Error message when you perform Windows 7 SP1 W/IE10 Deployment: “Windows could not parse or process unattend answer file [C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml] for pass [Specialize]”

SYMPTOMS

During one of Operating System deployment project, I face issue when I tried to deploy image with Microsoft Windows 7 x86 Professional with service pack 1 and Internet Explorer 10.

The error occur in specialize phase:
Windows could not parse or process unattend answer file [C:\windows\Panther\unattend.xml] for pass [specialize]. A component or setting specified in the answer file does not exist.


I was using Microsoft Deployment Tool 2012, but I think the issue may occur also in case you use Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager or any other deployment tool  

Additional Information:
I didn't receive any error message when I deploy Microsoft Windows 7 x86 Professional with service pack 1 and Internet Explorer 9.

Troubleshooting Steps

Usually I'm always looking for "%systemroot%\Panther\setupact.log" log file when I'm facing issue in specialize phase or during "Setup is applying system settings" as showing in the above snapshot. And found the following:

Error [setup.exe] SMI data results dump: Source = Name: Microsoft-Windows-IE-InternetExplorer, Language: neutral, ProcessorArchitecture: x86, PublicKeyToken: 31bf3856ad364e35, VersionScope: nonSxS, /settings/IEWelcomeMsg

Error [setup.exe] SMI data results dump: Description = Setting is not defined in this component.

Error [0x060432] IBS The provided unattend file is not valid; hrResult = 0x80220001

Error [0x060565] IBS Callback_Unattend_InitEngine:The provided unattend file [C:\windows\Panther\unattend.xml] is not a valid unattended Setup answer file; hr = 0x1, hrSearched = 0x1, hrDeserialized = 0x0, hrImplicitCtx = 0x0, hrValidated = 0x1, hrResult = 0x80220001

Error [0x0600c2] IBS Callback_Unattend_InitEngine:An error occurred while finding/loading the unattend file; hr = 0x1, hrResult = 0x80220001[gle=0x00000490]

Info       [0x0601d7] IBS    InstallWindows:Error Type = 3211273

Solution

I focus on "SMI data results dump: Source = Name: Microsoft-Windows-IE-InternetExplorer, Language: neutral, ProcessorArchitecture: x86, PublicKeyToken: 31bf3856ad364e35, VersionScope: nonSxS, /settings/IEWelcomeMsg"

and found that IEWelcomeMsg settings is not defined in Unattend.xml file which is located in X:\DeploymentShare\Control\TaskSequenceID where X:\ is drive letter where deployment share stored.

I delete IEWelcomeMsg component because it's not required in my unattended installation and the issue solved.

Top open the Unattend.xml file and solve the issue follow the below steps:
1. Run Windows System Image Manager
2.Open Unattend.xml file from the following location:
   X:\DeploymentShare\Control\TaskSequenceID
3. Right click on IEWelcomeMsg and delete this component:
4. Save unattend file and don't forget to Update deployment share.

I start deployment process again and it work find without any errors.

Abduljalil Abolzahab