Editing Sysprep Unattend.xml after Sysprep

Question

I have an image of a Server 2008 R2 system which has been Sysprepped and was shutdown prior to its first boot. Now, it would seem I screwed the XML file up as it fails halfway through the Serialize section when booted. (To be clear, it fails on the boot after taking the image)

What I'm wondering is, can I alter the Unattend.xml file at this stage using my ability to directly manipulate the saved image?

If so, do I edit the original (In the sysprep directory) or is it transferred elsewhere?

score 8 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '14 at 21:35

8

The unattend.xml file may be in either of:

C:\Windows\Panther\
C:\Windows\Panther\unattend\

inside the image.

edited May 23 '14 at 21:35

MikeyB

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answered Apr 02 '12 at 18:45

Chris S

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Thanks Chris - it's directly in C:\Windows\Pather on mine. I will try editing this and see if I can affect the result of the bootup – Dan Apr 02 '12 at 18:57
Worked a treat - yes, you can edit the unattend.xml file in this location after running Sysprep! – Dan Apr 03 '12 at 13:58

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 07 '21 at 07:18

Mount the sysprep'd image as a VHD on a VM or if it's captured as a WIM them mount the WIM to a newly created empty directory
Navigate to C:\Windows\Panther and update the XML file in-place
Dismount the WIM file and save allowing it to be used again or else edit the XML file on the VHD directly allowing over-write

This would resolve your issue.

Editing Sysprep Unattend.xml after Sysprep

2 Answers2