Windows 10: WDS: unattend.xml does not work for boot image

kohorte · Aug 12, 2020

Hi everyone, since i read some goof topics in this forum while i am working with wds i decided to join too because of my problem

Atm i am working with WDS for rolling out custom images at work. The main goal is to get it as automated as it could. While the captured/install images it selfes works perfect with its unattend.xml (lets call it installunattend.xml), the boot image does not work with the unattend.xml (lets call it bootunattend.xml) at all. I created both XML files with WSIM and run a WSIM error test over it, no errors at all.

I mounted the BootUnattend.xml under WDS > Right Click on the Server > Proberties > Client > activate the checkbox for the unattend instalation > and selected the bootunattend.xml

The bootunattend.xml itselfe is places directly in W:\RemoteInstall

Because the file contains alot of options i also created a second file wich only contains the domain credentials (SmallBootUnattend.xml) to check if its the file itsselfe but this file is also not working.

Sidefacts:

- Server: Server 2019 (1809)
- Image to roll out: custom Win10 pro 64 bit (10.0.19041) (made in audit mode with sysprep)
- Boot Image: Win 10 pro 64 bit (10.0.19041)
- WDS is connected to the active directory of the company
- Windows ADK 10.1.18362.1 is installed on the server

Things i tried:
- use a different user (ActiveDirectory-Admin)
- google but most people have problems with the unattend.xml + install images
- using different / new XML Files for WIN PE
- got all rights from the domaine admin
- read alot of tutorials, i can't find what they do different to me

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask, thanks for your help.

Code of bootunattend.xml
Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
<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">
<ImageInstall>
<OSImage>
<InstallFrom>
<Credentials>
<Domain>company.net</Domain>
<Password>hidden</Password>
<Username>hidden</Username>
</Credentials>
</InstallFrom>
</OSImage>
</ImageInstall>
<EnableNetwork>true</EnableNetwork>
<DiskConfiguration>
<Disk wcm:action="add">
<CreatePartitions>
<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
<Order>1</Order>
<Type>Primary</Type>
</CreatePartition>
<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
<Order>2</Order>
<Type>Primary</Type>
</CreatePartition>
</CreatePartitions>
<ModifyPartitions>
<ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
<Active>true</Active>
<PartitionID>1</PartitionID>
<Order>1</Order>
<Label>System</Label>
<Format>NTFS</Format>
</ModifyPartition>
<ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
<PartitionID>2</PartitionID>
<Order>2</Order>
<Letter>C</Letter>
<Label>Windows</Label>
<Format>NTFS</Format>
<Active>true</Active>
</ModifyPartition>
</ModifyPartitions>
<DiskID>0</DiskID>
<WillWipeDisk>true</WillWipeDisk>
</Disk>
</DiskConfiguration>
<WindowsDeploymentServices>
<Login>
<Credentials>
<Domain>company.net</Domain>
<Password>hidden</Password>
<Username>hidden</Username>
</Credentials>
</Login>
</WindowsDeploymentServices>
</component>
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE" 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">
<SetupUILanguage>
<UILanguage>de-de</UILanguage>
</SetupUILanguage>
<InputLocale>0407:0000407</InputLocale>
<SystemLocale>de-de</SystemLocale>
<UILanguage>de-de</UILanguage>
<UILanguageFallback>de-de</UILanguageFallback>
<UserLocale>de-de</UserLocale>
</component>
</settings>
<settings pass="specialize">
<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>0407:0000407</InputLocale>
<SystemLocale>de-de</SystemLocale>
<UILanguage>de-de</UILanguage>
<UILanguageFallback>de-de</UILanguageFallback>
<UserLocale>de-de</UserLocale>
</component>
</settings>
<cpifflineImage cpi:source="wim:w:/antwortdatei/wim%20datei%20zur%20erstellung%20der%20xml/install.wim#Windows 10 Pro" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>
Click to expand...

Code of SmallBootUnattend.xml
Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
<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">
<WindowsDeploymentServices>
<Login>
<Credentials>
<Domain>company.net</Domain>
<Password>Hidden</Password>
<Username>Hidden</Username>
</Credentials>
</Login>
</WindowsDeploymentServices>
</component>
</settings>
<cpifflineImage cpi:source="wim:w:/antwortdatei/wim%20datei%20zur%20erstellung%20der%20xml/install.wim#Windows 10 Pro" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>
Click to expand...

- - - Updated - - -

I took the wrong BIOS architecture, i thought it had an normale 64 bit bios (because it was no UEFI) but it was something else. After placing the XML for all Bios architectures it works.

:)

Mohit Bahirat · Aug 12, 2020

Unattend xml File....

hiiii

i would like to install windows via WDS Server. How To Create Unattend .XML File in Server 2012......

Regard

Mohit

nomaxtech · Aug 12, 2020

Unattended setup (Sysprep & unattend.xml) is not working for me

Haha! Kari, I'd like to buy you a another nice bottle of whiskey for helping me out here. This is driving me nuts! I have a friend in England. I'm sure she's fast asleep.

Anyway, I swear that answer file came directly from the WSIM tool!

I made new install image with the brand new answer file (pasted above) created exactly as instructed by your tutorial (no validation errors!) and this is what I got...

It boots all the way to the desktop this time! Still not unattended though. Nothing can ever be easy...