How to Create an ImageUnattend.xml Setup Script

Follow these steps to create an ImageUnattend.xml setup script for a Windows Server 2008 SP2 or R2 installation. After the setup script is generated, it is saved to the device driver repository.

1. Insert the Windows Server 2008 DVD media into the DVD reader of the system that is hosting the Windows Deployment Services.
2. Copy all the Windows Server 2008 catalog files into the Catalogs folder of the device driver repository, for example:

   copy DVDDrive:\source\*.clg C:\Unattend\Drivers\{WSK8|W28R2}\ Catalogs

3. Launch the Windows System Manager application and create a new ImageUnattend.xml setup script:
   1. Click Start > All Programs > Microsoft Windows AIK > Windows System Image Manager.
   2. In the Answer File pane, right-click and select New Answer File.
   3. If a message appears asking to open a new Windows image now, click No.
4. Specify the Windows Server 2008 catalog file that matches the Windows Server 2008 edition (Standard, Datacenter, or Enterprise) that you are installing:
   1. In the Windows Image pane, right-click Select Windows Image.
   2. In the Files Type list box, select Catalog files (*.clg), then click Browse to specify the Catalogs folder in the device-driver repository.

      Ensure that you select the catalog file that matches the Windows Server 2008 (SP2 or R2) edition you are installing.

      For example, for Windows Server 2008 SP2 Datacenter, select:

      C:\Unattend\Drivers\{W2K8|W2K8R2}\Catalogs\ install_Windows_Server_2008_SERVERDATACENTER.clg

5. Specify the component packages to pass 2 offlineServing.
   1. In the Windows Image pane, click and expand architecture_Microsoft-Windows-PnPCustomizationNonWinPE_version.
   2. Right-click PathAndCredentials and select Add Setting to Pass 2 OfflineServing.
6. Repeat Step 5 for each device driver you want installed during the Windows Server 2008 installation.

   Refer to the table in Incorporating Drivers Into the WIM Image for the list of device drivers to include in the install.wim file.

7. Specify an installation key value.
   1. In the Answer File pane, click and expand 2 offlineServicing,architecture_Microsoft-Windows- PnPCustomizationsNonWinPE_version.
   2. Click and expand PathAndCredentials and enter a sequence key value and the UNC device driver path in the repository.

      For example, to add the device driver for the Sun Storage PCIe SAS RAID HBA option, enter:

      Key 1

      Path \\wds-server\W2K8-Drivers\Lsi\1.19.2.64

   3. In the Credential section for each PathAndCredentials component, click and expand the component to insert the UNC domain, login name, and password (if required), which allows access to the device drivers stored in the repository.

      For example:

      Domain

      UNC_domain

      Password

      UNC_password

      Username

      UNC_username

   4. Repeat Steps 7a through 7c for each device driver you want installed during the Windows Server 2008 installation.
8. Validate the ImageUnattend.xml file using the Windows System Image Manager application:

   In the Windows System Image Manager application, click the Tools menu and select Validate Answer File.

9. Save the .xml setup script as ImageUnattend.xml using the Windows System Manager application:
   1. In the Windows System Image Manager application, click the File menu and select Save Answer File as.
   2. Save the .xml setup script in the device driver repository as:

      c:\Unattend\Drivers\W2K8\Catalogs\ImageUnattend.xml

      Exit the Windows System Image Manager application.

      The creation of the ImageUnattend.xml setup script is complete.

Next Steps

For Windows Server 2008 R2 installation, proceed to Map ImageUnattend.xml Setup Script to Windows Server 2008 Install Image.

For Windows Server 2008 SP2 installations, proceed to Add Device Driver to the Boot WIM (Windows Server 2008 SP2 Only) prior to mapping the ImageUnattend.xml setup script to the install.wim image.