Ghost Solution Suite Scripted OS Installer is not fully automated and requires selecting a version of windows from a list to finish the installation.

Products

• Ghost Solution Suite

Issue/Introduction

When performing a scripted OS install (SOI) for a multi edition version of windows the SOI job is delayed while in automation waiting for user input to select the version of windows that will be installed. 

 

 

No error but the SOI that should be fully unattended may stop at a prompt similar to the one below waiting for a version of the OS to be selected. 

Full index info from the install DVD in F: drive using the following command. 
dism /get-wiminfo /wimfile:F:\sources\install.wim

Environment

Ghost Solution Suite 3.x (GSS)  
Windows client OS
Scripted OS installation job. 

Cause

The default unatend.XML files included with GSS are for sample purposes and do not include every option that Microsoft has for automating a windows installation.  

 

 

Resolution

The following link has information from Microsoft on how to address multi edition os installations.  |
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/customize/desktop/unattend/microsoft-windows-setup-imageinstall-dataimage-installfrom-metadata

The default sample unattend.xml files that are included with GSS is found in the C:\Program Files (x86)\Altiris\eXpress\Deployment Server\Deploy  path.   There is a Vista_unattend.xml file here can be copied and used as a starting point for your SOI job.   The following lines will need to be modified. 

1. Change this to be the product key for the version of windows you are going to be selecting off of your multi edition OS install disk. 
   %OS_PRODUCT_KEY%           
2. There are 2 password sections that should be updated to fit your needs. Change them from symantec to your password
   <Value>symantec</Value>
3. Now for selecting the version of windows that will be used.  
   
   For this first example you will need to know what number the option you are going to use is.   
   Option 1 the most simple way:
   Boot to your DVD and determine the number for your option.   In the screen shot above Windows 10 Enterprise is the 3rd option.  
   
   Option 2 more complicated and must be run on a systme with the MS ADK installed:
   From the Command simular to the following to determine the index infomarion from the install DVD that you are using.  Update the drive letter to match your DVD drive.  
   dism /get-wiminfo /wimfile:D:\sources\install.wim
   
   In the unatend.xml in the   <OSImage>  </OSImage> section. 

• <InstallFrom>
 <MetaData wcm:action="add">   
   <Key>/image/index</Key>
   <Value>3</Value>
  </MetaData>
</InstallFrom>
 
​

​For the next example you will need to know the exact name of the selection for it to work.   In our screen shots above  "Windows 10 Enterprise" is what we would like to use so see the option below.

• <InstallFrom>
 <MetaData wcm:action="add">   
   <Key>/image/name</Key>
   <Value>Windows 10 Enterprise</Value>
  </MetaData>
</InstallFrom>