Solved autounattend not working for new Windows 11 24H2

Hello,

Could someone kindly help me get my unattend file to work for the new Windows 11? It works perfectly for version 23H2 and also for Windows 10, but for version Windows 11 24H2. The installation starts, formats the disk, and installs, but when it's time to configure, the automation stops at the language/region prompt, and the automation doesn’t resume when I click through. My unattend file is supposed to be fully automated from boot to Windows login. I have reviewed the script file and searched online but can’t figure it out. The file was created using schneegans.de, and the language/region is set to Sweden in the file.

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24H2 Setup now calls SetupPrep.exe to perform the actual install. This workflow is incompatible with Schneegan's method for embedding scripts or files inside the autounattend.xml.

If you understand how to DISM mount boot.wim and apply a reg change to the offline registry, try this fix:
W11 24h2 and old installation setup

If you're not familiar with that process, I would suggest taking a 23H2 ISO and overwriting its sources\install.wim with the 24H2 version. This way you're using a 23H2 WinPE to install the 24H2 image.

garlin said:

24H2 Setup now calls SetupPrep.exe to perform the actual install. This workflow is incompatible with Schneegan's method for embedding scripts or files inside the autounattend.xml.

If you understand how to DISM mount boot.wim and apply a reg change to the offline registry, try this fix:
W11 24h2 and old installation setup

If you're not familiar with that process, I would suggest taking a 23H2 ISO and overwriting its sources\install.wim with the 24H2 version. This way you're using a 23H2 WinPE to install the 24H2 image.

Click to expand...

I've tested everything now, and I'm encountering problem after problem. Removing the content from an ISO using WinRAR doesn't work, nor does it work with 7zip, as it complains that the file is write-protected. I've checked the file, and it's not write-protected, and I'm running 7zip in admin mode without success. I exported the contents, replaced the install file as you suggested, created a new ISO file, but now with Rufus, I can only create an MBR USB boot and not UEFI suddenly. So export/import doesn't work because, for some strange reason, UEFI disappears entirely, and editing the contents isn't possible either. Any tips? :/

Just have Rufus prepare a normal 23H2 ISO. Copy your autounattend.xml to the finished USB drive.

From the PC, have File Explorer mount the 24H2 ISO file (.iso). Browse to the mount folder's \sources folder, copy the 24H2 install.wim to the USB drive's \sources folder. It's easier when everything is treated as a normal file instead of being inside an archive (ISO).

When done, unmount the 24H2 ISO from Explorer.

This is what I've been doing since july, using the ISO of 22h2 and replacing install.wim
And it saved me from having to modify boot.wim of 24h2

However, I don't use Rufus (or other third-party software), just copied/pasted the contents of the installation directory onto the USB key (formatted in FAT32 and "enabled")

PS : since June

garlin said:

24H2 Setup now calls SetupPrep.exe to perform the actual install. This workflow is incompatible with Schneegan's method for embedding scripts or files inside the autounattend.xml.

Click to expand...

I honestly don't know what you mean. autounattend.xml files generated by my service are fully compatible with 24H2. Ventoy seems to struggle with the new “ConX” setup, but that's hardly my fault.

Besides, the only custom script in the autounattend.xml file above is for configuring Wi-Fi.

Teknikfronten said:

Could someone kindly help me get my unattend file to work for the new Windows 11? It works perfectly for version 23H2 and also for Windows 10, but for version Windows 11 24H2. The installation starts, formats the disk, and installs, but when it's time to configure, the automation stops at the language/region prompt, and the automation doesn’t resume when I click through. My unattend file is supposed to be fully automated from boot to Windows login.

Click to expand...

Your file looks fine and should work, with both 23H2 and 24H2. Do you use Ventoy, by any chance? Also, make sure to use the original Win11_24H2_Swedish_x64.iso image downloaded from Microsoft, and verify the hash of that file – the SHA256 hash should be F3674D377253E2D12635FDEAB76193E80BD80C56A41D10AB9CCEFDB0CDF1AD82.

garlin said:

Just have Rufus prepare a normal 23H2 ISO. Copy your autounattend.xml to the finished USB drive.

From the PC, have File Explorer mount the 24H2 ISO file (.iso). Browse to the mount folder's \sources folder, copy the 24H2 install.wim to the USB drive's \sources folder. It's easier when everything is treated as a normal file instead of being inside an archive (ISO).

When done, unmount the 24H2 ISO from Explorer.

Click to expand...

Worked perfekt! THANK YOU! :)