UNATTEND.INI

The unattend.ini file contains all required parameters for the unattend.exe utility in a single file. Parameters specified on the command line will override settings in this file.

The unattend.ini file contains two sections, called [Unattend] and [GUIRunOnce]. The [Unattend] section contains variables that you can set instead of providing command-line parameters. The [GUIRunOnce] section enables you to specify a set of commands to run on the target server after the operating system is installed. These commands can run either before the executable device drivers are installed or after they are completed.

None of the commands can cause the server to restart (reboot).

Run commands that require user interaction after the executable device drivers are installed.

The unattend.ini file can contain the following variables:
Variable name Description
[Unattend] section
Drivers Path Specifies a fully qualified path to the device-drivers directory in the target server. If $oem$ is not in the path, you must use the /T parameter to process text mode device drivers.
Executable Causes the unattend.exe utility to add only the executable device driver information to the answer file. Valid values are True and False.
HWDetectIni Specifies a fully qualified path and file name for the hwdetect.ini file that was created by the hwdetect.exe utility.
I386 Path Specifies a fully qualified path to the i386 directory in the target server.
PnP Causes the unattend.exe utility to add only the plug-and-play device driver information to the answer file. Valid values are True and False.
System Drive Specifies the drive letter on the target server to which the operating system is being installed.
Textmode Causes the unattend.exe utility to add only the text mode device driver information to the answer file. Valid values are True and False.
UnattendTxt Specifies a fully qualified path and file name for the answer file.
Verbose Level Specifies the verbose level used to report status during the deployment process. Valid values are:
  • 0 - quiet mode
  • 3 - default
  • 5 - maximum information
[GUIRunOnce] section
name_Command Specifies the name of the command to run.
name_Supported_Systems The name value specifies the servers on which to run the command. This value can be either All, None, or a comma-delimited list of server machine types or platform IDs. You cannot use both name_Supported_Systems and name_Unsupported_Systems in the same unattend.ini file.
name_Unsupported_Systems Specifies the servers on which not to run the command, name. This value must be a comma-delimited list of server machine types or platform IDs. You cannot use both name_Supported_Systems and name_Unsupported_Systems in the same unattend.ini file.
After Drivers Specifies a comma-delimited list of commands to run after the executable device drivers are installed. Each command must have a name_Command variable and either a name_Supported_Systems or name_Unsupported_Systems variable defined.
Before Drivers Specifies a comma-delimited list of commands to run before the executable device drivers are installed. Each command must have a name_Command variable and either a name_Supported_Systems or name_Unsupported_Systems variable defined.
The following are examples of contents in the unattend.ini file:
Example Description 
[Unattend]
UnattendTxt=c:\unattend.txt
Drivers Path=c:\w2\$oem$\$1\drv
HWDetectIni=c:\hwdetect.ini
I386 Path=c:\i386
System Drive=
Textmode=
PnP=
Executable=
Verbose Level=
 Adds plug-and-play device drivers from c:\w2\$oem$\$1\drv and text mode device drivers from c:\w2\$oem$\textmode to the answer file and deletes device drivers not specific to the target server. 
[Unattend]
UnattendTxt=c:\unattend.txt
Drivers Path=c:\w2\$oem$\textmode
HWDetectIni=c:\hwdetect.ini
I386 Path=c:\i386
System Drive=
Textmode=True
PnP=
Executable=
Verbose Level=
 Adds only the text mode device drivers from c:\w2\$oem$\textmode directory to the answer file. 
[Unattend]
UnattendTxt=c:\unattend.txt
Drivers Path=c:\w2\$oem$\$1\drv
HWDetectIni=c:\hwdetect.ini
I386 Path=c:\i386
System Drive=
Textmode=
PnP=
Executable=
Verbose Level=

[GUIRunOnce]
Before Drivers=LaunchIt,MoveIt
After Drivers=DeleteIt,FinishIt

LaunchIt_Command="CMD.EXE /C c:\RunMe.exe"
LaunchIt_Supported_Systems=All

MoveIt_Command="CMD.EXE
/C Move c:\WinInst\Readme.htm c:\"
MoveIt_Supported_Systems=8676,8870

DeleteIt_Command="CMD.EXE /C RMDIR c:\WinInst /q"
DeleteIt_Unsupported_Systems=8870

FinishIt_Command="CMD.EXE /C c:\ShowMsg.exe"
FinishIt_Supported_Systems=All
 Adds the plug-and-play device drivers and executable device drivers from c:\w2\$oem$\$1\drv and the text mode device drivers from c:\w2\$oem$\textmode to the answer file, deletes device drivers not specific to the target server, and runs some specific commands both before and after executable device drivers are installed on specific servers
Parent topic: UNATTEND.EXE