
Unattended Windows Installs (answer files, etc.)
You can specify your own unattend.xml file for Easy2Boot to use (Vista/Win7/SVR2K8R2/Win8/Server2012/Win10/SVR2016/SVR2019/AIO) or unattend.txt files (XP).If the file DEFAULT.XML exists in the same folder as the ISO, then the DEFAULT.XML file will be automatically picked by E2B (E2B v1.B0+,not for XP).
Windows XP
Using the 'Install XP from an ISO using WinPE' Menu option
There is an example XP_EeePC_Auto_UK.txt file already present.
Using the 'Install from ISO using Step 1/Step 2' (DPMS) Menu option
Note: There are example files in the \_ISO\WINDOWS\XP folder.
Just name your XP ISO Winxp_32_sp3.iso - it will use Winxp_32_sp3.ISO.AUTO and EeePC.SIF (and at the end of the Stage 2 install, it will run EeePC.sif.cmd.
Note: The MyE2B.cfg file must start with !BAT on the first line.
Example 1 - Auto-selection (one SIF file for one ISO)
Example 2 - User selection of an unattend file
XP_PRO_32_Dell530.AUTO (contains set WINNT=D530.sif)
Running a script after GUI Mode Setup has rebooted
Unattend.txt\Winnt.sif format
Vista\Win7\SVR2K8R2
Add your own unattend.xml files into the appropriate folder and you can choose one when prompted. Any name ending in .xml will do.Tip: A really easy way to generate a basic XML install file for Win7/8/8.1 online is here.
Then use the XMLtoE2B.exe conversion utility to add the LOADISO RunSynchronous code + other tweaks.
To make an XML file manually - read my blog page here.
A useful flowchart for WinPE\Setup.exe\Winpeshl.exe\Startnet.cmd\wpeinit.exe is here.
Win8\SVR2012\Win10\SVR2016
Tip: A really easy way to generate a basic XML install file for Win7/8/10 etc. online, can be found h ere.
The page also contains useful information about how to use the various settings within an XML file.
Modifying Unattend.xml files to work with Easy2Boot
Note: You must balance the XML text - every
2014-12-22 18:06:35, Info [0x07002e] DIAG Logging New OS to BB2014-12-22 18:06:35, Info IBS Unattend: Setup is running in WinPE; will wait for removable storage devices to initialize before unattend search2014-12-22 18:06:35, Info IBS Unattend: Removable storage devices initialized; waited 0ms (status 0x00000000)2014-12-22 18:06:35, Info [setup.exe] UnattendSearchExplicitPath: Found unattend file at [D:\autounattend.xml]; examining for applicability.2014-12-22 18:06:35, Info [setup.exe] UnattendSearchExplicitPath: Found usable unattend file for pass [windowsPE] at [D:\autounattend.xml].2014-12-22 18:06:35, Info IBS Callback_Unattend_InitEngine:Using unattend file found at [D:\autounattend.xml].
If no X:\Windows\Panther folder exists, it usually means that the XML file was not found, look in X:\Windows\Setupact.log for clues.
XMLtoE2B
Change the ComputerName and UserName each time (MBR .ISO booting)
It is possible to prompt the user for a ComputerName and UserName before you start the install, and it will then dynamically modify the XML file.
See he re for details and also see the WIN10_Prompt_for_PCNAME_and_UNAME.mnu file in the \_ISO\docs\Sample mnu Files\Windows folder.
See also WIN10_Prompt_for_UNAME_auto_serial_COMPNAME.mnu for a method of setting the ComputerName to contain the Serial Number of the system.
The Sample Mnu file WIN10_Prompt_User_for_XML_settings.mnu prompts the user for various XML settings and then modifies the XML file before it is used. This allows you to use the same XML file each time, but specify the UserName, ComputerName, FullName, RegisteredOwner, RegisteredOrganization, etc. before you start each build (E2B v1.A1+).
Disk Auto-wipe
If you don't want auto-wipe then remove the whole <DiskConfiguration> and <ImageInstall>
FAQ - Setup prompts for Language\Country - why?
Make sure you have the correct ISO. For UK and Europe, you need the International version.
FAQ - Setup prompts for the Edition (Home/Pro, etc.) - why?
Make sure you have the correct ISO (check the Install.wim or Install.ESD contains the Edition you are trying to install)
Check the INDEX number is correct in your XML file (e.g. Professional may be INDEX 1 or INDEX 7 or INDEX 9, etc. depending on ISO).
Check the Product Key is correct in your XML file.
Installing Windows 7/8/10 from an ISO
When you install from an ISO using an XML file, you may want to add files and folders to the default set of Windows files.
You can modify the \sources\install.wim file inside the ISO, however, you can instead copy files and folders from your USB drive to the Windows installation by adding the another XML section into the 'Specialize' pass of the XML file (i.e. after Setup has copied the Windows files and booted into Windows). See the blog for details.
As an alternative, use SDI_CHOCO to install drivers and applications automatically.
Using ISO+XML files under Virtual Box
See here.
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