Solved Using autounattended.xml to install 8 to D:

MikeC

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Hi folks, I need to install 8 as the only OS on a box, but it needs to be on a drive other than C:, due to some legacy apps I need. I think I'm close to what I need, I made a autounattended.xml file, and put in on a usb stick. I booted from the 8 disk, and when I got to the 1st screen I hit F10 for a command prompt. I copied my xml file to the temporary X:, and ran the following command to start a new instance of setup.exe: "setup.exe /unattend:X:\sources\autounattend.xml". It goes through its thing and I get to the installation part where it begins to copy files, and then I get an error error that says "Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate and existing system partition".

If I go into setup manually after this error, and go to where I pick a partition to install, I can see the partitions were created, and if I select the one I want, it gives the same error.
Here is the disk configuration part of the .xml file. It seems like I am missing something. Can anyone tell me if this is the correct way? You can see under the "<!-- Modify the Windows partition -->" the part that changes my letter: "<Letter>D</Letter>". Thanks for your help!


<DiskConfiguration>
<WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
<Disk>
<DiskID>0</DiskID>
<WillWipeDisk>true</WillWipeDisk>
<CreatePartitions>
<CreatePartition>
<!-- Create the system partition-->
<Order>1</Order>
<Type>Primary</Type>
<Size>350</Size>
</CreatePartition>
<!-- Create the Windows partition and fill the rest of the hard disk -->
<CreatePartition>
<Order>2</Order>
<Type>Primary</Type>
<Extend>true</Extend>
</CreatePartition>
</CreatePartitions>
<ModifyPartitions>
<!-- Modify the system partition-->
<ModifyPartition>
<Order>1</Order>
<PartitionID>1</PartitionID>
<Format>NTFS</Format>
<Label>System</Label>
</ModifyPartition>
<!-- Modify the Windows partition -->
<ModifyPartition>
<Order>2</Order>
<PartitionID>2</PartitionID>
<Format>NTFS</Format>
<Letter>D</Letter>
<Label>Windows</Label>
</ModifyPartition>
</ModifyPartitions>
</Disk>
</DiskConfiguration>

<ImageInstall>
<OSImage>
<InstallTo>
<DiskID>0</DiskID>
<PartitionID>2</PartitionID>
</InstallTo>
</OSImage>
</ImageInstall>
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Is it looking for an active partition?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Possibly. I added:

<Active>true</Active>

Changing the section to:
<!-- Modify the system partition-->
<ModifyPartition>
<Order>1</Order>
<PartitionID>1</PartitionID>
<Format>NTFS</Format>
<Label>System</Label>
<Active>true</Active>
</ModifyPartition>

I get the same error.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Not sure what the problem is with that. It would be easier to do it another way.

Create partitions with diskpart. Mark the 350mb thing active.

Apply the image from the wim to the big partition with imagex - or as you have dism built into boot.wim , you may as well use that.

DISM.exe /Apply-Image /ImageFile:install.wim /Index:1 /ApplyDir:<installpartletter>:\


Then run bcdboot <installpartletter >:\windows /s <350mbthingletter>

Then still from pe run this script to set the os registry drive letter :

NT6letter.cmd /targetletter:D /currentos:<installpartletter>

View attachment NT6letter.zip
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Works in Windows 8 too

Followed your instructions, worked out perfectly. Thank you for your help, it is much appreciated.

Now that its solved, I can let you in on a little secret. This was not for Windows 8. It was for Server 2012 R2. I knew(guessed) a Windows 8 answer would work out, and it did.

Thanks again,
MikeC
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
You're welcome. Glad it worked out for you. :D
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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