Create Answer File For Windows Vista Deployment – Part 3

I had suggested to you to add certain Windows components in my previous article in order to allow Windows installation process become unattended.

NOW, IN THIS ARTICLE, I WILL SUGGEST TO YOU THE APPROPRIATE SETTINGS THAT YOU CAN SET TO WINDOWS COMPONENTS THAT HAD BEEN ADDED.

Before I proceed, it is good for you to see and understand the picture below.



Based on the above picture, the left pane indicate the structure of an answer file. This structure consists of the 7 elements of configuration passes. The Windows components (which you added) are reside in these configuration passes.

The right pane indicate the settings for Windows components you added into configuration passes. These settings can be edited from this pane.

If you want to know more (of course you really need to know more) about these settings you can right click on it and click Help… . See picture below.

 


The Suggested Settings For Windows Components

This section will present the suggested settings for Windows components that you had added. These settings are only the basic which enough to make the Windows Vista SP1 installation become unattended.

1. The suggested settings for x86_Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE_neutral under Pass 1 windowsPE is like below
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. The suggested settings for x86_Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE_neutral –-> SetupUILanguage under Pass 1 windowsPE is like below
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. For x86_Microsoft-Windows-Setup_neutral, you have to add three sub components. They are DiskConfiguration, ImageInstall and UserData. See below
   
   
   
   Under DiskConfiguration, you need to Insert New Disk. This New Disk represent a single hard disk in your computer. 
   
   After the New Disk had been inserted, you must Insert New CreatePartition and Insert New ModifyPartition. See both pictures below.
   
   
   
   
   
   Now you have done adding & editing the Windows sub component, DiskConfiguration. So, you are ready to edit the settings for x86_Microsoft-Windows-Setup_neutral.
   
   
   
   
4. The suggested settings for x86_Microsoft-Windows-Setup_neutral under Pass 1 windowsPE can be divided into THREE PARTS based on its sub components. They are the following : 
   
   PART 1 
   
   DiskConfiguration –-> Disk
   
    
   
   DiskConfiguration –-> Disk –-> CreatePartitions –-> CreatePartition
   
   
   
   
   DiskConfiguration –-> Disk –-> ModifyPartitions –-> ModifyPartition
   
   
   
   
   PART 2 
   
   ImageInstall –-> OSImage –-> InstallTo
   
   
   
   
   PART 3
   
   UserData
   
   
   
   
   UserData –-> ProductKey
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. For x86_Microsoft-Windows-IE-InternetExplorer_neutral, you can add sub component like StartPages. Under StartPages, you can Insert New StartPage. See below.
   
   
   
   Now, you are ready to edit the settings for x86_Microsoft-Windows-IE-InternetExplorer_neutral.
   
   
   
   
6. The suggested settings for x86_Microsoft-Windows-IE-InternetExplorer_neutral under Pass 4 specialize is like below
   
   
   
   For its sub components, you can add your own blog URL under StartPages –-> StartPage   
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. The suggested settings for x86_Microsoft-Windows-International-Core_neutral under Pass 4 specialize is like below
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. The suggested settings for  x86_Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup_neutral under Pass 4 specialize is like below
   
   
   
   
   
   
9. The suggested settings for x86_Microsoft-Windows-International-Core_neutral under Pass 7 oobeSystem is like below
   
   
   
   
   
   
10. The suggested settings for x86_Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup_neutral under Pass 7 oobeSystem is like below
    
    
    
    You also should set the value for its TWO SUB COMPONENTS such as OOBE and VisualEffects.  
    
    OOBE 
    
     
    
    VisualEffects
    
    

Now you have completely setup the Windows components inside the answer file. So, it is time for you to validate and save your answer file. Follow the steps below

1. Click Tools –-> click Validate Answer File
   
   
   
   
2. Ignore any messages under Validation section like below. 
   
   
   
   
3. Save your answer file and give a suitable name to it, eg: sysprep