Create Answer File For Windows Vista Deployment – Part 1

I had explained a little in my previous post about what Microsoft WAIK for Vista Service Pack 1 can do. One of them is creating answer file for unattended Windows installation. To create this file you need to use Windows System Image Manager.



As a brief explanation, answer file is an XML document that store information about Windows settings such as time and date, language settings, user account settings, disk partition settings and so on. It usually be used together with System Preparation Tool to prepare the Windows image file for unattended Windows installation. What make the Windows installation become unattended is the Windows components settings we setup in answer file.

THIS FIRST ARTICLE WILL REVEAL HOW TO CREATE AN ANSWER FILE.

The next will be focused on the suitable Windows components and settings that you should choose to make your Windows installation become more unattended (automatic).



What You Need

1. Technician computer. This is your computer which Microsoft WAIK for Vista Service Pack 1 will be installed. You are free to run Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2 or Windows Server 2003 SP1 in it. 
   
   
2. Microsoft Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) for Vista SP1.
   
   
3. Windows image file named install.wim reside in Windows Vista DVD.

Before The Procedures

Let say we want to deploy Windows Vista SP1 in targeted computer. Therefore, you need to do the following

1. Install Microsoft Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) for Vista Service Pack 1 in your computer.
   
   
2. Copy install.wim file from Windows Vista DVD into your computer’s hard disk. This file can be retrieved from the folder named Sources reside in DVD. 
   
   
   
   Note:
   You can create a folder with suitable name in your hard disk, eg: c:\WIMSources and then store the install.wim file into it.  

The Procedures

1. Click --> click All Programs –-> click Microsoft Windows AIK –-> click Windows System Image Manager –-> you will see the image below
   
   
   
   
2. Under Windows Image’s section right click on Select a Windows image or catalog file –-> click Select Windows Image…
   
   
   
   
3. When you see the Select a Windows Image’s box above, find out where you store the install.wim file (in my case is c:\WIMSources). Highlight it and click Open.
   
   
   
   
4. When Select an Image’s box appear, choose the suitable version of Windows Vista OS you want to deploy –-> click OK.
   
   
   
   
5. If this is the first time you install Microsoft WAIK for Vista SP1 in your computer, you will see the message above. Click Yes –-> click Continue
   
   
   
   
6. Wait to allow Windows System Image Manager generate catalog file for you. After this process finish, you will see the result below. 
   
   
   
   
7. Now, under Answer File section’s, right click on Create or open an answer file –-> click New Answer File… –-> the 7 elements of configuration pass of an answer file will be produced. See below.