autounattend.xml

I did Windows 11 24H2 clean install with autounattend.xml on new gaming laptop. I copied my autounattend.xml to Windows 11 USB Flash Drive installation, install Windows without internet but autounattend.xml not worked 100%. I had Local Account and installed Windows 11 without internet but i had all bloatware and new right click instead old.

autounattend.xml only worked if i install from ISO or do i need internet connected while installing Windows 11?

@Rad,

You do not need to have an Internet connection when performing an unattended installation.

Unfortunately, that is all that I can tell you because you have provided insufficient information to troubleshoot further. For example:

What does "but autounattend.xml not worked 100%" even mean? Could you provide more specific details?

Are there any error messages? What precisely did not work? How did it behave vs. what were you expecting?

Could you post a copy of the answer file that you were using?

My autounattend.xml:

hsehestedt said:

What does "but autounattend.xml not worked 100%" even mean? Could you provide more specific details?

Click to expand...

Bloatware and new right click instead old.


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.


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.

Rad said:

Generate autounattend.xml files for Windows 10/11

I did Windows 11 24H2 clean install with autounattend.xml on new gaming laptop. I copied my autounattend.xml to Windows 11 USB Flash Drive installation, install Windows without internet but autounattend.xml not worked 100%. I had Local Account and installed Windows 11 without internet but i had all bloatware and new right click instead old.

Click to expand...

Check the log files and verify the C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml file exists.

I assume your “Windows 11 USB Flash Drive” was created by the Media Creation Tool? I have just prepared a flash drive with the current Media Creation Tool and then placed an autounattend.xml file in its root folder – this worked flawlessly. In particular, bloatware was removed, and the classic context menu was enabled.

If you want to create a local user account in Windows 11, you do not need to disconnect from the internet – the autounattend.xml process will be able to create local user accounts regardless of your internet connection state.

Rad 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...

This is simply not true. autounattend.xml files generated by my service work with any version of Windows 10 and Windows 11, including 24H2, in both ConX and legacy setup modes.

The main reason why an answer file is not processed as expected is that some other software (including Rufus or Ventoy) has inserted their own autounattend.xml file into the Windows Setup files, and this file is higher up in the search order and thus takes preference.