Dario Airoldi TechNotes

Steps to Create an Unattended Setup for Windows Vista

The following article shows how to create an automated setup per windows Vista using Windows Vista Automated Installation Kit (WAIK).

Requirements

• Vista DVD: a DVD with Windows Vista.
• WAIK: Windows Vista Automated Installation Kit (get the download here).
• A USB Key: this is needed to contain the answers file for the installation (a key with very little space is ok).
• Technician PC: a pc with a DVD ROM Drive (RW capable) with Windows AIK installed on it.

Steps to create the answer file

• Copy Install.Wim (2GB) from vista DVD to the technician PC.
• Start "Microsoft Windows AIK - Windows System Image Manager".
• Select the Install.Wim file from the "File - Select Windows Image" menu.

  NB. The command will let you choose a Vista version (es. Ultimate) and create a catalog file.

• Create a new answer file with "File - New Answer File" menu.
• From the "Windows Image" pane add the following settings to the Answer File:
  • Microsoft-Windows-Setup\DiskConfiguration\Disk\CreatePartitions\CreatePartition (1 windowsPE component).
  • Microsoft-Windows-Setup\DiskConfiguration\Disk\ModifyPartitions\ModifyPartition (1 windowsPE component).
  • Microsoft-Windows-Setup\ImageInstall\OSImage\InstallTo (1 windowsPE component).
  • Microsoft-Windows-Setup\UserData (1 windowsPE component).
  • Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup\OOBE (7 oobeSystem component).
  • Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup\AutoLogon     (7 oobeSystem component).
  • Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE (1 windowsPE component).
• Into the the "Answers File" pane set the following settings:
  • Microsoft-Windows-Setup (1 windowsPE component).
    • Microsoft-Windows-Setup\DiskConfiguration    WillShowUI = OnError
    • Microsoft-Windows-Setup\DiskConfiguration\Disk    DiskID = 0
    • WillWipeDisk = true
  • Microsoft-Windows-Setup\DiskConfiguration\Disk\CreatePartitions\CreatePartition
    • Order = 1
    • Extend = true (this formats the entire disk)
    • Type = Primary
  • Microsoft-Windows-Setup\DiskConfiguration\Disk\ModifyPartitions\ModifyPartition
    • Active = true
    • Format = NTFS
    • Label = OS_Install
    • Letter = C
    • Order = 1
    • PartitionID = 1
  • Microsoft-Windows-Setup\ImageInstall\OSImage\    WillShowUI = OnError
  • Microsoft-Windows-Setup\ImageInstall\OSImage\InstallTo    DiskID = 0
    • PartitionID = 1
  • Microsoft-Windows-Setup\UserData    AcceptEula = true
  • Microsoft-Windows-Setup\UserData\ProductKey    Key = <product key>
    • WillShowUI = OnError
  • Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup\OOBE    HideEULAPage = true
    • ProtectYourPC = 3
    • SkipMachineOOBE = true
    • SkipUserOOBE = true
  • Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE    InputLocale = <Input Locale> (es 'it-IT')
    • SystemLocale = <System Locale> (es 'it-IT')
    • UILanguage = <UI Language> (es 'en-US')
    • UserLocale = <User Locale> (es 'it-IT')
  • Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE\SetupUILanguage    UILanguage = <UI Language>
  • Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup\AutoLogon    Enabled = true
    • LogonCount = 5
    • Username = Administrator
  • Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup\AutoLogon\Password    <strongpassword>
• Save the Answer File into the USB Key.

You are now ready to run your Windows Vista unattended installation with the following command:

setup /unattend: answerfilename

Note that Windows Vista setup program automatically looks for answer files named "AutoUnattend.xml" in several different locations including a previously cached answer file and an answer file at the root of a drive.

Published Wednesday, January 10, 2007 6:57 PM by Dario Airoldi