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-Setup].

Products

• IT Management Suite
• Ghost Solution Suite
• Deployment Solution

Issue/Introduction

After a computer is imaged in automation, and rebooted into production, you may receive a blue screen stating the following:

"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-Setup]."

Environment

Release: 8.6

Cause

DCOM Hardening

Resolution

This was caused because of Microsoft hardening of DCOM.  More information can be found here:  KB5004442—Manage changes for Windows DCOM Server Security Feature Bypass (CVE-2021-26414)

You can follow the suggestions in that Microsoft article under Registry setting to enable or disable the hardening changes.