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Windows 7 deployment

Hi Guys,

For some reason I cannot get a answer file to work when deploying Windows 7 32bit pro. Any ideas?

Everytime time the imaging starts it puts me straight at the lauguage, time and currency etc.. input screen.

Any Ideas on what is going wrong?

Please see my answer file below - very basic for now I just want to get it working. Thanks

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
<settings pass="windowsPE">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<InputLocale>en-gb</InputLocale>
<SystemLocale>en-gb</SystemLocale>
<UILanguage>en-gb</UILanguage>
<UserLocale>en-gb</UserLocale>
</component>
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" 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>
</DiskConfiguration>
<UseConfigurationSet>true</UseConfigurationSet>
</component>
</settings>
<settings pass="specialize">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-SystemRestore-Main" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<DisableSR>1</DisableSR>
</component>
</settings>
<settings pass="oobeSystem">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<InputLocale>en-gb</InputLocale>
<SystemLocale>en-gb</SystemLocale>
<UILanguage>en-gb</UILanguage>
<UILanguageFallback></UILanguageFallback>
<UserLocale>en-gb</UserLocale>
</component>
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<RegisteredOrganization>test</RegisteredOrganization>
<RegisteredOwner>IS</RegisteredOwner>
<TimeZone>Coordinated Universal Time</TimeZone>
</component>
</settings>
<cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="catalog:c:/iso/sw_dvd5_win_pro_7w_sp1_32bit_english_mlf_x17-28595/sources/install_windows 7 professional.clg" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

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Answers (27)

Posted by: cserrins 13 years ago
Red Belt
2
There is an example join domain script that you can run as a post install task. Or set your unattend file to join the domain. Since the computer is named properly it won't be a problem. However, if you have other postinstalls to accomplish its easier to do the join domain as the last postinstall.

I'll have to test on reapplying the get computername with /dialog. It should appear everytime.
Posted by: weberik 13 years ago
Yellow Belt
0
well im not sure about anything dell specific here,
but on the first glimpse this looks a bit odd
<WillShowUI>Always</WillShowUI>
in your xml.
try <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
or <WillShowUI>Never</WillShowUI>

if that doesnt work check the logfile
it should be in c:\windows\setupact.log or c:\windows\panther\setupact.log

also comparing your unattended.xml to a sample from the msdn howto might help
see the following link for guides and where to find samples:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd349348%28WS.10%29.aspx

another option is to validate the xml with the "Windows System Image Manager", also explained in the technet link
Posted by: mac456 13 years ago
Purple Belt
0
Thank you I will have a read
Posted by: mac456 13 years ago
Purple Belt
0
resolved the 1st bit now, turns out my en-gb doesnt work for some of the configuration.

My next issue is the get computer name script just hangs any ideas on this?
Posted by: cserrins 13 years ago
Red Belt
0
which computer name script?
Posted by: rmeyer 13 years ago
Second Degree Blue Belt
0
Mine looks like this in GB sites
You can try to set it like it then it works for me at least :)

<component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS">
<UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
<InputLocale>en-gb</InputLocale>
<UserLocale>en-gb</UserLocale>
<SystemLocale>en-gb</SystemLocale>
<SetupUILanguage>
<UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
</SetupUILanguage>
</component>

And

<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS">
<TimeZone>GMT Standard Time</TimeZone>
<!--computername and other stuff in here aswell etc-->
</component>

And

<component xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS">
<InputLocale>en-gb</InputLocale>
<SystemLocale>en-gb</SystemLocale>
<UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
<UserLocale>en-gb</UserLocale>
</component>

Posted by: mac456 13 years ago
Purple Belt
0
Thanks, worked a treat :).

cserrins - getcomputername.exe script?

Basically the end result that I am after is the pc to prompt for a pc name, which then joins to the domain and into the correct ou.

Is this possible?

Thanks
Posted by: cserrins 13 years ago
Red Belt
0
Make sure you are using the latest tasks listed on this page, http://www.kace.com/support/kb/index.php?action=artikel&cat=54&id=1137&artlang=en
There was a recent update. If you still have issues, pm me your phone number and we'll do a webex to work through it.
Posted by: mac456 13 years ago
Purple Belt
0
Thanks, this seems to have solved it. Computer name dialog now appearing. Hopefully it will set too.

Thanks again.
Posted by: cserrins 13 years ago
Red Belt
0
why of course ;)
As long as you are deploying to a sysprepped image or a scripted install.
Posted by: mac456 13 years ago
Purple Belt
0
Thanks and it did set. Just need it to join to the domain now any ideas?

Also does the getcomputername.exe /dialog only work once per computer? if so is there a way to keep it re appearing everytime? as I have just tried to same machine again and it wont reappear.

Thanks again.
Posted by: RandomITPro 13 years ago
4th Degree Black Belt
0
I found naming and joining the domain a difficult thing initially. I use sysprep to prompt for a name using <computername></computername>. For joining to the domain, I always liked XP's ability to join via command line using the NETDOM command. Netdom is missing from Win 7 pro so I had to install it via a windows update on my master image. Google KB958830 for the installer.
I then added the following command to first login command in unattend file:

netdom join %computername% /Domain:yourdomain.org /UserD:adaccount /PasswordD:password

works everytime.
Posted by: mac456 12 years ago
Purple Belt
0
Thanks, If you could that would be great as I didnt re appear. Let me know once you have a result. :)

I will do some testing guys thanks.
Posted by: mac456 12 years ago
Purple Belt
0
Resolved the getcomputername.exe not appearing again. It was because the drive the txt file gets saved too wasn't being formatted properly. I assume it always looks to see if the .txt file is there before changing the name. It now works.

Thanks
Posted by: tcunningham 12 years ago
Senior Yellow Belt
0
On numerous tests seems like the getcomputername_x64.exe /dialog only prompts if I have the /timeout switch with it?

Should it also work without the /timeout switch?
Posted by: tcunningham 12 years ago
Senior Yellow Belt
0
Nevermind the above post for some reason it is now starting to work without /timeout switch
Posted by: tcunningham 12 years ago
Senior Yellow Belt
0
Ok I thought had it resolved but something wierd is going on and sometimes the getcomputername_x64.exe prompts for input of computername and sometimes not.

I have a RSA in my London site and have just amended my scripted installation to add some other software - resynced the RSA and of couse waited till sync completed successfully. Tried scripted install and I was not prompted to enter a computername. So I closed the cmd script and ran again and this time it worked.

Rebooted computer ran scripted install again and still not prompt. Ended script ran scripted install again and worked. NOT sure what's going on but don't want to have to inform IT staff in various sites to close scipt and try again each time.
Posted by: mac456 12 years ago
Purple Belt
0
For me it was to do with the partition the name gets copied too (it wasn't automatically being wiped once the deployment had finished) So every time I started the script again it kept detecting it was still there. Once I set up a script to format both partitions correctly before the getcomputername script runs, the prompt has appeared every time without fail. Maybe worth a try?
Posted by: tcunningham 12 years ago
Senior Yellow Belt
0
I have amended pre-installation task getcomputername after the partitioning, formating and installing MBR tasks and so far so good. prompting of computername has worked everytime so far.

Thanks Mac
Posted by: mac456 12 years ago
Purple Belt
0
No worries :)
Posted by: tcunningham 12 years ago
Senior Yellow Belt
0
Just come back from attending the KACE Konference in the UK and boot kamp instructors informed us to place Getcomputername before formatting and partitioning as it will defeat the object of capturing the computername of a machine you where rebuilding the OS. But even in the class the "getcomputername /dialog" did not prompt.

They seemed to think there may be a bug in it atm.
Posted by: mac456 12 years ago
Purple Belt
0
Thanks for the update.

I think what they mean is, if you are not using the dialog switch (eg, you require the old name to be stored) then you should put the getcomputername before the format process.

But in my enviroment we do not use the same name on machines, we require it prompting everytime so formatting it before the getcomputername runs will not effect anything because I do not need the old name.

But it would be nice if it worked how it should do.

Thanks

Mac
Posted by: cserrins 12 years ago
Red Belt
0
mac456 you are correct the reason to run it prior to wiping out the drive is to get the existing name. Though I'm not sure why the /dialog isn't working when appearing first, the .exe looks at command line options first. I'll try debugging this since I'm one of two engineers that wrote it.
Posted by: tcunningham 12 years ago
Senior Yellow Belt
0
Thanks Corey, I look forward to seeing your results.
Posted by: rmeyer 12 years ago
Second Degree Blue Belt
0
you could also just add this to the unattend.xml
that will join the domain and add the PC in the OU you like to have it in right away so you don't have to have a script run afterwards

<component name="Microsoft-Windows-UnattendedJoin" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS">
<Identification>
<JoinDomain>Domain name</JoinDomain>
<Credentials>
<Domain>Domain name</Domain>
<Username>Username of user that can join domain</Username>
<Password>Password :)</Password>
</Credentials>
<MachineObjectOU>OU=Computers,DC=Domain,DC=local</MachineObjectOU>
</Identification>
</component>
Posted by: cserrins 12 years ago
Red Belt
0
rmeyer,

Definitely a possibility and works great. The only issue I've seen is with customers that want to autologon, but don't want to do so with a domain account.

Corey
Posted by: ngbrown24 12 years ago
Blue Belt
0
That is exactly what I'm doing. Joining the domain in sysprep and using wsname as a post install to rename the machine. It still auto logins in with my local admin account. Works great!
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