After deploying sysprep image and system boots to production a dialog box is displayed with an error: Internal Windows Setup error loading or searching for an unattended setup file
Release: 8.x
Component: Deployment Solutions
Cause: Malformed Unattend.xml file
To troubleshoot:
Since the computer is unable to boot to windows production mode boot the system back into automation
from command run: notepad.exe then file > save as (identify the drive letter the for which windows is install on)
or from command run:
diskpart
select disk 0
list volume ( the volume with windows installed will have an assigned letter)
exit
cd to <windows drv>:\windows\panther directory
copy the files setupact.log and the unattend.xml file to a local system for analysis
with notepad open the setupact.log file
in this case the error was:
2022-03-30 18:49:38, Error [setup.exe] UnattendSearchExplicitPath: Found unattend file at [C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml] but unable to deserialize it; status = 0x800705b9, hrResult = 0x0.
2022-03-30 18:49:38, Error [0x060566] IBS Callback_Unattend_InitEngine:Setup experienced an internal error while loading/validating unattend file [C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml]; hr = 0x800705b9, hrSearched = 0x800705b9, hrDeserialized = 0x80004005, hrImplicitCtx = 0x80004005, hrValidated = 0x80004005, hrResult = 0x0
2022-03-30 18:49:38, Error [0x0600c2] IBS Callback_Unattend_InitEngine:An error occurred while finding/loading the unattend file; hr = 0x800705b9, hrResult = 0x0
2022-03-30 18:49:38, Info [0x0640ae] IBSLIB PublishMessage: Publishing message [Error Internal Windows Setup error loading or searching for an unattended setup file.]
Analysis:
The system was able to find the unattend.xml file but was unable to process the file
To troubleshoot the unattend.xml file Download: The Windows System Image Manager
Note: The Windows System Image Manager is part of Microsoft's WAIK utility. You can download this utility from the Microsoft website here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/get-started/adk-install
Note: All that is needed is the Deployment tool kit option installed from the adksetup.exe
From search, enter: 'Windows System Image Manager' (without quotes) to locate and run the program
Once open go to file > open and open the unattend.xml file
A dialog box will display with the line number and character for possible error: a link in the dialog box for analysis will allow you to look for the possible error
If unattend file has no errors, here are is a document from Microsoft to help with analysis: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/deployment-troubleshooting-and-log-files?view=windows-11
Edit the unattend file till the Windows System Image Manager was error-free then apply the unattend file to the imaging task