WDS, WinSIM and answer files / unattended

i have setup new wds server , doing testing deply server 2008 , server 2003. have been able deploy server 2008, without answer file. have been able deploy server 2003 creating image using sysprep , uploading image wds server.

 

my problems start waik , answer files. create answer files, not apply them. wanting setup answer file automate install , not prompt anything. intending use in hosted datacenter environment use these images install thousands of customers.

 

i used few methods on various sites recomended various settings include in answer file. create file, save , go properties of image , check "allow image install in unattended mode" , browse , select .xml file, not work.

 

any appreciated.

 

thanks.

hello,

 

there points should pay attention before unattend deployment:

 

1.       there 2 unattend files used during windows deployment services installations: windows deployment services client unattend file , image unattend file. see automating setup more information.

 

2.       windows deployment services client unattend file.

 

a.       this file uses unattend.xml format , stored on windows deployment services server in \wdsclientunattend folder. automates windows deployment services client user interface screens (such entering credentials, choosing install image, , configuring disk).

 

b.      after authoring unattend file using windows sim, file should manually copied \wdsclientunattend folder before enabling unattended settings using management tools (the management tools not perform file copy).

 

3.       image unattend file.

 

a.       this file uses either unattend.xml or sysprep.inf format, depending upon version of operating system in image. used configure unattended installation options during windows setup , stored in subfolder (either $oem$ structure or \unattend) in per-image folder. automates remaining phases of setup (for example, offline servicing, sysprep specialize, , mini-setup).

 

b.      for images earlier version of windows, sysprep.inf file should placed in directory: $oem$\$1\sysprep\sysprep.inf.

 

c.       for windows vista , windows server 2008 images, structure may contain image unattend file; however, if image unattend file directly associated image, image unattend file take precedence on unattend file in $oem$.

 

for more details, please refer to:

 

performing unattended installations:

http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/library/8866a02e-dd26-4c11-b29a-f9988b6797f51033.mspx?mfr=true

 

i hope helps.

 

best regards,

chang yin

microsoft online community support

 

Windows Server  >  Setup Deployment