Where to place an AutoUnattend.xml?

Question

Where to place an AutoUnattend.xml?

Jerry Sims 0

I have an autounattend.xml file that is under the root directory of the thumbdrive. Everything says to place it there. The installation thumbdrive was created withe Windows Media Creation Tool. It is not working. Where do I actually need to put it or is there something else I need to do to it?

I can not seem to find anything that can answer the question.

Erik Moreau 981 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2024-08-14T18:58:31.1066667+00:00

Hi Jerry, have you tried putting the xml file on a 2nd usb drive also plugged into the device like decribed here?

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/automate-windows-setup?view=windows-11&WT.mc_id=WDIT-MVP-5000497
Darrell Gorter 2,731 Reputation points

2024-08-14T21:49:32.3766667+00:00

Hello,

That is the correct location. Here is the documentation on where to place it:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/automate-windows-setup?view=windows-11

You are booting from the thumb drive correct?

What does the setupact.log show? ( C:\windows\panther folder)

Check the log to see if the autounattend file is found.

Also check to see if any unattend file is found.

Darrell
Jerry Sims 0 Reputation points

2024-08-15T00:30:44.66+00:00

Erik,

I'm using the same thumbdrive that I'm using as the install thumbdrive as described in the installation drive.

Derrell,

Except the file that says which one to use "When no other answer file is selected, Windows Setup searches for this file." Which doesn't seem to say to use a particular one. Maybe there is suppose to be one and i do not know how to create one?

I'll have to check the log tomorrow.

Thanks.
Jerry Sims 0 Reputation points

2024-08-15T13:52:12.39+00:00

Update.

Computer 1: The log stated "CallBack_Unattend_InitiatePass: No unattend file was present, skipping unattend setting passes"

Computer 2: It worked on the second computer (same model and drive as the first except no wifi installed) with no changes made to the installation media.
Darrell Gorter 2,731 Reputation points

2024-08-15T13:58:13.1466667+00:00

Wow, that is strange. So you know the autounattend is in the correct spot and is functional.

Are the drive configurations that same in both computers?

Are you using the same USB port in both computers?

I don't know why WiFi would affect this but be interesting to see if the second computer fails with WiFi disabled as well.
Jerry Sims 0 Reputation points

2024-08-15T14:48:18.8533333+00:00

That would be correct.

The drives were both purchased together so the model / size is exactly the same. The computers are also were purchased together and same model.

I am using the same USB drive in both cases.

It did run through the autounattend before I realized the wifi was turned off. The autounattend is set up to run without internet connections. I later found out that the wifi was disabled in the BIOs afterwards. Not sure if that made a difference.
Darrell Gorter 2,731 Reputation points

2024-08-15T18:44:03.99+00:00

Is the boot order the same in the bios for each machine?

Have you tried enabling WiFi to see if that allows it work on machine 1?

Darrell