Need win 7 autounattend help (ProfilesDirectory/ProgramData)

L

l0calh05t

Limp Gawd
Joined
Aug 12, 2008
Messages
128
want to install windows 7 with both the ProfilesDirectory and the ProgramData on my D: partition, but I've run into a series of problems:

1. When I run the installer from booting the DVD, the autounattend.xml is ignored (I tried various usb ports for my flash drive)
2. When I run the installer from a previously installed Win7 with the /unattend:G:\autounattend.xml flag, it isn't ignored, but the setting for ProgramData does not affect the Program Files directory
3. When I run the installer from Windows PE with the flag, my drive letters get changed during the install

What am I doing wrong?

A few details:
-I'm trying to install Windows 7 Professional x64
-I used the Win7 WAIK to create the autounattend.xml, by adding amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup/FolderLocations to the oobeSystem step (and the x86 version as well, since the amd64 alone didn't do anything at all)
 
xenios said:
Check the setup logs to see if the unattend file is being loaded durring setup.
Click to expand...

It is when I force it (and it works... partially). It isn't loaded automatically. Pretty much as stated in the post.

also, note that this setting is not recommended as any updates will fail.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc749305(WS.10).aspx
Click to expand...

That was fixed by a Hotfix/Vista SP1 (can't find the link right now). Now it should only affect upgrades (not interested in Ultimate, and when there's a new windows I'll do a separate, new installation anyways)

You should probably use folder redirection or symlinks instead.
Click to expand...
Which in many cases don't work correctly. Also not possible with the public/shared files.
 
Woops I found that out while I was posting and must of hit send on accident. Link is here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949977. The documentation was just never updated.

I have not actually tried to use this feature before so I can not really comment on this. But i have had my fair share of problems getting my unattend.xml files working when i used them with wds. If you can not find help here i would suggest the technet forums as well.

What do you mean by "but the setting for ProgramData does not affect the Program Files directory"?
 
Last edited:
Also, Just to cover all your based, make sure the file is at the root as well as spelled correctly including caps(no idea of that matters, but it wouldn't surprise me if it did).
 
xenios said:
Also, Just to cover all your based, make sure the file is at the root as well as spelled correctly including caps(no idea of that matters, but it wouldn't surprise me if it did).
Click to expand...

Yup, always at the root and I tried autounattend.xml Autounattend.xml and AutoUnattend.xml. Needless to say it never worked properly.
 
Another annoying thing to try, rename the file to the other acceptable name Unattend.xml.

Also, the programdata folder setting should have no effect on the program files directory. Think of the programdata folder as the AppData folder for the allusers profile. Its the public space that all users can access where programs can store their settings.
 
Last edited:
Mot according to the WAIK documentation. Which is apparently completely useless.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top