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Latest Version: 1.4.0

General help on creating the unattend.xml

by · June 30, 2014

Microsoft provides a free application to help in the creation of the unattend.xml, which is needed for automated deployment purposes. It is called “Windows System Image Manager” and comes as a part of the “Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) for Windows” found here:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-US/download/details.aspx?id=30652.

Install the x86 Version, as the x64 Version can not service x32 installs. Read here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd744249(v=ws.10).aspx

  1. Servicing a new Image, copy the install.wim from your Windows Installation DVD to a folder on your HDD (better SSD) of your liking
  2. Select that file and chose to create a new catalog file. This can later on be used to create valid answer files for the selected OS flavor
  3. Use “Windows System Image Manager” to create entries for the Windows Setup process stages. Put in “CrucibleWDS” as Computername in Specialize, Windows Shell Setup for CrucibleWDS ability to set the Computer Name. In the same step enter <CopyProfile>true</CopyProfile> to apply all desktop settings to the Default User Profile.
  4. On the template VM start “%systemdir%\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe” and chose “restart in audit mode”. If there are any other user accounts than the Administrator account it will fail to deploy. Do this on a virgin, not-domain joined PC. If you have to use an already used machine, you will need to clear the file system and registry off traces of other user accounts. This could help: http://helgeklein.com/free-tools/delprof2-user-profile-deletion-tool/
  5. Install drivers and applications as wanted.
  6. Copy the created unattend.xml to %systemdir%\system32\sysprep\” and start the generalization process with “C:\Windows\system32\Sysprep\sysprep.exe /generalize /oobe /shutdown /unattend:C:\Windows\system32\Sysprep\unattend.xml”
  7. Boot the machine from PXE, register the Machine and turn off again
  8. In CrucibleWDS attach an image to the PC, and create an Upload Task. Restart the machine and let it upload
  9. Register a new machine, select the image from step 7 and create a new Deploy task. After imaging the new PC should have the computer name your registered the target computer with

Best regards,
Andreas