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        Migrating unattend.txt to unattend.xml

Section(s): Deployment
Published on Jul 23, 2008.
Last Modified on Jul 03, 2008.
Last Modified by Mitch Tulloch.
Rating: Not Rated

Here is a quick tip for migrating your XP answer files to Vista.

If you’ve created answer files for unattended deployment XP and you want to create similar ones for deploying Vista, there’s a resource you should know about that can help you. Just do the following:

Install the Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK) on a computer.
Open the Unattended Windows Setup Reference (Unattend.chm).
Find the following topic: Unattended Windows Setup Reference\Overview of the Unattended Windows Setup Reference\Changes in Unattended Setup Settings\Migration of Unattend.txt Settings

This reference lists all unttend.txt settings for XP and their corresponding unattend.xml settings for Vista, if they exist. Then use this reference to build a new answer file for Vista that will do similar things to what your old XP answer files used to do.

For more information on deploying Vista, see my series of articles titled Deploying Vista right here on WindowsNetworking.com.

About Mitch Tulloch

Mitch Tulloch was lead author for the Windows Vista Resource Kit from Microsoft Press, which is the book for IT pros who want to deploy, maintain and support Windows Vista in mid- and large-sized network environments. Mitch was also the author of Introducing Windows Server 2008 and technical project lead for the Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 Resource Kit, both books also from Microsoft Press. For more information on these and other books by Mitch, see www.mtit.com .