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 Home | Adding Payload Files and Using E2B >> | WINDOWS payloads >> | Unattend.XML files and XMLtoE2B.exe

How to create Windows Unattend.XML les e…

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XMLtoE2B.exe utility (Win7/8/8.1/10)

If you want to automate the installation of Windows 7/8/8.1/10 using E2B, you just need to add an XML
answer file (see end of this page for details).

You do not need to install the

bloatware Microsoft SDK or
ADK, just to create an XML
file! There is a much easier
way using WAFG+XMLtoE2B!

The Windows utility,

XMLtoE2B.exe will convert a basic XML file that has been generated by the Windows Answer File
Generator, to an XML answer file that is suitable for use with Easy2Boot (or any Windows install, even if
you are not using E2B). If you find the WAFG website useful, please make a donation using the link on
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their site.

XMLtoE2B makes creating automated, fully unattended answer files really easy!

New! E2B eBooks are now available (including a complete course on making a multiboot USB drive and
Search
an eBook on Installing Windows).

Note: XMLtoE2B.exe does not add in the RunSynchronous 'Specialize' pass section which is required for Custom Search
SDI_CHOCO. You must add this XML section in yourself (e.g. using Notepad) - see below for more

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 details.

If you have donated £10 or more (or have helped with the development of E2B), please contact me More Info
for a licence file to make XMLtoE2B fully functional - or you can edit your XML file manually by
following my blog post here.
MENU

Note: The Windows AFG buttons no longer work because WAFG website is now Home
at www.windowsafg.com.
Start & Intro

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Quick Setup Guide

Make a USB drive >>

E2B Menu system

UEFI booting from E2B

Adding Payload Files

and Using E2B >>

Make files
CONTIGUOUS

File Extensions
recognised by E2B

UEFI+MBR and how

to make .imgPTN files

MakePartImage and
changing the CSM
Menu

Using SWITCH_E2B
with .imgPTN files

Using the \_ISO\AUTO

folder

WINDOWS
payloads >>

E2B USB HDD -

Installing Windows
with a 'WinHelper'
drive

Windows XP Install
ISOs

Install XP 32-bit
using DPMS

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 Install XP using
WinPE (one step
process)

Add XP Install ISOs

using
WinSetupFromUSB

Windows Vista/7
Install ISOs

UEFI boot from

Windows 7 Install
ISOs

Windows 8/10
Install ISOs

Unattended Installs

Unattend.XML
files and
XMLtoE2B.exe

Adding >4GB
Windows Install
ISOs using .imgPTN
files

Automating
Windows Installs
from .imgPTN files

Split_WinISO

Windows AIO ISOs

WindowsToGo

WinNTSetup

WinLite10 XML files

SDI_CHOCO (install
drivers, apps and
updates) >>

Quick Instructions .VHD and .WIM files

Run XMLtoE2B.exe utility (a Licence file is required for full functionality) PassPass (bypass
the Windows
1. Go to the correct page on the AFG website by clicking one of the three AFG buttons in XMLtoE2B. Password)
There is also a Windows 10 page but it does not have a button.
Hack into Windows
Fill in the web form and then save to an XML file (you can change the Product Key, ComputerName OS (UtilMan.exe)
and disk configuration, etc. later)
2. Load the AFG XML file into XMLtoE2B.exe (the file contents will be listed in the 'Results' window) Windows 2000

Multipoint Server

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 3. Add the WIM file image number - this is required if Add the latest XP
you have a multiple-image ISO file such as the drivers (DPMS)
Install.wim file on Retail ISOs.
LINUX payloads >>
Change the other fields as required. You can either
use a generic install key or an Activation key if you MSDart ERD ISOs
have one. WinBuilder, Medicat,
4. Click on 'Convert loaded file' - this converts the file Gandalf and WinPE
that was loaded into memory in Step 2 into an XML ISOs
file for E2B.
Hirens/Strelec/DLC/F4
(optional) Edit the text in the 'Results' window if ISOs
required - e.g. you can change the comment field
or any other setting. DOS (MS-DOS and
FreeDOS)
5. Save the XML file to the E2B USB drive using the
'Save text from Results window to a file' button or OS X
view the file in NotePad.
FreeBSD

WARNING: DO NOT OVERWRITE THE MOVE_IMGPTN

\AUTOUNATTEND.XML FILE ON THE E2B List of tested ISOs (+

partition! instructions)
The E2B \AutoUnattend.xml file must be at least 100K in size and is overwritten by E2B when you
Tutorials and How To's
boot to the Main menu. It must be as large as your largest XML file (so 100K should be large
enough!). Configure E2B >>

UEFI things to know

FAQ, TroubleShooting,
XMLtoE2B is for use with E2B v.1.67 and later versions (earlier versions of E2B will only work correctly if QEMU and Virtual
you tick 'Prompt user for Repair'). Machines >>

Gallery
To examine XML files, you may find the Microsoft utility XML Notepad 2007 helpful.
Guestbook

Forum

Options Blog

1 Generate XML file using Windows AFG - use one of the three buttons to launch the correct WAFG DOWNLOADS >>
page
Grub2 Menu System
2 Load AFG XML file - loads a file that was generated by the Windows AFG web utility into memory.
(UEFI_GRUB2_PTN2)
3 Set WIM file image number - If your ISO contains a \Sources\Install.wim (or .esd) file containing
multiple Editions of Windows (e.g. Core + Pro), Setup will not know which image to use. Setting an Site Map
incorrect number can result in you being prompted to choose an Edition if the image number is not eBooks
consistent with the Product Key you have used (e.g. Index=1 = Windows 8 or 8.1 PROFESSIONAL
Contact Me >>
Product Key).
Note: Single Language versions of Win8/10 usually contain a single image - Home/Core only (image Donate
#1).
Licensing
More recent Microsoft Win10 Download ISOs with Install.ESD files contain the following images:
Privacy policy (GDPR)
1 Cloud

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 2 CloudN Recommended for
3 Core Easy2Boot (fastest!) -
4 CoreN SanDisk Extreme
SDCZ880-128G-G46
5 CoreSingleLanguage
6 Education
Select Language ▼
7 EducationN
8 Professional
9 ProfessionalN
Tip: You can use WinToUSB to list the available editions inside an .ISO file and their index numbers.
Get WIM Info - Click to see typical image numbers and then click OK to get XMLtoE2B to get the image
information from a .WIM file. This file is usually called \Sources\Install.wim and in order for XMLtoE2B to 130+ Tutorials on USB
booting.
examine it, it will need to be extracted first from the Windows Install ISO file. If the install wim file
contains more than one image, you must set this index number. If your ISO contains a large Install.esd
instead of an Install.wim, you can use NTLite to load the Install.esd file to see what images it contains,
or run Dism /Get-WimInfo /WimFile:C:\Users\fred\temp\install.esd to list the images that it
contains. Popular Pages
PRODUCT KEY (5x5) - If the XML file contained a product key, it will be displayed here. You can
change it before converting the file. It must be a valid key and should match the WIM file image (i.e. if a XMLtoE2B :: Easy2Boot
PRO install.wim image is chosen, use a PRO product key).
Tip: If the 5x5 ProductKey in the XML file starts with the six characters ASKME- then E2B will prompt you for a new Product Key. XMLtoE2B.exe utility :: Easy2Boot
Generic Install Keys - This takes you to the WAFG Keys page that lists common generic install keys.
These keys will NOT activate - they are just for installation purposes. Downloads
Add E2B LOADISO code - If you are booting using a USB Removable Flash drive from ISO (or a USB
HDD + WinHelper Removable Flash drive), you need to tick this box. If you are going to use the XML file Adding Payload Files >> :: Easy2Boot
with a .imgPTN image, you do not have to tick the box (if you leave it added in, Setup will just briefly
flash up a console window and then it will quickly disappear.) List of all tested ISOs (+ instructions) :: Easy2Boot
Prompt user for Repair - If this is ticked then \_ISO\e2b\firadisk\LOADISO.CMD will be used to load
the ISO as a virtual DVD and it will ask if you want to repair the Hard Disk before installing Windows. If
it is unticked, then \_ISO\e2b\firadisk\LOADISONP.cmd will be used to load the ISO and it will not
prompt you to Repair the drive (i.e. it will immediately wipe and format the hard disk with no prompts
whatsoever).
SkipMachineOOBE - you can tick this to skip the final end-user OOBE questions (if any) which occur at
the end of the Setup process.
No User Accounts (Administrator only) - if you tick this box then all User Accounts will be removed
from the XML file and SkipMachineOOBE will be set to true (otherwise you will be prompted to create a
User Account at the end of the build).
Prompt user for ComputerName - If this is ticked then Setup will prompt the user to enter in his/her
own ComputerName near the end of the build. SkipMachineOOBE must be set to false in order to get the
user prompt to be displayed.
ComputerName - Enter the name of the computer here - if you leave it blank then Windows Setup will
generate a 'random' computer name.

Change Disk Partitioning - You can replace the disk configuration in the original XML file with
one of these two options.

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 Single MBR Partition - WAFG generates an
XML file which comprises of two partitions, a
100MB hidden System Reserved partition and a
second partition of maximum size. If you tick this
box, only a single partition will be created as
drive C: and the OS and boot files will be
installed to it..
Size for disk partition (MB) - MAX =
maximum size to fill disk, or enter for example
50000 for a 50,000MB partition. Only used if
Single MBR Partition is selected.
OS Volume Label - You can change the volume
label of the single partition here. Only works if
'Single MBR Partition' is selected.

Use Disk Config file - If ticked, the contents of

a text file containing complete DiskConfiguration
and ImageInstall sections will be used. This
allows GPT and other partitions to be created for
UEFI installs, etc.
Browse - Browse for a DiskConfiguration file (some examples are included in the XMLtoE2B
download).
Disk Config file (*.diskcfg) - Shows the .diskcfg file that will be used to replace
the DiskConfiguration and ImageInstall sections.

Convert loaded file - Converts the contents of the original file that was already loaded into memory in
Step 2 and displays the result in the Results window.
Save text from Results window to a file - You can edit the text in the Results window before saving
it as a file. Any existing file of the same name will be overwritten. (Disabled if no valid licence file found)
Copy Results window to NotePad - creates a XMLTemp.txt file and opens it in NotePad. You can then
edit it and save it with a different filename if you wish. Handy for checking the results before saving to a
file. (Disabled if no licence file found)
Exit - guess!

Reference for Unattended settings

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Technet

Notes
A blank ComputerName (or '*') will result in Windows Setup making a random name up for you.

Win10: When ComputerName=* the final Computer name is made from up to the first 7 characters of
followed by , e.g.
ComputerName=*
FullName=UF552

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 Organization=E2B
Result >>> Computer name is set to UF552E2-N42R1CJ

Product Key
The Product Key is specified in both the WindowsPE pass (which determines which Edition is to be
installed, together with the WIM file Image number) and the Specialize pass (which is used when
Windows is Activated). The two keys do not need to be the same. For instance, a KMS key may be used
for the WindowsPE pass and a MAK key can be used for the Specialize Activation key. If no Specialize
key is specified, the WindowsPE key will be used for Activation.

Notes for Windows AFG

User Accounts - You must either add a User Account or set the AutoLogon account name to
'Administrator' (which enables the Administrator account that is normally disabled). If neither is done
and SkipMachineOOBE is set to false, the user will be prompted to add a User Account near the end of
the build.

For Windows 10 - Make sure you set a User Name or you will get a 'Windows could not complete the
installation' error near the end of installation if SkipMachineOOBE is true.

SkipMachineOOBE - this should normally be set to 'false'. All testing should be done using 'false'. Once
it is working correctly, setting it to 'true' may suppress some user prompts if you did not add an 'answer'
into the XML file, but you will need to carefully check that the desired defaults are correct.

Note that there is a 'catch 22' situation - if you want to be prompted for a ComputerName at the end of
the build then SkipMachineOOBE=unticked=false, however if you want to enable the Admin account and
have no other user accounts created, then SkipMachineOOBE=ticked=true (otherwise the user will be
prompted to create an account).
You cannot be prompted to enter a ComputerName and enable the Administrator and have no prompt to
create a new User Account.
Setting the AutoLogon account name to 'Administrator' will enable the Administrator account.

AutoLogon=Administrator + SkipMachineOOBE=false + Add User Account will work. To do this you must
create the WAFG XML file with a User Account name: Prompt user for ComputerName=ticked (No User
Accounts=unticked, SkipMachineOOB=unticked) - then after clicking Convert loaded file, edit the
Results window and set the AutoLogon UserName to 'Administrator'

If you want the user to be prompted to create a new User Account and you want the Administrator
account enabled, then manually change SkipMachineOOBE to false before saving the Results to an XML
file.

If WillWipeDisk is set to 'false' in the XML file, then the target disk must be 'clean' (i.e. unpartitioned) for
an automated install to begin. If the disk contains partitions then the install will abort and the target disk
will not be altered.

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 SDI_CHOCO (run a batch file)
If you want to use the SDI_CHOCO feature (or run any batch file during the Specialize pass), you must
manually add some more lines into the Specialize pass - 'Microsoft-Windows-Deployment' section using
NotePad, as this section is not added by XMLtoE2B. If no 'Microsoft-Windows-Deployment' section exists,
simply add the whole section in (copy it from one of the sample XML files).
Make sure that the Order numbers are correct (1,2,3 etc) if you have more than one RunSynchronous
entry.
The screenshot below shows an x86 and amd64 entry to run SDI_CHOCO.cmd during the Specialize
phase.

How to use the XML file

If you have a Removable E2B USB Flash drive

For ISO booting, just copy the XML file to the correct Windows folder (e.g.
\_ISO\WINDOWS\WIN8 for Windows 8 and 8.1).
Give the XML file a suitable name (e.g. Win8.1Pro_AutoWipe_User1_max.xml. (MBR systems only).
For a FAT32 Windows Install .imgPTN file, switch to the .imgPTN file's CSM menu and then quit
(F10) or remove the USB drive - then re-insert the E2B drive and copy the XML file to the root of

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 the image partition (not the E2B partition which contains the \_ISO folder!) and name it
\AutoUnattend.xml. (MBR and UEFI systems)

If you have a Fixed-Disk type of E2B USB drive (or USB-HDD)

For ISO booting, use a 'Helper' Removable USB Flash drive with the E2B drive and follow step 1
above. (MBR systems only)
For a FAT32 Windows Install .imgPTN file, switch to the .imgPTN file's CSM menu and then quit
(F10) or remove the USB drive - then re-insert the E2B drive, mount the \Sources\boot.wim
image #2 file using GImageX and copy the XML file to the mounted folder and name it
\AutoUnattend.xml. See here for more information. (MBR and UEFI systems). WARNING: If you
UEFI-boot and the XML file auto-partitions the target drive, then any system that you boot to will
automatically get it's hard disk wiped! Take care when UEFI-booting from the USB drive in this
state! If you boot to it on your office system, it will wipe the hard disk!

See also 'How to automate an install from a .imgPTN Windows Install file'.

WARNING: If the XML file installs to Drive 0, then do not use it with a Virtual Machine (e.g. Virtual
Box) unless the target virtual disk is Drive 0. If the E2B USB drive is drive 0 then it will be wiped! You
must use the Fixed-Disk #2 method but also modify the DiskID value inside the XML file before
use. See here for more information.

Remove the DiskConfiguration and ImageInstall sections from the XML file if you do want to partition
and format the drive manually before the installation begins.

TroubleShooting
If the XML file does not seem to run, check the X:\Windows\Setupact.log file to see if Setup found an
AutoUnattend.xml file, then check the X:\Windows\Panther\Setupact.log to see how it interpreted the
settings in the XML file. If there is a failure after rebooting, check the C:\Windows\Panther\Setupact.log
file and other log files as detailed here.

Change the ComputerName and UserName each time

It is possible to prompt the user for a ComputerName and UserName before you start the install, and
then dynamically modify the XML file.

See here 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+).

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