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Error message when you perform an unattended installation of Windows Server 2008: "Windows could not parse or process unattend answer file [drive:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml] for pass [oobeSystem]"


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Symptoms

When you perform an unattended installation of Windows Server 2008, you receive the following error message:
Windows could not parse or process unattend answer file [drive:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml] for pass [oobeSystem]. The settings specified in the answer file cannot be applied. The error was detected while processing settings for component [Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup].
Additionally, the following entry is logged in the %systemroot%\Panther\Unattendgc\Setupact.log file:
[Shell Unattend] Running 'oobeSystem' pass
DateTime, Info [Shell Unattend] WindowsFeatures: Launched '"C:\Windows\system32\ie4uinit.exe" -show' 
DateTime, Info [Shell Unattend] WindowsFeatures: Launched '"C:\Program Files\Windows Mail\WinMail.exe" OCInstallHideOE' 
DateTime, Info [Shell Unattend] WindowsFeatures: Launched 'C:\Windows\system32\unregmp2.exe /ShowWMP /SetShowState' 
DateTime, Error [Shell Unattend] WindowsFeatures: Failed to read show/hide command value 'SOFTWARE\Clients\Media\Windows Media Center\InstallInfo' 'HideIconsCommand' (0x80070002) 
DateTime, Info [Shell Unattend] Exiting 'oobeSystem' pass with status 0x80070002
DateTime, Info [oobeldr.exe] [Action Queue] : process exit code = 4
DateTime, Error [oobeldr.exe] [Action Queue] : Unattend action failed with exit code 4 
DateTime, Info [oobeldr.exe] [Action Queue] : ProcessActionQueue finish (hr = 0x1f2000)
DateTime, Error [oobeldr.exe] Execution of unattend GCs failed; hr = 0x0; pResults->hrResult = 0x8030000b
DateTime, Info [oobeldr.exe] Successfully completed RunSMIPass for oobeSystem.
DateTime, Info [oobeldr.exe] No reboot has been requested for oobeSystem unattend.
DateTime, Error [oobeldr.exe] User input error was detected in unattend file. Error: [0x0]
DateTime, Info IBS UnattendErrorFromResults: Hit an unattend error; dumping any info we have about the failure...
DateTime, Info IBS UnattendDumpSetting: ------Unattend setting error / warning------
DateTime, Info IBS UnattendDumpSetting: Error code = 0x8030000b
DateTime, Info IBS UnattendDumpSetting: Pass = oobeSystem
DateTime, Info IBS UnattendDumpSetting: Component name = [Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup]
DateTime, Info IBS UnattendDumpSetting: --------------------------------------------
DateTime, Info IBS UnattendErrorFromResults: Error text = Windows could not parse or process unattend answer file [C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml] for pass [oobeSystem]. The settings specified in the answer file cannot be applied. The error was detected while processing settings for component [Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup].

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Cause

This problem occurs because you have set a value for the ShowMediaCenter option in the Unattend.xml file.

Notes
  • The ShowMediaCenter option is in the "Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" subsection of the Unattend.xml file. The "Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" subsection is in the "Windows Features" section.
  • This issue can also occur if you specify these settings in an Unattend.xml file, and you are trying to install one of the following operating systems:
    • Windows Vista Enterprise
    • Windows Vista Business
    • Windows Vista Home Basic
    • Windows Vista Starter

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Resolution

To resolve this problem, do not set any value for the ShowMediaCenter option, and then restart the unattended installation.

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Keywords: KB947303, kbprb, kbtshoot, kbexpertiseinter

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Article Info
Article ID : 947303
Revision : 4
Created on : 1/22/2008
Published on : 1/22/2008
Exists online : False
Views : 471