it starts. Everything else is automated. How do I automate this first part? Here's my answer file:

<?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>
            <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
            <Disk wcm:action="add">
                <ModifyPartitions>
                    <ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
                        <Active>true</Active>
                        <Format>NTFS</Format>
                        <Label>Windows</Label>
                        <Letter>C</Letter>
                        <Order>1</Order>
                        <PartitionID>1</PartitionID>
                    </ModifyPartition>
                </ModifyPartitions>
                <DiskID>0</DiskID>
                <WillWipeDisk>true</WillWipeDisk>
                <CreatePartitions>
                    <CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
                        <Extend>true</Extend>
                        <Type>Primary</Type>
                        <Order>1</Order>
                    </CreatePartition>
                </CreatePartitions>
            </Disk>
        </DiskConfiguration>
        <ImageInstall>
            <OSImage>
                <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
                <InstallToAvailablePartition>true</InstallToAvailablePartition>
            </OSImage>
        </ImageInstall>
        <UserData>
            <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
        </UserData>
    </component>
</settings>
<settings pass="oobeSystem">
    <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core" 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">
        <InputLocale>en-US</InputLocale>
        <SystemLocale>en-US</SystemLocale>
        <UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
        <UserLocale>en-US</UserLocale>
    </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>
            <HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>true</HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>
            <NetworkLocation>Work</NetworkLocation>
            <ProtectYourPC>1</ProtectYourPC>
        </OOBE>
        <RegisteredOrganization>Company</RegisteredOrganization>
        <RegisteredOwner>IT Dept</RegisteredOwner>
        <TimeZone>Pacific Standard Time</TimeZone>
        <UserAccounts>
            <AdministratorPassword>
                <Value>omitted</Value>
                <PlainText>false</PlainText>
            </AdministratorPassword>
        </UserAccounts>
    </component>
</settings>
<settings pass="specialize">
    <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core" 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">
        <InputLocale>en-US</InputLocale>
        <SystemLocale>en-US</SystemLocale>
        <UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
        <UserLocale>en-US</UserLocale>
    </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</Domain>
                <Password>domainpass</Password>
                <Username>domainadmin</Username>
            </Credentials>
            <JoinDomain>domain</JoinDomain>
            <MachineObjectOU>OU=New,OU=ComputersOU,DC=domain,DC=com</MachineObjectOU>
        </Identification>
    </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">
        <ProductKey>XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX</ProductKey>
    </component>
</settings>
<settings pass="offlineServicing">
    <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">
        <OEMInformation>
            <Manufacturer>Company</Manufacturer>
            <SupportPhone>(XXX) XXX-XXXX</SupportPhone>
            <SupportURL>http://servicedesk/</SupportURL>
        </OEMInformation>
    </component>
</settings>
<cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="wim://markf/gimage/inprogressimage/install.wim#Windows 7 PROFESSIONAL" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />

ItsPronounced

Asked: 2011-03-06 06:57:13 +0800 CST

What are some of the best answer file settings for a WDS Deployment?

1

I've had my head buried in answer files for days now and have gotten quite comfortable setting them up, test, etc...

I use a handful of Components to help my migrations, for my unattend.xml I like:

Windows-International-Core-WinPE --> this is good for setting Locales the preboot environment (en-us for us english US speakers). Keeps me from having to set these on the initial image boot.
Windows-Setup_neutral --> I like the WindowsDeploymentServices -> ImageSelection, especially if I'm only pushing a single image. This keeps me from having to select it each time.

My OOBE_Unattend.xml is really useful and I barely have to touch anything during this part of the installation:

Windows-Shell-Setup_neutral --> This lets me put a ProductKey in for my MAK volume license (very useful and time saving). I can also set the TimeZone for the installation.
Windows UnattendedJoin_neutral --> I couldn't live without this component. It joins the machine on my domain before logging in as a domain administrator. I would hate to not have this ability.
Windows-International-Core --> Again this component really speeds up the OOBE process. I configure my locals and time zone so I don't have to do it by hand when the machine enters OOBE.
Windows-Shell-Setup --> Allows you to configure an autologon when the new machine is finished. I like to logon as a domain admin automatically for customizing and troubleshooting the new machine immediately after it is imaged. Also the OOBE component under here lets me skip the EULA, Hide Wireless Setup, and set my default NetworkLocation. All of this makes the entire OOBE totally automated.

What are some other good components I am missing as far as helping me get these images pushed and configured as quickly as possible?

ItsPronounced

Asked: 2011-03-05 13:32:18 +0800 CST

Deleting locally created user after WDS Deployment

2

I'm pushing out a new Win7 image to several machines using WDS, unattend.xml, and oobeunattend.xml.

Naturally you have to create the local user in the OOBE experience but it isn't something I want to keep there.

I added this to my OOBE.xml but it isn't working, its even after my domain joining component:

<settings pass="auditUser">
- <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">
      - <Credentials>
           <Domain>DOMAIN</Domain> 
           <Password>PASSWORD</Password> 
           <Username>administrator</Username> 
        </Credentials>
        <Order>1</Order> 
        <Description>Removes original test user</Description> 
        <Path>net user temp /del</Path> 
      </RunSynchronousCommand>
    </RunSynchronous>
  </component>
</settings>

Charlie

Asked: 2010-06-24 03:35:38 +0800 CST

How can I sysprep a VMware image and retain my additional hard drive

3

I am creating a base VM as the start of what I hope to be a VM tree of all the machine configurations that I regularly use.

On this base machine I have a small system drive of 10GB and a larger data drive of 40GB. When I sysprep the VM it removes the additional hard drive. Well it still appears but Server Manager reports it as offline.

I have the following in my answer file

<?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">
        <ComputerName></ComputerName>
        <RegisteredOrganization>XXXXXX</RegisteredOrganization>
        <RegisteredOwner>XXXXXX</RegisteredOwner>
        <ShowWindowsLive>false</ShowWindowsLive>
    </component>
    <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-Licensing-SLC-UX" 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">
        <SkipAutoActivation>true</SkipAutoActivation>
    </component>
    <component name="Microsoft-Windows-IE-ESC" 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">
        <IEHardenAdmin>false</IEHardenAdmin>
        <IEHardenUser>false</IEHardenUser>
    </component>
</settings>
<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>0809:00000809</InputLocale>
        <SystemLocale>en-GB</SystemLocale>
        <UILanguage>en-GB</UILanguage>
        <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">
        <RegisteredOrganization>Company Name</RegisteredOrganization>
        <RegisteredOwner>Company Name</RegisteredOwner>
        <UserAccounts>
            <AdministratorPassword>
                <Value>cwBoAEAAcgBlAHAAbwAxAG4AdABBAGQAbQBpAG4AaQBzAHQAcgBhAHQAbwByAFAAYQBzAHMAdwBvAHIAZAA=</Value>
                <PlainText>false</PlainText>
            </AdministratorPassword>
        </UserAccounts>
        <AutoLogon>
            <Password>
                <Value>cwBoAEAAcgBlAHAAbwAxAG4AdABQAGEAcwBzAHcAbwByAGQA</Value>
                <PlainText>false</PlainText>
            </Password>
            <Domain>WORKGROUP</Domain>
            <Enabled>true</Enabled>
            <LogonCount>2</LogonCount>
            <Username>Administrator</Username>
        </AutoLogon>
        <OOBE>
            <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>
            <NetworkLocation>Work</NetworkLocation>
            <ProtectYourPC>3</ProtectYourPC>
        </OOBE>
        <Display>
            <ColorDepth>32</ColorDepth>
            <HorizontalResolution>1440</HorizontalResolution>
            <VerticalResolution>900</VerticalResolution>
        </Display>
        <TimeZone>GMT Standard Time</TimeZone>
    </component>
</settings>
<settings pass="generalize">
    <component name="Microsoft-Windows-ServerManager-SvrMgrNc" 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">
        <DoNotOpenServerManagerAtLogon>true</DoNotOpenServerManagerAtLogon>
    </component>
    <component name="Microsoft-Windows-OutOfBoxExperience" 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">
        <DoNotOpenInitialConfigurationTasksAtLogon>true</DoNotOpenInitialConfigurationTasksAtLogon>
    </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">
        <DiskConfiguration>
            <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
            <Disk wcm:action="add">
                <ModifyPartitions>
                    <ModifyPartition wcm:action="modify">
                        <Active>true</Active>
                        <Letter>D</Letter>
                        <PartitionID>1</PartitionID>
                        <Label>Data</Label>
                        <Order>1</Order>
                    </ModifyPartition>
                </ModifyPartitions>
                <DiskID>1</DiskID>
                <WillWipeDisk>false</WillWipeDisk>
            </Disk>
        </DiskConfiguration>
    </component>
</settings>
<cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="catalog:c:/users/chalee/desktop/install_windows server 2008 r2 serverenterprise.clg" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

I had assumed that the ModifyPartition section would set my second drive to online, but no dice!

Can anyone help with this? How should be answer file be configured to enable this second drive?

Answer file for clonable windows installation

Windows 7 unattended install

What are some of the best answer file settings for a WDS Deployment?

Deleting locally created user after WDS Deployment

How can I sysprep a VMware image and retain my additional hard drive

Can you pass user/pass for HTTP Basic Authentication in URL parameters?

Ping a Specific Port

Check if port is open or closed on a Linux server?

How to automate SSH login with password?

How do I tell Git for Windows where to find my private RSA key?

What's the default superuser username/password for postgres after a new install?

What port does SFTP use?

Command line to list users in a Windows Active Directory group?

What is a Pem file and how does it differ from other OpenSSL Generated Key File Formats?

How to determine if a bash variable is empty?

Questions[answer-file](server)