Windows 10: I'm getting Windows could not parse or process unattend answer file at boot

I'm getting error Windows could not parse or process unattend answer file C:\windows\panther\unattend.xml at boot

:)

 

Can't install Windows 10 error "Windows could not parse of process the unattended answers file for pass"

Original Title - Can't install Windows 10

I have tried to install The Windows 10 upgrade six times. Each time it stops at 40% in the install phase and prints the following error message:

"Windows could not parse of process the unattended answers file for pass [specialize]. The settings specified in the answer file cannot be applied. The error was detected while processing settings for component [Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup]".

There is no error number associated with the message but when I check the installation history I see either error code 80240020 or c1900101-30018 associated with the failure. c1900101-30018 is the most common and the most recent. I am running Windows 8.1
upgraded from Windows 8 on a 64 bit system custom made by a local supplier.

Any suggestions?

 

Can't install Windows 10 error "Windows could not parse of process the unattended answers file for pass"

I had the same issue, however finally it turned out the issue is not related to any external device

or registry.

I red the Error note carefully and recognized that the issue is described in the note:

Windows could not parse of process the unattended answers file for pass [specialize]. The settings specified in the answer file cannot be applied.

So I looked my Windows library and guess what the unattend.xml file was there. I opened the file that seems to be

a coded message for the windows set up. It was clear from the file that it would not allow any windows system upgrade or change. I simply deleted this unattend.xml file and run the
upgrade the 30th time. This time it worked

as it should have before, and now I am using windows 10. It took me at least two weeks to get it done.

Hope you can use my finding.

 

Reset This PC Fails with "Windows could not parse or process the unattend answer file for pass [specialize]."

I have a Surface Laptop. After purchasing it I selected the option to switch to the full Windows 10 Pro vs the preinstalled Windows 10 S. I have selected the recovery option "Reset This PC" once or twice before but when I did it today, it failed with the
Windows Setup message, "Windows could not parse or process the unattend answer file for pass [specialize]. The settings specified in the answer file cannot be applied. The error was detected while processing settings for component [Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup]."
If I press Okay, the machine reboots and after a few minutes I get a Logon Screen for Other User. Trying to login with my credentials doesn't work. I never created an account "Other User" and so have no idea what the password might be.

I tried the "Reset This PC" option again and it failed the exact same way around 45% in the Windows Setup phase (where it has the blue background vs the black background).