Building A Simple Answer File for Automate the Installation using System Image Manager

A simple answer file includes basic Windows Setup configuration and minimum Windows Welcome customizations. This example does not import any special drivers, applications, or packages. At the end of this walkthrough, you can run Windows Setup with this answer file to create an unattended installation.

Step 1: To complete this walkthrough, you need the following:

• Windows System Image Manager (Windows SIM) installed on a computer. (Windows AIK Feature)
• An authorized copy of the Windows Vista/7 product DVD.
• Removable media, such as a floppy disk or a USB flash drive (UFD).

1. On your technician computer, insert the Windows Vista product DVD into the local DVD-ROM drive.
2. On the desktop of the technician computer, navigate to the \Sources directory on your DVD-ROM drive. Copy the Install.wim file from the Windows product DVD to a location on the computer.
3. Open Windows SIM. On the desktop of the computer, click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Windows OPK (or Windows AIK), and then clickWindows System Image Manager.
4. On the File menu, click Select Windows Image.
5. In the Select a Windows Image dialog box, navigate to the location where you saved the Install.wim file, and then click Open.
6. On the File menu, click New Answer File.

Step:2 In this step, you define basic disk configuration and Windows Welcome settings.

1. In the Windows Image pane of Windows SIM, expand the Components node to display available settings.
2. On the expanded list of components, add the following components to your answer file by right-clicking the component and then by selecting the appropriate configuration pass. This action will add the component to your answer file in the specified configuration pass. A configuration pass is a phase of Windows installation. Different parts of the Windows Vista operating system are installed in different configuration passes. You can specify settings to be applied in one or more configuration passes.

Component	Configuration Pass
Microsoft-Windows-Setup\DiskConfiguration\Disk\CreatePartitions\ CreatePartition	windowsPE
Microsoft-Windows-Setup\DiskConfiguration\Disk\ModifyPartitions\ ModifyPartition	windowsPE
Microsoft-Windows-Setup\ImageInstall\OSImage\InstallTo	windowsPE
Microsoft-Windows-Setup \UserData	windowsPE
Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE	windowsPE
Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE\SetupUILanguage	windowsPE
Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup \OEMInformation	specialize
Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup \OOBE	oobeSystem
Microsoft-Windows-Deployment\Reseal	oobeSystem
Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup\Autologon	auditSystem

All the settings you added must appear in the Answer File pane. Select and configure each setting as specified below.

Component	Value
Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE	InputLocale = <Input Locale>SystemLocale = <System Locale>UILanguage = <UI Language> UserLocale = <User Locale>
Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE\SetupUILanguage	UILanguage = <UI Language>
Microsoft-Windows-Setup\DiskConfiguration	WillShowUI = OnError
Microsoft-Windows-Setup\DiskConfiguration\Disk	DiskID = 0WillWipeDisk = true
Microsoft-Windows-Setup\DiskConfiguration\Disk\CreatePartitions\CreatePartition	Extend = falseOrder = 1Size = 15000 (Note: you can adjust Size accordingly; this example uses 15 gigabytes. Type = Primary
Microsoft-Windows-Setup \DiskConfiguration\Disk\ModifyPartitions\ModifyPartition	Active = trueExtend = falseFormat = NTFS Label = OS_Install Letter = C Order = 1 PartitionID = 1
Microsoft-Windows-Setup\ImageInstall\OSImage\	WillShowUI = OnError
Microsoft-Windows-Setup\ImageInstall\OSImage\InstallTo	DiskID = 0PartitionID = 1
Microsoft-Windows-Setup \UserData	AcceptEula = true
Microsoft-Windows-Setup \UserData\ProductKey	Key = <product key>WillShowUI = OnError
Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup \OEMInformation	Manufacturer = <company name>HelpCustomized = falseSupportPhone = <support number> SupportURL = <support URL> SupportHours = <support hours>
Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup\OOBE	ProtectYourPC = 1NetworkLocation = Work
Microsoft-Windows-Deployment\Reseal	ForceShutdownNow = falseMode = Audit
Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup\AutoLogon	Enabled = trueLogonCount = 5Username = Administrator

 Validate the answer file

In this step, you validate the settings in your answer file and then save them to a file.

1. In Windows SIM, click Tools, and then click Validate Answer File.
   The setting values in the answer file are compared with the available settings in the Windows image.
2. If the answer file validates successfully, a “success” message appears in the Messages pane. Otherwise, error messages appear in the same location.
3. If an error occurs, double-click the error in the Messages pane to navigate to the incorrect setting. Change the setting to fix the error, and then revalidate.
4. On the File menu, click Save Answer File. Save the answer file as Autounattend.xml.
5. Copy Autounattend.xml to the root of a floppy disk or UFD.

Video Walkthrough

Have a Look at Microsoft Springboard Series Video

How to Build Simple Answer File

Windows 8 Will Come In Three Different Flavors (Two For x86, One For ARM)

Reblogged from TechCrunch:

Microsoft just announced that Windows 8 will come in three different flavors: Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro and Windows RT. Windows 8 will be the mainstream consumer edition. The Pro version will bring a number of features that most mainstream consumers don't necessarily need to Microsoft's next operating system. These include encryption, virtualization, PC management and domain connectivity. Both Windows 8 Pro and the mainstream consumer edition will be available in 32 bit and 64 bit versions.

Read more… 261 more words

Microsoft(s MSFT) has chosen the brand names under which it will sell Windows 8.

How to Remove Recycler Folder Virus/Autorun Virus

This is very common virus in Windows operating systems and annoying computer users.  It spreads itself via removable media like USB flash memory cards or pen drives. Once inside your computer then can disable your anti-virus program, block access to computer protection websites and slow down speed of  your computer.  How to remove it? Lets start:

Stop It from Task Manager

• Press the “Ctrl,” “Shift” and “Esc” keys at the same time to start the Task Manager or launch the task manager from “Ctrl”, “Alt” and “Del” option.
• Click the “Processes” tab in the Task Manager’s window and select “ctfmon.exe.”
• Click “End Process” at the bottom of the window and close the Task Manager.

Remove from Registry

• Go to the “Start” menu, type “regedit” in the “Start Search” box or in Run option and hit “Enter” to start the Registry Editor.
• Browse to and delete the following entry:
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ActiveSetup\ Installed Components\ {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAX5-90401C608512}
• Close the Registry Editor.

Delete the File

• Go to the “Start” menu, type “ctfmon.exe” in the “Start Search” box and hit “Enter” or search entire computer/all partitions.
• Right-click the search result(s) and select “Delete.
• Restart your computer.

Note: You must create registry backup in order to meet any abnormal behavior or accidental deletion of registry entry other than I have describe above.  If your Regedit, Folder Options and Task Manager is disabled by Autorun Virus then Download this “Remove Restriction Tool“.  Which is very smart tool to re-enable all your disabled options by the viruses.  In the last, scan your all USBs/Pen Drives with Flash Disinfector to remove recycler virus from them.

Using Recycler Virus Removal Tool to delete the virus automatically

Autorun Remover is a specialized autorun removal tool to clean the autorun type virus including recycler virus, with it, you can get rid of the autorun.inf and recycler.exe easily and quickly.

1. Download and install Autorun Virus Remover;
2. if you USB drives has autorun.inf folder in it, insert it into computer;
3. Execute the tool, Click ‘Start’ to execute the scan.

If Autorun Remover is blocked by the recyclers virus then run system in safe mode and try again. To do this reboot your system and tap F8 repeatedly when system starts up.

Autorun Virus Remover is the most effectively autorun antivirus software in the market, with the product, it is an easy job for you to block any autorun.inf virus from USB drives.

Windows 8 Themes

I have already shared the article on step by step installing windows 8 consumer preview in virtual environment.  Now its time to share some popular themes for Windows 8.  Microsoft has made some changes in themes.  These themes will not work on Windows 7, but Windows 7 themes can be installed on Windows 8.  Enjoy!….

 

EXPLORER.EXE CORRUPTED OR INFECTED (SOLVED)

The another common issue of corruption and infection of Explorer.exe Windows OS by Viruses/Malwares.  Follow these guidelines to fix the issue:

Option No. 1

• CTRL-Alt-Del to bring up Task Manager.
• Click File | New Task(run).
• Type regedit in the Run box and click OK.
• Browse to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution.options

• Under this key there will be subkeys named explorer.exe and iexplorer.exe. Delete the explorer and iexplorer keys entirely. They should not be listed under the Image File Execution.Options key.
• If Explorer.exe is not automatically loading when windows start then change the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\ CurrentVersion\WINLOGON

• In Winlogon, on the right side, there should be a value called “Shell”.
  Double click this value.  Make sure only ‘Explorer.exe’ is the value of Shell, if anything else is there , simply delete it and leave ‘Explorer.exe’ .
• Close the Registry Editor.
• Restart the computer.

Note: You must create registry backup in order to meet any abnormal behavior or accidental deletion of registry entry other than I have describe above.  If your Regedit, Folder Options and Task Manager is disabled by Autorun Virus then Download this “Remove Restriction Tool“.  Which is very smart tool to re-enable all your disabled options by the viruses.

Option No. 2
Click Start>>>click All Programs>>> click Accessories>>> right-click Command Prompt>>> and then click Run as administrator.

If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation>>> type the password>>> or click Allow

Type the following command>>> and then press ENTER:

SFC /scannow

A message will appear stating that ‘The system scan will begin’.  Be patient because the scan may take some time.

Iif any files require a replace SFC will replace them.  You may be asked to insert your Win7 DVD for this process to continue.

If everything is okay you should, after the scan, see the following message “Windows resource protection did not find any integrity violations”

After the scan has completed, close the command prompt window, restart the computer and check.

The sfc /scannow command scans all protected system files and replaces incorrect versions with correct Microsoft versions.

If the above steps fail I would suggest you to deal with Malware.

Read Article regarding removal of Malware : http://netwanlan.wordpress.com/2012/03/27/how-to-get-rid-of-malware/