Windows Server 2012 R2 ignores unattended answer files

i had issues, modeled simple test case , still doesn't work.

case 1:

create hyper-v vm, attach 2 blank hard vhds , 1 dvd original windows installation media. mount second vhd, initialize, partition, , format it, , copy single file root named autounattend.xml.

boot vm, confirm booting dvd.

windows setup prompts input locale, follows full manual setup.

case 2:

use convert-windowsimage.ps1 create vhd, specifying autounattend.xml answer file.

create vm, specify vhd hard drive, boot vm (no dvd).

windows setup begins specialize pass , prompts input locale, follows manual specialize/oobe sequence.

case 3:

use sysprepped vhd.

specify autounattend.xml use-windowsunattend directed mounted vhd, specifying both path , systemdrive.

dismount vhd, attach vm, boot vm.

windows setup begins specialize pass , prompts input locale, follows manual specialize/oobe sequence.

i've tried naming them both unattend.xml , autounattend.xml.  can't work in of above situations.  i've used technet sample files, sim, , other online generators , examples.  won't take.  doing wrong?

two files have used:

online example:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>  <unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">  <settings pass="windowspe">  <component name="microsoft-windows-international-core-winpe" processorarchitecture="amd64" publickeytoken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionscope="nonsxs" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wmiconfig/2002/state" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/xmlschema-instance">  <setupuilanguage>  <uilanguage>en-us</uilanguage>  </setupuilanguage>  <inputlocale>0409:00000409</inputlocale>  <systemlocale>en-us</systemlocale>  <uilanguage>en-us</uilanguage>  <uilanguagefallback>en-us</uilanguagefallback>  <userlocale>en-us</userlocale>  </component>  <component name="microsoft-windows-setup" processorarchitecture="amd64" publickeytoken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionscope="nonsxs" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wmiconfig/2002/state" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/xmlschema-instance">  <diskconfiguration>  <disk wcm:action="add">  <createpartitions>  <createpartition wcm:action="add">  <order>1</order>  <type>primary</type>  <size>100</size>  </createpartition>  <createpartition wcm:action="add">  <extend>true</extend>  <order>2</order>  <type>primary</type>  </createpartition>  </createpartitions>  <modifypartitions>  <modifypartition wcm:action="add">  <active>true</active>  <format>ntfs</format>  <label>system reserved</label>  <order>1</order>  <partitionid>1</partitionid>  <typeid>0x27</typeid>  </modifypartition>  <modifypartition wcm:action="add">  <active>true</active>  <format>ntfs</format>  <label>os</label>  <letter>c</letter>  <order>2</order>  <partitionid>2</partitionid>  </modifypartition>  </modifypartitions>  <diskid>0</diskid>  <willwipedisk>true</willwipedisk>  </disk>  </diskconfiguration>  <imageinstall>  <osimage>  <installto>  <diskid>0</diskid>  <partitionid>2</partitionid>  </installto>  <installtoavailablepartition>false</installtoavailablepartition>  </osimage>  </imageinstall>  <userdata>  <productkey>  <key>w3ggn-ft8w3-y4m27-j84cp-q3vj9</key>  </productkey>  <accepteula>true</accepteula>  <fullname>user</fullname>  <organization>organization</organization>  </userdata>  <enablefirewall>false</enablefirewall>  </component>  </settings>  <settings pass="offlineservicing">  <component name="microsoft-windows-lua-settings" processorarchitecture="amd64" publickeytoken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionscope="nonsxs" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wmiconfig/2002/state" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/xmlschema-instance">  <enablelua>false</enablelua>  </component>  </settings>  <settings pass="generalize">  <component name="microsoft-windows-security-spp" processorarchitecture="amd64" publickeytoken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionscope="nonsxs" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wmiconfig/2002/state" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/xmlschema-instance">  <skiprearm>1</skiprearm>  </component>  </settings>  <settings pass="specialize">  <component name="microsoft-windows-international-core" processorarchitecture="amd64" publickeytoken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionscope="nonsxs" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wmiconfig/2002/state" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/xmlschema-instance">  <inputlocale>0409:00000409</inputlocale>  <systemlocale>en-us</systemlocale>  <uilanguage>en-us</uilanguage>  <uilanguagefallback>en-us</uilanguagefallback>  <userlocale>en-us</userlocale>  </component>  <component name="microsoft-windows-security-spp-ux" processorarchitecture="amd64" publickeytoken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionscope="nonsxs" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wmiconfig/2002/state" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/xmlschema-instance">  <skipautoactivation>true</skipautoactivation>  </component>  <component name="microsoft-windows-sqmapi" processorarchitecture="amd64" publickeytoken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionscope="nonsxs" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wmiconfig/2002/state" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/xmlschema-instance">  <ceipenabled>0</ceipenabled>  </component>  <component name="microsoft-windows-shell-setup" processorarchitecture="amd64" publickeytoken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionscope="nonsxs" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wmiconfig/2002/state" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/xmlschema-instance">  <computername>adlab01</computername>  </component>  </settings>  <settings pass="oobesystem">  <component name="microsoft-windows-shell-setup" processorarchitecture="amd64" publickeytoken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionscope="nonsxs" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wmiconfig/2002/state" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/xmlschema-instance">  <autologon>  <password>  <value>password1!</value>  <plaintext>true</plaintext>  </password>  <enabled>true</enabled>  <username>user</username>  </autologon>  <oobe>  <hideeulapage>true</hideeulapage>  <hideoemregistrationscreen>true</hideoemregistrationscreen>  <hideonlineaccountscreens>true</hideonlineaccountscreens>  <hidewirelesssetupinoobe>true</hidewirelesssetupinoobe>  <networklocation>work</networklocation>  <protectyourpc>1</protectyourpc>  <skipuseroobe>true</skipuseroobe>  <skipmachineoobe>true</skipmachineoobe>  </oobe>  <useraccounts>  <localaccounts>  <localaccount wcm:action="add">  <password>  <value>password1!</value>  <plaintext>true</plaintext>  </password>  <description></description>  <displayname>user</displayname>  <group>administrators</group>  <name>user</name>  </localaccount>  </localaccounts>  </useraccounts>  <registeredorganization>organization</registeredorganization>  <registeredowner>user</registeredowner>  <disableautodaylighttimeset>false</disableautodaylighttimeset>  <timezone>central standard time</timezone>  <visualeffects>  <systemdefaultbackgroundcolor>0</systemdefaultbackgroundcolor>  </visualeffects>  </component>  <component name="microsoft-windows-ehome-reg-inf" processorarchitecture="x86" publickeytoken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionscope="nonsxs" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wmiconfig/2002/state" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/xmlschema-instance">  <restartenabled>true</restartenabled>  </component>  <component name="microsoft-windows-ehome-reg-inf" processorarchitecture="amd64" publickeytoken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionscope="nonsxs" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wmiconfig/2002/state" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/xmlschema-instance">  <restartenabled>true</restartenabled>  </component>  </settings>  </unattend>

generated windows sim wim:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>  <unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">      <settings pass="windowspe">          <component name="microsoft-windows-setup" processorarchitecture="amd64" publickeytoken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionscope="nonsxs" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wmiconfig/2002/state" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/xmlschema-instance">              <userdata>                  <productkey>                      <key>w3ggn-ft8w3-y4m27-j84cp-q3vj9</key>                      <willshowui>never</willshowui>                  </productkey>                  <accepteula>true</accepteula>                  <fullname>fullname</fullname>                  <organization>organization</organization>              </userdata>              <diskconfiguration>                  <disk wcm:action="add">                      <createpartitions>                          <createpartition wcm:action="add">                              <size>350</size>                              <order>1</order>                              <type>primary</type>                          </createpartition>                          <createpartition wcm:action="add">                              <order>2</order>                              <type>primary</type>                              <extend>true</extend>                          </createpartition>                      </createpartitions>                      <modifypartitions>                          <modifypartition wcm:action="add">                              <order>1</order>                              <partitionid>1</partitionid>                              <typeid>0x27</typeid>                              <format>ntfs</format>                              <label>system</label>                          </modifypartition>                          <modifypartition wcm:action="add">                              <partitionid>2</partitionid>                              <label>windows</label>                              <letter>c</letter>                              <order>2</order>                          </modifypartition>                      </modifypartitions>                      <diskid>0</diskid>                      <willwipedisk>true</willwipedisk>                  </disk>                  <willshowui>onerror</willshowui>              </diskconfiguration>              <imageinstall>                  <osimage>                      <installfrom>                          <metadata wcm:action="add">                              <key>/image/name</key>                              <value>windows server 2012 r2 serverdatacenter</value>                          </metadata>                      </installfrom>                      <installto>                          <partitionid>2</partitionid>                          <diskid>0</diskid>                      </installto>                      <willshowui>onerror</willshowui>                      <installtoavailablepartition>false</installtoavailablepartition>                  </osimage>              </imageinstall>          </component>          <component name="microsoft-windows-international-core-winpe" processorarchitecture="amd64" publickeytoken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionscope="nonsxs" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wmiconfig/2002/state" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/xmlschema-instance">              <setupuilanguage>                  <uilanguage>en-us</uilanguage>              </setupuilanguage>              <uilanguage>en-us</uilanguage>              <inputlocale>en-us</inputlocale>              <systemlocale>en-us</systemlocale>              <userlocale>en-us</userlocale>          </component>      </settings>      <settings pass="specialize">          <component name="microsoft-windows-deployment" processorarchitecture="amd64" publickeytoken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionscope="nonsxs" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wmiconfig/2002/state" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/xmlschema-instance">              <runsynchronous>                  <runsynchronouscommand wcm:action="add">                      <order>1</order>                      <path>powershell.exe -command enable-psremoting -force; enable-wsmancredssp -role server -force;</path>                      <description>configure remoting</description>                  </runsynchronouscommand>                  <runsynchronouscommand wcm:action="add">                      <order>2</order>                      <path>powershell.exe -command set-netfirewallprofile -profile domain -enabled false;</path>                      <description>configure domain firewall</description>                  </runsynchronouscommand>                  <runsynchronouscommand wcm:action="add">                      <order>4</order>                      <description>configure ipv6 eui</description>                      <path>powershell.exe -command set-netipv6protocol -randomizeidentifiers disabled;</path>                  </runsynchronouscommand>                  <runsynchronouscommand wcm:action="add">                      <order>3</order>                      <path>set-itemproperty -path &quot;hklm:system\currentcontrolset\control\terminal server&quot; -name &apos;fdenytsconnections&apos; -value 0; enable-netfirewallrule -displaygroup &quot;remote desktop&quot;;</path>                      <description>configure remote desktop</description>                  </runsynchronouscommand>                  <runsynchronouscommand wcm:action="add">                      <description>configure (disable) uac</description>                      <order>5</order>                      <path>set-itemproperty -path hklm:\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\policies\system -name enablelua -value 0;</path>                      <willreboot>always</willreboot>                  </runsynchronouscommand>              </runsynchronous>          </component>          <component name="microsoft-windows-ie-esc" processorarchitecture="amd64" publickeytoken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionscope="nonsxs" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wmiconfig/2002/state" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/xmlschema-instance">              <iehardenadmin>false</iehardenadmin>              <iehardenuser>false</iehardenuser>          </component>          <component name="microsoft-windows-terminalservices-localsessionmanager" processorarchitecture="amd64" publickeytoken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionscope="nonsxs" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wmiconfig/2002/state" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/xmlschema-instance">              <fdenytsconnections>false</fdenytsconnections>          </component>          <component name="microsoft-windows-shell-setup" processorarchitecture="amd64" publickeytoken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionscope="nonsxs" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wmiconfig/2002/state" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/xmlschema-instance">              <productkey>w3ggn-ft8w3-y4m27-j84cp-q3vj9</productkey>              <timezone>central standard time</timezone>              <registeredorganization>---</registeredorganization>          </component>      </settings>      <settings pass="oobesystem">          <component name="microsoft-windows-shell-setup" processorarchitecture="amd64" publickeytoken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionscope="nonsxs" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wmiconfig/2002/state" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/xmlschema-instance">              <oobe>                  <hideeulapage>true</hideeulapage>                  <hidelocalaccountscreen>true</hidelocalaccountscreen>                  <hideoemregistrationscreen>true</hideoemregistrationscreen>                  <hideonlineaccountscreens>true</hideonlineaccountscreens>                  <hidewirelesssetupinoobe>true</hidewirelesssetupinoobe>                  <protectyourpc>1</protectyourpc>              </oobe>              <useraccounts>                  <administratorpassword>                      <value>uabhahmacwb3ag8acgbkadeaiqbbagqabqbpag4aaqbzahqacgbhahqabwbyafaayqbzahmadwbvahiazaa=</value>                      <plaintext>false</plaintext>                  </administratorpassword>              </useraccounts>              <registeredorganization>--</registeredorganization>              <registeredowner>---</registeredowner>              <autologon>                  <password>                      <value>uabhahmacwb3ag8acgbkadeaiqbqageacwbzahcabwbyagqa</value>                      <plaintext>false</plaintext>                  </password>                  <domain>.</domain>                  <enabled>true</enabled>                  <logoncount>1</logoncount>                  <username>administrator</username>              </autologon>              <firstlogoncommands>                  <synchronouscommand wcm:action="add">                      <requiresuserinput>false</requiresuserinput>                      <commandline>powershell.exe -command enable-psremoting -force; enable-wsmancredssp -role server -force; </commandline>                      <description>enable remoting</description>                      <order>1</order>                  </synchronouscommand>                  <synchronouscommand wcm:action="add">                      <commandline>powershell.exe -command set-netfirewallprofile -profile domain -enabled false;</commandline>                      <description>disable domain firewall</description>                      <order>2</order>                      <requiresuserinput>false</requiresuserinput>                  </synchronouscommand>                  <synchronouscommand wcm:action="add">                      <commandline>powershell.exe -command set-netipv6protocol -randomizeidentifiers disabled;</commandline>                      <description>disable eui randomization</description>                      <order>4</order>                      <requiresuserinput>false</requiresuserinput>                  </synchronouscommand>                  <synchronouscommand wcm:action="add">                      <commandline>powershell.exe -command (get-wmiobject -class win32_terminalservicesetting -computername &quot;.&quot; -namespace root\cimv2\terminalservices -authentication packetprivacy).setallowtsconnections(1,1)</commandline>                      <description>enable remote desktop</description>                      <order>3</order>                      <requiresuserinput>false</requiresuserinput>                  </synchronouscommand>              </firstlogoncommands>          </component>      </settings>  </unattend>  

you must select compatible unattend file, x86 x86,x64 x64.

see this

http://blog.augustoalvarez.com.ar/2010/04/21/deploying-windows-7-using-windows-deployment-services-wds-step-by-step-part-ii/

Windows Server  >  Windows Server 2012 Setup