Now I'm going to explore how to set that up.
First step is to download the kit from the following link.
Set these fields in the unattended file:
(Note: this links all go to the Vista WAIK, find the ones for Win7)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314105
http://maximumpcguides.com/windows-vista/move-and-optimize-windows-vistas-paging-file/
Move hibernate file as well. (post install?)
Install from USB key:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/dd535816.aspx
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/howtos/how_to_install_windows_7_beta_a_usb_key
Got this finally working just using an AutoUnattend.xml file on a USB stick inserted into the PC at the same time you're installing Win7. (CD + USB stick, or install from USB stick and put this file on there as well)
Here's a link to this file: AutoUnattend.xml
This will still ask you which partition you'd like to install Windows on, which gives you the chance to do advanced formatting of your drives/partitions.
P.S. Thanks to http://www.manoli.net/csharpformat/ for the code formatting above.
First step is to download the kit from the following link.
Note, this file is 1.7GB in size, so give yourself a some time to download this.
- Insert your Win7 DVD, or mount your Win7 .iso image (I use MagicDisc by MagicIso). (For the remaining steps I'll assume this is in your L: drive)
- Run the Windows System Image Manager application.
- Select your Windows Image file: L:\sources\install.wim
- Then select which image you'll be using: Windows 7 ULTIMATE
- In the Windows Image pane, select which components you want to set for your installation
This is the fun part. There's a ton of properties here that you can set pre-installation. I have no idea what most of the them do, but I'm looking for just a few to set.
The main two properties I want to set are ProfilesDirectory and the ProgramData. (Note: this links are for Vista; I couldn't find where the Win7 ones are; the two help trees are quite different.)
- Find the amd64_Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup_6.1.7600.16385 Component and the sub-node, FolderLocations.
- Right click and choose to Add Setting to Pass...
- This property will now be added to the Answer File pane and you can set the values for the two Settings.
- I set ProfilesDirectory to D:\Users
- I set ProgramData to D:\ProgramData
(Use 64-bit WAIK for 64-bit images, 32-bit WAIK for either)
Here's a guide on setting up an unattended installation.
Words of warning
There were some issues with Vista where installing /Users to a different drive would prevent some patches, but that was resolved in a KB hot fix, which I'm assuming rolled into Win7.
Set these fields in the unattended file:
(Note: this links all go to the Vista WAIK, find the ones for Win7)
- Shell Component
- Setup Component
- PageFile
- Time Zone
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314105
http://maximumpcguides.com/windows-vista/move-and-optimize-windows-vistas-paging-file/
Move hibernate file as well. (post install?)
Install from USB key:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/dd535816.aspx
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/howtos/how_to_install_windows_7_beta_a_usb_key
Got this finally working just using an AutoUnattend.xml file on a USB stick inserted into the PC at the same time you're installing Win7. (CD + USB stick, or install from USB stick and put this file on there as well)
Here's a link to this file: AutoUnattend.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
<servicing></servicing>
<settings pass="windowsPE">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<UserData>
<ProductKey>
<Key>AAAAA-BBBBB-CCCCCC-DDDDD-EEEEE</Key>
<WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
</ProductKey>
<AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
<FullName>root</FullName>
<Organization>AcmeWEC</Organization>
</UserData>
<Display>
<ColorDepth>32</ColorDepth>
<HorizontalResolution>1280</HorizontalResolution>
<VerticalResolution>1024</VerticalResolution>
</Display>
<UseConfigurationSet>true</UseConfigurationSet>
</component>
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<SetupUILanguage>
<UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
</SetupUILanguage>
<InputLocale>en-US</InputLocale>
<SystemLocale>en-US</SystemLocale>
<UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
<UserLocale>en-US</UserLocale>
</component>
</settings>
<settings pass="oobeSystem">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<FolderLocations>
<ProfilesDirectory>D:\Users</ProfilesDirectory>
<ProgramData>D:\ProgramData</ProgramData>
</FolderLocations>
</component>
</settings>
<settings pass="specialize">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<TimeZone>Pacific Standard Time</TimeZone>
</component>
</settings>
<cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="wim:l:/sources/install.wim#Windows 7 ULTIMATE" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>
This will still ask you which partition you'd like to install Windows on, which gives you the chance to do advanced formatting of your drives/partitions.
P.S. Thanks to http://www.manoli.net/csharpformat/ for the code formatting above.
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