I would like some help from the community here to understand what I am doing wrong with creating my autounattend.xml file, please.

This (see attached autounattend.xml) is being used on Windows 7 Enterprise SP1 x64. I'm using the Unattend Creator set for AnyCPU architecture.

When I run my setup I'm greeted with a pop-up that states the following:

Quote

The unattend answer file contains an invalid product key. Either remove the invalid key or provide a valid product key in the unattend answer file to proceed with Windows installation.

It's probably something I've done but I can't seem to get it.

I plug in my company's serial which I know to be good. If I select Skip Auto-Activation then I can save my XML file but get the error dialogue above. If I uncheck Skip Auto-Activationthen I cannot save the XML file and receive this warning:

Quote

Invalid Selection

You can't have the 'Skip Auto-Activation' checked if you haven't selected a 'Serial' which can be found on the info tab, those keys are just default keys and still have 30 day trial!!

So this starts banging on my "huh?" nerve because at this point I don't have the skip checked.

Will someone kindly tell me what I'm doing wrong and how to correct this?

Thanks.

Edited January 20, 201213 yr by Legolash2o

Does your key require Auto-activation? If so then i can remove that message. Edit the .xml file in notepad and manually remove the skip-auto activation string and then try.

It should let you uncheck it if you entered the serial first.

Meanwhile, i'll have a look at my code to make sure it's correct

Edited January 13, 201213 yr by Legolash2o

I seem to be having the same problem. I am using my technet WIN7 Enterprise and using my valid key with the skip auto activation and yet it keeps telling me I have an invalid key.

is that Windows or Windows 7 Toolkit saying you have an invalid key?

Its windows during the initial setup

I took the same source files and deleted the autounattend and ran an install... in went fine and I then activated the install with the same key I am trying in the xml file so the key and the install files seem fine

Invalid Selection

You can't have the 'Skip Auto-Activation' checked if you haven't selected a 'Serial' which can be found on the info tab, those keys are just default keys and still have 30 day trial!!

I've just fixed this error will be in v96.

Awesome.. I will test it as soon as ist out and report back

I've re-uploaded v95 with this fix

I'm on it :-)

Please let me know the result as soon as possible please

Hmmm I created a new xml file with the key and the "skip" selected... it seemed fine so I ran the install and once again:

The unattend answer file contains an invalid product key. Either remove the invalid key or provide a valid product key in the unattend answer file to proceed with Windows installation.

Can you send me your unattended file via PM please so i can test it thoroughly (with the key/untouched)?

Edited January 20, 201213 yr by Legolash2o

I'm trying to send it I just don't see how to attach a file

I know this is an old topic, but hopefully this will help someone who stumbles across this thread.

In any event, if you're like me and are testing your spiffy, custom iso inside a vm, be sure you're using the correct network adapter. I too had this same error and then it dawned on me; I think I need an internet connection in order to activate. Being that my network adapter was set to NAT, I couldn't reach the outside world. Once I switched it to bridged, I ran the same iso/unattend and I was successful.

Again, please forgive this resurrection! Hope this helps someone!