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Error installing Win10: Windows cannot read the <ProductKey> setting from the unattend answer file

Ken K 11 Reputation points
2021-06-14T02:25:11.363+00:00

So I'm building a new PC. I have Windows 10 Home retail version on the readonly USB stick. At the beginning of the install process I'm getting the error message "Windows cannot read the <ProductKey> setting from the unattend answer file. Clicking "OK" reboots the machine.

I don't see a way to enter in my product key. I'm not trying to do an unattended installation.

I've read where I'm supposed to download an ISO file and create a bootable USB Key or DVD but I don't have a spare USB key.

Windows 10 Setup
Windows 10 Setup
Windows 10: A Microsoft operating system that runs on personal computers and tablets.Setup: The procedures involved in preparing a software program or application to operate within a computer or mobile device.
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  1. Robin Mitchell 41 Reputation points
    2021-10-28T17:28:30.61+00:00

    I had this happen today when I was trying to upgrade Windows 7 on a fresh VMware Fusion instance. Turns out that VMware Fusion uses the floppy drive to load some drivers initially, and the floppy disk had this autounattend.xml file on it. I just removed the floppy drive from the VMware config and then it worked fine. It took way too long to figure this out - who uses floppy disks in 2021??

    8 people found this answer helpful.
  2. NeverEasy 35 Reputation points
    2023-02-21T12:26:37.7133333+00:00

    Remove any other external devices, especially check optical drives for a disk. Removing the mfg motherborad setup DVD fixed my problem.

    7 people found this answer helpful.
  3. Teemo Tang 11,426 Reputation points
    2021-06-14T06:32:50.387+00:00

    The error message “Windows cannot read the <ProductKey> setting from the unattend answer file. Clicking "OK" reboots the machine” display because there is an autounattend.xml file in the USB drive.
    Just plug it into a working computer and delete:
    autounattend.xml
    Then, install your Windows 10 by this USB again.

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  4. Sean Liming 4,601 Reputation points
    2023-09-30T15:57:10.0366667+00:00

    Ran into this before. Your answer file is missing a setting. If you created an answer file using SIM, you have to add the product key to Pass 1 WindowsPE to get pass this error.

    productkey

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  5. José L. Farinha 0 Reputation points
    2024-05-09T12:56:07.6266667+00:00

    Solution:

    1. Power of the VM machine
    2. Go to the settings of your VM - System - Boot Order - Uncheck Floppy
    3. Press OK
    4. Go to the folder where your VM is stored (default is Home - VirtualBox VMs)
    5. Delete all 3 files that start with "Unattended"
    6. Power on the VM machine
    7. Click OK on the warning
    8. Press any key to continue

    All done, now it should work as normal.

    Credit: https://www.reddit.com/r/virtualbox/comments/1c1o605/error_installing_windows_windows_cannot_read_the/

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