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Set up could not parse or process the unnattend answer file for pass [specialize]
I created an install image for a HP EliteBook 840 g1 with Windows 7 pro 64bit. I uploaded it to our WDS server (Windows Server 2008 R2) and created an unattended installation file. When I attempted to deploy this image the client computers displayed the following error:
Windows could not parse or process the unattend answer file for pass [specialize]. The settings specified in the answer file cannot be applied. The error was detected while processing settings for component [Microsoft-Windows-Shell-S
I didn't have time to investigate the answer file, so I "detached" it from the install image and attempted to push the image again but received the same error (despite the answer file being disabled for this image). The problem is this: Client laptops that were part of the first round of installs with the answer file attached continue to receive this error. All "fresh" laptops have been installing and booting up with no problem. How can previous failed installation attempts continue to cause this issue?
So far I have tried: Recreating and uploading the install image, formatting the client hard drives, DBAN (Darick's Boot and Nuke) to clear the MBR.
Windows could not parse or process the unattend answer file for pass [specialize]. The settings specified in the answer file cannot be applied. The error was detected while processing settings for component [Microsoft-Windows-Shell-S
I didn't have time to investigate the answer file, so I "detached" it from the install image and attempted to push the image again but received the same error (despite the answer file being disabled for this image). The problem is this: Client laptops that were part of the first round of installs with the answer file attached continue to receive this error. All "fresh" laptops have been installing and booting up with no problem. How can previous failed installation attempts continue to cause this issue?
So far I have tried: Recreating and uploading the install image, formatting the client hard drives, DBAN (Darick's Boot and Nuke) to clear the MBR.
ASKER
Thanks for the idea, but I am not using an answer file.
What media did you use to create the install image? Can you post copies of (attach, don't cut and paste long logs please) the following logs, if they exist:
Windows\Panther\Setupact.l
Windows\Panther\UnattendGC
Windows\System32\Sysprep\P
your answer file.
Windows\Panther\Setupact.l
Windows\Panther\UnattendGC
Windows\System32\Sysprep\P
your answer file.
ASKER
I used the recovery media provided with the laptops. Unfortunately I can't get any logs off of the failed client computers. Would logs from a client of the same model that was imaged successfully be useful?
Not likely without a failure to compare them to.
ASKER
I was able to access some logs, they are attached. I do not have the install image pointing to an answer file.
setupact.log
setupact.log
setuperr.log
setupact.log
setupact.log
setuperr.log
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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A little googling on the failures led me to this:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/4eb4ddfb-7a42-481c-88d2-ce22036659d8/windows-could-not-parse-or-process-unattend-answer-file-cwindowspantherunattendxml-for-pass?forum=itprovistadeployment
The answer file would be helpful too.
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/4eb4ddfb-7a42-481c-88d2-ce22036659d8/windows-could-not-parse-or-process-unattend-answer-file-cwindowspantherunattendxml-for-pass?forum=itprovistadeployment
The answer file would be helpful too.
ASKER
I reflashed the bios then ran the diskpart commands while booted into a PXE environment and was successful. Thanks for the posts!
Search for <ProductKey></ProductKey> in the [specialize] section and remove it.
Look here: http://xpro.se/?s=Specialize