File autounattend.xml of Vista 64bit not partitions the disk

[Mazzaroc]

HI

Using WAIK, I created the autounattend.xml file by putting it on a DVD
of Vista Ultimate SP1 64 bit.

<?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">
<DiskConfiguration>
<Disk wcm:action="add">
<CreatePartitions>
<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
<Order>1</Order>
<Type>Primary</Type>
<Size>24000</Size>
<Extend>false</Extend>
</CreatePartition>
<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
<Order>2</Order>
<Type>Primary</Type>
<Extend>true</Extend>
</CreatePartition>
</CreatePartitions>
<ModifyPartitions>
<ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
<Active>true</Active>
<Letter>C</Letter>
<Order>1</Order>
<PartitionID>1</PartitionID>
<Format>NTFS</Format>
<Extend>false</Extend>
<Label>Windows_Vista_SP1_64_bit</Label>
</ModifyPartition>
<ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
<Active>false</Active>
<Letter>D</Letter>
<Order>2</Order>
<PartitionID>2</PartitionID>
<Extend>true</Extend>
<Format>NTFS</Format>
<Label>Data</Label>
</ModifyPartition>
</ModifyPartitions>
<DiskID>0</DiskID>
<WillWipeDisk>true</WillWipeDisk>
</Disk>
<WillShowUI>Always</WillShowUI>
</DiskConfiguration>
<UserData>
<AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
</UserData>
</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>
<cpifflineImage 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>

When, however, I do the boot from the DVD, Vista does not erase the
disk and does not create the two partitions indicated by my file. Why?

THANKS

BYE

 

[Mazzaroc]

Hi there... Well you have specified to create 2 partitions C and D..
none to extend the entire Hardisk... However , under modifypartition you
have chosen to extend.. Think this is why.. syntax is ok but semantics
are wrong.

If you wish to create C = 24GB and D the rest of disk.. then create C
as you have.. and under create D, you choose extend true. For modifying
do not specify for D extend or so.. (look it up in the helpfile).

If you wish that D does NOT extend to the rest of the disk , then you
must specify in createpartition it's actual size and choose extend false
in modifypartition part.

do you see what I mean?

let me know if it works.. (I am working on the same as you) .. But I am
wondering if , when moving users and programs to other files and
reinstall C.. if the new install will overwrite my old  USERS and
PROGRAMS files on partition D and E... also.. am wondering if D and E
are not specified during install... if these pointers are valid.

Now, I created this simple 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">
<DiskConfiguration>
<WillShowUI>Always</WillShowUI>
<Disk wcm:action="add">
<DiskID>0</DiskID>
<WillWipeDisk>true</WillWipeDisk>
</Disk>
</DiskConfiguration>
</component>
</settings>
<cpifflineImage 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>

but even this works because not delete the existing partitions on disk
0. So, what should I do to run the DiskConfiguration section?

A curiosity: What is the Action voice of the string <Disk
wcm:action="add">?

THANKS

BYE

 

[Mazzaroc]

In which position of the DVD of Vista SP1 64 bit I have to put the
file in order to allow Vista to automatically erase the disk?

THANKS

BYE

 

[Mazzaroc]

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


THANKS

BYE

 

[Mazzaroc]

Not sure what you mean (sorry, your English was a little unclear there).

WillshowGUI ALWAYS is meant to bring up the diskconf. no matter what
really.

I would say... add the installtoavailablepartition = FALSE.. then the
diskconf. knows it can not access the partitions and it hsould bring up
the diskconf when you are running DVD... if you want to wipe disk 0 and
create two partitions C and D , with C 25GB and D the rest of the disk ,
lets say: then this should work:

(Under OsImage, add false to installtoavailable)
<OSImage>...
...
<InstallTo>             <DiskID>0</DiskID>            
<PartitionID>1</PartitionID>         </InstallTo>        
<WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>  
<InstallToAvailablePartition>false</InstallToAvailablePartition>    
</OSImage>    

Under Diskconf:

You add 3 createpartitions:

A -> false, 1, 25000,. primary (extend, order, size, type)
B -> true, 2, (leave blank), extended (extend, order, size, type)
C -> true, 3, (leave blank), logical (extend, order, size, type)

MODIFY P :
create two instances only (not 3!):
A-> true, false, NTFS, Vista, C, 1, 1 (active.. extended, filetype,
label, letter, order , partition). ONLY USE ONE primary partition .. in
fact ONLY USE ONE Partition as active (boot partition) to avoid
problems.
B-> (this is your 3rd partition embedded inside partition 2 which is
just a container for logical drives).
false, true, NTFS, Data, D, 2, 2

thats it. You could create just two primary as well and choose to
extend D as long as you only keep C active.

let me know if you got that and it works.

To better understand this, you can write me your Autounattend.xml file
and tell me in which directory of the DVD of Vista SP1 put this file?

THANKS

BYE

 

[Mazzaroc]

HI


I have tested and I have noticed that there are two problems:

1) The WillWipeDisk instruction does not work if a disk is never been
formatted.

2) The creation and the formatation of the second primary partition
takes place only if a dimension impose very specific to that partition
using the Size instruction.

So how do I overcome these serious limitations?

THANKS

BYE

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

HI


I have tested and I have noticed that there are two problems:

1) The WillWipeDisk instruction does not work if a disk is never been
formatted.

Well, I would think that scenarios using unattended installations you
would know in advance if the disk was formatted or not, so you would
only include WillWipeDisk if deploying to systems with pre-existing
formatted drives. If you don't know in advance, then I don't know how
to help, sorry.

2) The creation and the formatation of the second primary partition
takes place only if a dimension impose very specific to that partition
using the Size instruction.

Set the partition to a specific size in CreatePartitions and then set
the Extend property to true. I'm not sure if you need to set it to true
in CreatePartitions or ModifyPartitions or both.

So how do I overcome these serious limitations?

Try the above and let us know if it helps.