Windows 10: Autounattended.xml automation stops at Region and Kybd questions-V1909

I posted this in the wrong spot earlier, so I'm posting it here instead, and I'll delete the other post. Actually, I tried to delete it, but I couldn't figure out how. : / To any admin, please feel free to delete it, thank you...it seems to be labeled as message or post # 13?

I have recently been learning how to use an autounattend.xml file to help automate the installation of Win 10, version 1909. (I had my file generated automatically with the Windows Answer File Generator website). It's a handy site, but it's inconvenient that I can't save or load my prior settings...at least not that I know of.

- I have heard of NTLite, Sysprep, MDT, DISM, etc, but they all seem a bit much for me to chew on at the moment considering that a single autounattend.xml file has solved 99% of my auto-installation needs.

My install method: I simply copy the autounattend.xml file to the root of my Win 10 1909 installation thumb drive...then I boot from it and install Windows.

Everything works great except for a couple of things....basically, all answers are automatically answered, and Windows is completely installed automatically without need of my intervention....except for THREE screens.

No matter what I have tried, Windows still prompts me to confirm:
1 - "Let's start with region, is this right?" (and it highlights United States as set in the autounattend.xml)....I answer yes.
2 - "Is this the right keyboard layout?" (and it highlights US)...I answer yes.
3 - "Want to add a second keyboard layout?" (I never do)...I answer no.

Is there any way to keep Windows from stopping on these three screens and to automate these parts without having to answer the questions?


Thank you very much. I greatly appreciate any help and direction. I don't mind eventually learning about the differences and benefits among sysprep, mdt, dism, ntlite, etc, but for now, I was hoping I could at least solve this current snag within the confines of this handy xml file. : )

-Spike


The following is my autounattend.xml:


-----------------------------
<!--*************************************************
Windows 10 Answer File Generator
Created using Windows AFG found at:
;Windows Answer File Generator

Installation Notes
Location:
Notes:
**************************************************-->

<?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="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>en-US</UILanguage>
</SetupUILanguage>

<InputLocale>0409:00000409</InputLocale>
<SystemLocale>en-US</SystemLocale>
<UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
<UILanguageFallback>en-US</UILanguageFallback>
<UserLocale>en-US</UserLocale>
</component>


<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>
<Disk wcm:action="add">
<DiskID>0</DiskID>
<WillWipeDisk>true</WillWipeDisk>
<CreatePartitions>
<!-- Windows RE Tools partition -->
<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
<Order>1</Order>
<Type>Primary</Type>
<Size>300</Size>
</CreatePartition>
<!-- System partition (ESP) -->
<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
<Order>2</Order>
<Type>EFI</Type>
<Size>100</Size>
</CreatePartition>
<!-- Microsoft reserved partition (MSR) -->
<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
<Order>3</Order>
<Type>MSR</Type>
<Size>128</Size>
</CreatePartition>
<!-- Windows partition -->
<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
<Order>4</Order>
<Type>Primary</Type>
<Extend>true</Extend>
</CreatePartition>
</CreatePartitions>
<ModifyPartitions>
<!-- Windows RE Tools partition -->
<ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
<Order>1</Order>
<PartitionID>1</PartitionID>
<Label>WINRE</Label>
<Format>NTFS</Format>
<TypeID>DE94BBA4-06D1-4D40-A16A-BFD50179D6AC</TypeID>
</ModifyPartition>
<!-- System partition (ESP) -->
<ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
<Order>2</Order>
<PartitionID>2</PartitionID>
<Label>System</Label>
<Format>FAT32</Format>
</ModifyPartition>
<!-- MSR partition does not need to be modified -->
<ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
<Order>3</Order>
<PartitionID>3</PartitionID>
</ModifyPartition>
<!-- Windows partition -->
<ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
<Order>4</Order>
<PartitionID>4</PartitionID>
<Label>VOLUME1</Label>
<Letter>C</Letter>
<Format>NTFS</Format>
</ModifyPartition>
</ModifyPartitions>
</Disk>
</DiskConfiguration>
<ImageInstall>
<OSImage>
<InstallTo>
<DiskID>0</DiskID>
<PartitionID>4</PartitionID>
</InstallTo>
<InstallToAvailablePartition>false</InstallToAvailablePartition>
</OSImage>
</ImageInstall>
<UserData>
<ProductKey>
<!-- Do not uncomment the Key element if you are using trial ISOs -->
<!-- You must uncomment the Key element (and optionally insert your own key) if you are using retail or volume license ISOs -->
<Key>W269N-WFGWX-YVC9B-4J6C9-T83GX</Key>
<WillShowUI>Never</WillShowUI>
</ProductKey>
<AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
<FullName>Owner</FullName>
<Organization></Organization>
</UserData>
</component>
</settings>
<settings pass="offlineServicing">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-LUA-Settings" 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">
<EnableLUA>true</EnableLUA>
</component>
</settings>
<settings pass="generalize">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP" 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">
<SkipRearm>1</SkipRearm>
</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>0409:00000409</InputLocale>
<SystemLocale>en-US</SystemLocale>
<UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
<UILanguageFallback>en-US</UILanguageFallback>
<UserLocale>en-US</UserLocale>
</component>


<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP-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-SQMApi" 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">
<CEIPEnabled>0</CEIPEnabled>
</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">
<ComputerName>PC1</ComputerName>
</component>
</settings>
<settings pass="oobeSystem">
<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">
<AutoLogon>
<Password>
<Value></Value>
<PlainText>true</PlainText>
</Password>
<Enabled>true</Enabled>
<Username>Owner</Username>
</AutoLogon>
<OOBE>
<HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>
<HideOEMRegistrationScreen>true</HideOEMRegistrationScreen>
<HideOnlineAccountScreens>true</HideOnlineAccountScreens>
<HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>true</HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>
<NetworkLocation>Work</NetworkLocation>
<SkipUserOOBE>true</SkipUserOOBE>
<SkipMachineOOBE>false</SkipMachineOOBE>
<ProtectYourPC>3</ProtectYourPC>
</OOBE>
<UserAccounts>
<LocalAccounts>
<LocalAccount wcm:action="add">
<Password>
<Value></Value>
<PlainText>true</PlainText>
</Password>
<Description></Description>
<DisplayName>Owner</DisplayName>
<Group>Administrators</Group>
<Name>Owner</Name>
</LocalAccount>
</LocalAccounts>
</UserAccounts>
<RegisteredOrganization></RegisteredOrganization>
<RegisteredOwner>Owner</RegisteredOwner>
<DisableAutoDaylightTimeSet>true</DisableAutoDaylightTimeSet>
<FirstLogonCommands>
<SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
<Description>Control Panel View</Description>
<Order>1</Order>
<CommandLine>reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ControlPanel" /v StartupPage /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f</CommandLine>
<RequiresUserInput>true</RequiresUserInput>
</SynchronousCommand>
<SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
<Order>2</Order>
<Description>Control Panel Icon Size</Description>
<RequiresUserInput>false</RequiresUserInput>
<CommandLine>reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ControlPanel" /v AllItemsIconView /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f</CommandLine>
</SynchronousCommand>
<SynchronousCommand wcm:action="add">
<Order>3</Order>
<RequiresUserInput>false</RequiresUserInput>
<CommandLine>cmd /C wmic useraccount where name="Owner" set PasswordExpires=false</CommandLine>
<Description>Password Never Expires</Description>
</SynchronousCommand>
</FirstLogonCommands>
<TimeZone>US Mountain Standard Time</TimeZone>
</component>
</settings>
</unattend>

---<end> -------------------------

:)

 

Edge Search Does Not Permit Change of Region


I got these suggestions from the Microsoft Community forum.No. 1 worked for me:

Thank you for posting the query on Microsoft Community. I am glad to assist you on this.
We have reproduce the issue here and we are able to access non-regional search for google using Microsoft Edge.
I would suggest you to try the below steps and check if it helps.
Step 1:
Clear browsing data option of Microsoft Edge and check if you face the issue. To do so perform the steps below.

1. Click on the More actions icon next to the feedback icon present on top right corner of the Project Spartan homepage.
2. Select Settings and click on Choose what to clear.
3. Check the boxes Browsing history, Cookies and saved website data and Cached data and files and click on Clear.

Step 2:
I suggest you to create a new user account and check if the issue occurs.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Choose Accounts and then select Family and other users.
3. Select add someone else on this PC.
4. Enter a user name and hit next.
5. Click on Finish.
6. Sign out from the current Account and Log into the new account.

Step 3:
It could also happen because of network issue. I suggest you to try with different network connection and check if it helps.

 

WHY DO I HAVE TO HOLD EACH KEY DOWN FOR ABOUT 2-3 SECONDS BEFORE ANY OF MY KYBDS (USB, WIRELESS & BLUETOOTH ) WILL WORK. LAPTOP KYBD ONLY WORKS SOMETIMES

• Yes had to order a new hard drive and a new fan. Installed them myself.

• Can’t connect kybd to another pc It’s a laptop.

• Yes I have connected a Logitech K400r wireless keyboard, a iHome rubber usb wired KYBD, and a Logitech bluetooth K480 keyboard.

• I just got the blue tooth KYBD working correctly by finding a setting in Ease of Access, then click keyboard. The Filter keys was on and I had to change enable slow keys to off and set the time below it to 0.0 seconds. Then I turned the slow keys off
  and turned the filter keys to off. I haven’t checked the iHome KYBD to see if it’s working but the bluetooth definitely works the way it should now. I’m pretty sure the usb wired KYBD works because I could use it but it took me 5 minutes to type a small
  word (an exaggeration, but I think I am getting the point across how agonizing it was to type) I absolutely can’t get the wireless KYBD or the laptop KYBD to work. The laptop KYBD—I press a key or two and it prints out gibberish and only about 3-4 letters.
  I have tried updating drivers (wireless KYBD drivers, elan touchpad, mouse and usb ports.) in Device Manager, windows troubleshooting and nothing. I’m pretty happy with the bluetooth though because I can finally type normal.I just wish the laptop KYBD worked.
  I even tried the Toshiba function keys.

Thank you, Julie

 

Automate just OOBE setup pass of Windows 10 with Autounattend.xml

Dear Community,

I am currently trying to find out if it is possible to automate just the OOBE setup pass of Windows 10 with an Autounattend.xml file.

In this particular use case, the devices are delievered with a preinstalled Windows 10 Pro version 1803. The goal is to use the preinstalled OEM image. When startging the devices for the first time, they start with OOBE. We want to automate these steps. The idea was to create an answer file which just holds parameters for the oobeSystem pass and let the resulting Autounattend.xml file be consumed from a removable USB drive.

Does somebody have experience with a similar use case? Will Windows 10 still search for an Autounattend.xml file just before entering the oobeSystem Pass? Or is an Autounattend .xml just usable when going trough all configurationen passes of Windows?

The Microsoft documentation was no help for me regarding this particular question.

Best regards,
Manuel