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Autounattend.xml Issue

I'm having issues with setting up an autounattend.xml file. It appears to work fine until the partitions are to be made. It brings up the partition window and from there I receive an error message stating :"Windows could not prepare the partition selected for installation."

I was going to copy and paste the XML file but the formatting is atrocious. So I have attached it instead.

I have received no syntax errors while validating this answer file.

Thanks in advance.
Autounattend.xml

mmicha

I'm not certain and not an expert at the autounattend file.

However, I see that you are creating two partitions but have extended set on both of them.

I'm thinking maybe that is using all of the disk space and therefore no room for the second partition?

csg_int_it

ASKER

I've tried numerous options in both partition types.
Primary - Primary
Primary - Extended
Extended - Extended

None have worked.

SOLUTION

mmicha

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mmicha

I believe what that is saying is:

I want to create a partition of 150 GB, but extend that if there is additional room. So after you create your first partition, there is no space left to create a second partition.

I believe what you would want to do is turn off the extend = true setting on the 150 GB partition (1), and leave it on for partition (2).

That will create a partition of 150 GB, and a second that will fill up the rest of the disks capacity.

Hope that makes sense...

csg_int_it

ASKER

Ok. Well we are making progress. I am now getting this error message:

Windows could not extend a partition on disk 0. The specified partition does not exist on the target disk. The error occurred while applying the unattend answer file's <Disk Configuration> setting. Error code: 0x80300002.

Any suggestions? Would it be a setting that is in the second partition being made? I have updated my answer file to reflect what I have attached below.
Autounattend.xml

mmicha

What would happen now if we switch the second partition to a primary partition as well? Just not make it active?

csg_int_it

ASKER

I have set the second partition to Primary. It is also set to not be active. I am still getting the error message listed above.

mmicha

I wonder if you could possibly watch the following video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWnPWoQ1jqI

At about 5:30, it talks about creating the partitions and modifying them. May want to review it and make sure you aren't missing anything he has done. I've used this video in the past for doing this.

One thing standing out is

<InstallToAvailablePartition>false</InstallToAvailablePartition>

Seems like that is saying don't install OS onto partition 1.

csg_int_it

ASKER

Now it won't even partition the drives. I'm losing my mind.
Here is my current code, I've been messing with the settings trying to get this to work:
Autounattend.xml

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

footech

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csg_int_it

ASKER

Footech's post of an answer file worked for me. I'm going to award him 350 points. And for mmicha's effort in working towards a solution I will award 150.