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
   
   
   

Create Answer File For Windows Vista Deployment – Part 2

This is the second part of my articles about creating answer file for Windows Vista deployment. As I said, you can use the answer file to make your Windows installation become unattended (more automatic).

This mission can be accomplished by adding the suitable Windows components into the configuration passes of an answer file. These components then, will be set with the appropriate settings. Look the picture below to ease your comprehension.

 

IN THIS ARTICLE, I WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO ADD THE WINDOWS COMPONENTS INTO THE CONFIGURATION PASSES OF AN ANSWER FILE.

The suitable Windows components that you should add also will be suggested.



Before The Procedures

I assume that you have created the answer file using the steps I wrote in my previous article. Click here if you need the guide. After you finish create the answer file, you are suppose to see the interface below

 


The Procedures

Now, in this section, you will learn how to add Windows components into the configuration passes of an answer file. Only one Windows component will be added as for your guidance. 

1. Right now, I want you to focus under Windows Image’s section below. As you see it has 2 parts named Components and Packages.
   
   
   
   
2. Based on the picture above, click sign that represent Components and you will see the list of Windows components below.
   
   
   
   
3. Let say, you want to add the Windows components named x86_Microsoft-Windows-IE-InternetExplorer. So, right click on it and click on Add Setting to the available configuration pass. See below for better understanding.
   
   
   
   
4. Finally, you will see the Windows components you added appears inside the configuration pass of an answer file. See below
   
   

The Suggested Windows Components To Be Added

In this section, I will suggest the Windows components that you should add into the configuration pass of an answer file in order to make Windows installation become unattended.

1. x86_Microsoft-Windows-IE-InternetExplorer. You must Add Setting to Pass 4 specialize. Look the picture below
   
   
   
   
2. x86_Microsoft-Windows-International-Core. You must Add Setting to Pass 4 specialize and Add Setting to Pass 7 oobeSystem. Look the picture below.
   
   
   
   
3. x86_Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE. You must Add Setting to Pass 1 windowsPE. Look the picture below
   
   
   
   
4. x86_Microsoft-Windows-Setup. You must Add Setting to Pass 1 windowsPE. Look the picture below.
   
   
   
   
5. x86_Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup. You must Add Setting to Pass 4 specialize and Add Setting to Pass 7 oobeSystem. Look the picture below.
   
   

After you have finished add the all Windows components that I suggest above, you will get the structure of answer file like below

Special Note To The Readers

The Windows components that I suggest you to add is come from my working experience and reading about Windows Vista deployment. I don’t hope you to strictly follow it.

I really encourage you to read its reference (Unattended Windows Setup Reference) which can be retrieve by right click on the Windows components (which you need more info about it). Click Help… when the context menu appears. See below



If you need an additional information about Windows Vista deployment process, you can click here.

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.