Vista Install using WDS - Not picking up unattend settings

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wake-Up-Jeff
  • Start date Start date
W

Wake-Up-Jeff

I am having trouble getting the Vista Install (Enterprise Edition) to pickup
my unattend xml settings from Windows Deployment Services (WDS).
Here's what I've done so far:
- Setup WDS on W2K3 R2 SP2.
- Added boot image (boot.wim from Vista Enterprise DVD)
- Added install image (install.wim from Vista Enterprise DVD)
- Created an unattend XML file (using Windows System Image Manager - no
errors reported)
- Associated the unattend file with the install image (in WDS)

Here's what happens at the workstation:
- PXE boots and finds boot image. I select it.
- Boots to boot image and prompts me for locale, etc.
- Shows install image and allows me to select it.
- Prompts me for credentials, disk parititioning, etc.
- Commences Vista Build
- Prompts me for EULA, time, etc.
- Completes build OK

Only trouble is, I've setup responses to most of these questions in my
unattend XML file to handle these queries.
Why isn't it processing them automatically?

Any clues?
 
Answering my own question.
There are 3 things I found out:
1. You need to copy the xml file to the WDSClientUnattend folder in the
REMINST share.
2. You need to enable unattend install in WDS by selecting "Properties" on
the server node, then the "Client" tab, then ensure the "enable unattend
install" checkbox is set, and the .xml file is listed in the appropriate
architecture text box.
3. Each time you make a change to the xml file, it seems that you need to
re-import it into the image. If I don't do that, I am left with a "No
available images" message during the build.

Now, if only I can get all of these unattend settings to work!!!
 
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