clipped from: www.minasi.com   

Installing Vista Hands-Off With an Answer File

  • Create an answer file.  It's an ASCII text file that you'll usually create using a free program from Microsoft called the Windows System Image Manager (WSIM) that is part of the WAIK.
  • Give that answer file the name "autounattend.xml."
  • Put the file on any removable storage device on the target computer; on different machines I've successfully stored the file on a
    • CD-ROM disc
    • floppy disk
    • USB memory stick
  • Put the Vista installation DVD in the target computer's DVD drive.
  • Turn the computer on and tell it to boot from the DVD, then walk away.  In about a half hour, Vista's installed.

    • Download a Basic Autounattend.xml

    Insert Your Product Key in the Autounattend.xml

    Put the Autounattend.xml File on a Removable Drive

  • First, you can copy the file to a USB stick and insert the USB stick into a USB slot.