autounattend.xml

[monkeybradders]

Hi,

I have a very quick question. Does/Should i be able to image pc's and use an autounattend.xml answer file using an attached vfd straight out of the box?

I'm happy that my answer file is good but my machine won't pick it up during the setup. As it's not critical for me to actually get the answer file working (i just need to know how to make one for my exam) i'm not that bothered, but it's bugging that it doesn't work! I've read a couple of previous forum posts but can't figure out if you should just work "out of the box" or if i need to apply patches etc, in which case i'll just leave it alone and move on.

Thank you

[mpack]

What is an "autounattend.xml" file?

What is a "vfd"?

Are you sure you have the right forum?

[monkeybradders]

I thought I was in the right forum, I'm running virtual box on Windows 7. Apologies if this is not the correct forum.

Autounattend.xml is an answer file used to answer the setup questions Windows presents when it first starts. For example your location, language, input locale accepting the EULA (end user license agreement) etc . On a physical PC it is copied onto a floppy disk or a USB stick and when the installation media runs it will query this file.

I have created a Virtual Floppy disk (vfd)and copied my autounattend.xml file to it. I have then added the vfd to my machine through the storage option under settings.

Hope this clarifies the orginal post.

[mpack]

Ok, you have a basic question about installing Windows - however installing into a VM doesn't change how it's done, so you should be able to Google for instructions on how to use that response file.

Thanks for explaining "VFD". Please be aware that, as far as I know, there is no standard for floppy disk image files. To be usable in VirtualBox it must be a raw uncompressed image, ideally of a formatted 1.44MB floppy, it which case the will be exactly 1,474,560 bytes.

[monkeybradders]

Sorry, I should have mentioned. I can use the vfd (virtual floppy disk) on my other VM's (virtual machines) and my answer file works in a physical environment. It's only when I introduce it to a bare metal VM that the disk doesn't seem to be read. Hence my question.