Directory of Autounattend.xml for partitioning an disk

M

Mazzaroc

HI

In which directory of the DVD of Vista SP1 64 bit I have to put the
Autounattend.xml file in order to allow Vista to automatically erase
and create the partitions of an disk?


THANKS

BYE
 
Z

Zaphod Beeblebrox

Mazzaroc said:
HI

In which directory of the DVD of Vista SP1 64 bit I have to put the
Autounattend.xml file in order to allow Vista to automatically erase
and create the partitions of an disk?
Click to expand...
Put it in the root directory of the DVD.
 
M

Mazzaroc

HI


Put it in the root directory of the DVD.
Click to expand...

Are you absolutely sure that a Autounattend.xml file that contains the
DiskConfiguration section used to partition a hard disk, is placed in
the root directory of the DVD of Vista SP1 64 bit?

THANKS

BYE
 
Z

Zaphod Beeblebrox

Mazzaroc said:
Are you absolutely sure that a Autounattend.xml file that contains the
DiskConfiguration section used to partition a hard disk, is placed in
the root directory of the DVD of Vista SP1 64 bit?
Click to expand...

As I understand it, the only place Windows looks for an autounattend.xml
is in the root directory of any/all removable media, and I don't believe
it makes a difference what sections are included. That said, I
personally wouldn't put one that erases and partitions the hard disk in
the root of my installation DVD, rather I would use a USB drive that way
I don't suffer any nasty surprises...
 
M

Mazzaroc

HI

Can someone explain to me why this autounattend.xml file

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
<settings pass="windowsPE">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup"
processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35"
language="neutral" versionScope="NonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://
schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://
www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<UserData>
<AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
</UserData>
<DiskConfiguration>
<WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
<Disk wcm:action="add">
<CreatePartitions>
<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
<Order>1</Order>
<Size>25000</Size>
<Type>Primary</Type>
</CreatePartition>
<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
<Extend>true</Extend>
<Order>2</Order>
<Type>Primary</Type>
</CreatePartition>
</CreatePartitions>
<ModifyPartitions>
<ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
<Active>true</Active>
<Extend>false</Extend>
<Format>NTFS</Format>
<Label>Vista_SP1_64_bit</Label>
<Letter>C</Letter>
<Order>1</Order>
<PartitionID>1</PartitionID>
</ModifyPartition>
<ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
<Active>false</Active>
<Extend>false</Extend>
<Format>NTFS</Format>
<Label>Data</Label>
<Letter>D</Letter>
<Order>2</Order>
<PartitionID>2</PartitionID>
</ModifyPartition>
</ModifyPartitions>
<DiskID>0</DiskID>
<WillWipeDisk>true</WillWipeDisk>
</Disk>
</DiskConfiguration>
</component>
</settings>
<settings pass="oobeSystem">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup"
processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35"
language="neutral" versionScope="NonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://
schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://
www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<FolderLocations>
<ProfilesDirectory>D:\Users</ProfilesDirectory>
</FolderLocations>
</component>
</settings>
<settings pass="specialize">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-Licensing-SLC-UX"
processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35"
language="neutral" versionScope="NonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://
schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://
www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<SkipAutoActivation>true</SkipAutoActivation>
</component>
</settings>
<settings pass="generalize">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-Licensing-SLC"
processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35"
language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://
schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://
www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<SkipRearm>0</SkipRearm>
</component>
</settings>
<cpi:blush:fflineImage cpi:source="wim:C:/Users/Public/Documents/
Vista_SP1_64_bit/sources/install.wim#Windows Vista ULTIMATE"
xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

does not create two primary partitions?

Now, how do you automatically create two primary partitions?

THANKS

BYE
 
Z

Zaphod Beeblebrox

Mazzaroc said:
HI

Can someone explain to me why this autounattend.xml file
Click to expand...
<CreatePartitions>
<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
<Order>1</Order>
<Size>25000</Size>
<Type>Primary</Type>
</CreatePartition>
<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
<Extend>true</Extend>
<Order>2</Order>
<Type>Primary</Type>
</CreatePartition>
</CreatePartitions>
Click to expand...

does not create two primary partitions?

Now, how do you automatically create two primary partitions?
Click to expand...

The only things I see that might cause problems are that you don't set
the size of the 2nd partition you want to create, and you don't set the
Extend property for the 1st partition. I don't know if either is
required, but worth a shot. Try the following to see if it helps:

<Disk wcm:action="add">
<CreatePartitions>
<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
<Extend>false</Extend>
<Order>1</Order>
<Size>25000</Size>
<Type>Primary</Type>
</CreatePartition>
<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
<Extend>true</Extend>
<Order>2</Order>
<Size>25000</Size>
<Type>Primary</Type>
</CreatePartition>
</CreatePartitions>

By the way, another good source for help with Vista deployment issues is
at
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/itprovistadeployment/threads/

--
Zaphod

Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster: A cocktail based on Janx Spirit.
The effect of one is like have your brain smashed out
by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick.
 
M

Mazzaroc

HI







The only things I see that might cause problems are that you don't set
the size of the 2nd partition you want to create, and you don't set the
Extend property for the 1st partition.  I don't know if either is
required, but worth a shot.  Try the following to see if it helps:

                <Disk wcm:action="add">
                    <CreatePartitions>
                        <CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
                            <Extend>false</Extend>
                            <Order>1</Order>
                            <Size>25000</Size>
                            <Type>Primary</Type>
                        </CreatePartition>
                        <CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
                            <Extend>true</Extend>
                            <Order>2</Order>
                            <Size>25000</Size>
                            <Type>Primary</Type>
                        </CreatePartition>
                    </CreatePartitions>

By the way, another good source for help with Vista deployment issues is
athttp://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/itprovistadeployment....

--
Zaphod

Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster: A cocktail based on Janx Spirit.
  The effect of one is like have your brain smashed out
  by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick.
Click to expand...

Finally I created those two partitions by putting the file
autounattend.xml in the root directory of the DVD of Vista SP1 64 bit.
Now my file is:


<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
<settings pass="windowsPE">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup"
processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35"
language="neutral" versionScope="NonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://
schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://
www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<UserData>
<AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
</UserData>
<DiskConfiguration>
<Disk wcm:action="add">
<CreatePartitions>
<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
<Order>1</Order>
<Size>25000</Size>
<Type>Primary</Type>
</CreatePartition>
<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
<Extend>true</Extend>
<Order>2</Order>
<Type>Extended</Type>
</CreatePartition>
<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
<Order>3</Order>
<Type>Logical</Type>
<Extend>true</Extend>
</CreatePartition>
</CreatePartitions>
<ModifyPartitions>
<ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
<Active>true</Active>
<Extend>false</Extend>
<Format>NTFS</Format>
<Label>VISTA</Label>
<Letter>C</Letter>
<Order>1</Order>
<PartitionID>1</PartitionID>
</ModifyPartition>
<ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
<Active>false</Active>
<Extend>false</Extend>
<Format>NTFS</Format>
<Label>Data</Label>
<Letter>D</Letter>
<Order>2</Order>
<PartitionID>2</PartitionID>
</ModifyPartition>
</ModifyPartitions>
<DiskID>0</DiskID>
<WillWipeDisk>true</WillWipeDisk>
</Disk>
<WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
</DiskConfiguration>
</component>
</settings>
<settings pass="oobeSystem">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup"
processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35"
language="neutral" versionScope="NonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://
schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://
www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<FolderLocations>
<ProfilesDirectory>D:\Users</ProfilesDirectory>
</FolderLocations>
</component>
</settings>
<settings pass="specialize">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-Licensing-SLC-UX"
processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35"
language="neutral" versionScope="NonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://
schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://
www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<SkipAutoActivation>true</SkipAutoActivation>
</component>
</settings>
<settings pass="generalize">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-Licensing-SLC"
processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35"
language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://
schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://
www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<SkipRearm>0</SkipRearm>
</component>
</settings>
<cpi:blush:fflineImage cpi:source="wim:C:/Users/Public/Documents/
Vista_SP1_64_bit/sources/install.wim#Windows Vista ULTIMATE"
xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>




now I saw a strange thing: the window that displays the partitions
during the installation is proper, but when I click on the next
window, Vista starts copying files on the disk but stops immediately
with a window which says:


Unable to prepare the computer to restart for the next step of
installation. To install Windows, restart the installation.

Or:


Unable to prepare for the partition selected for installation

Why? What is the trick?


I have already tried to move the instruction <WillWipeDisk> true </
WillWipeDisk> at the beginning of the structure, but does not work.

Thanks

Bye
 
Z

Zaphod Beeblebrox

Mazzaroc said:
Finally I created those two partitions by putting the file
autounattend.xml in the root directory of the DVD of Vista SP1 64 bit.
Now my file is:


<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
<settings pass="windowsPE">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup"
processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35"
language="neutral" versionScope="NonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://
schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://
www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<UserData>
<AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
</UserData>
<DiskConfiguration>
<Disk wcm:action="add">
<CreatePartitions>
<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
<Order>1</Order>
<Size>25000</Size>
<Type>Primary</Type>
</CreatePartition>
<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
<Extend>true</Extend>
<Order>2</Order>
<Type>Extended</Type>
</CreatePartition>
<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
<Order>3</Order>
<Type>Logical</Type>
<Extend>true</Extend>
</CreatePartition>
</CreatePartitions>
<ModifyPartitions>
<ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
<Active>true</Active>
<Extend>false</Extend>
<Format>NTFS</Format>
<Label>VISTA</Label>
<Letter>C</Letter>
<Order>1</Order>
<PartitionID>1</PartitionID>
</ModifyPartition>
<ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
<Active>false</Active>
<Extend>false</Extend>
<Format>NTFS</Format>
<Label>Data</Label>
<Letter>D</Letter>
<Order>2</Order>
<PartitionID>2</PartitionID>
</ModifyPartition>
</ModifyPartitions>
<DiskID>0</DiskID>
<WillWipeDisk>true</WillWipeDisk>
</Disk>
<WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
</DiskConfiguration>
</component>
</settings>

<snip>



now I saw a strange thing: the window that displays the partitions
during the installation is proper, but when I click on the next
window, Vista starts copying files on the disk but stops immediately
with a window which says:


Unable to prepare the computer to restart for the next step of
installation. To install Windows, restart the installation.

Or:


Unable to prepare for the partition selected for installation

Why? What is the trick?


I have already tried to move the instruction <WillWipeDisk> true </
WillWipeDisk> at the beginning of the structure, but does not work.
Click to expand...

You need to specify which partition you want Windows to be installed to,
like this:

<ImageInstall>
<OSImage>
<InstallTo>
<DiskID>0</DiskID>
<PartitionID>1</PartitionID>
</InstallTo>
<WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
</OSImage>
</ImageInstall>

Put it just after the </DiskConfiguration> section.

And by the way, I agree with lakmilis. You should really pick one thread
and stick with it for continuity.
 
Z

Zaphod Beeblebrox

lakmilis said:
your problem is you
say partition 2 is extended, then you in modifypartition 2 set
extend(ed) to false.
Click to expand...

An Extended partition is different than setting a partition to Extend,
they are not mutually exclusive. An Extended partition is a type of
partition (Primary vs Extended), while setting the Extend property tells
it whether or not to extend the partition to take over the rest of the
unused space on the drive.
 

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