Reinstalling your operating system can be a real pain. One of my favorite shortcuts, is to create an unattended install of the operating system I am currently using. Since Windows 7 is my main operating system of choice, that is until Windows 8 offically releases, I have already made an unattended install for this. If you want to do the same then you came to the right place. Here is the complete guide to create unattended Windows 7 install.
Before we begin, we will need some stuff:
1. Windows 7 DVD or Windows 7 ISO, any version.
2. DVD or a USB flash drive.
3. vLite (Linke below)
After you gathered these things and installed vLite lets begin.
Unattended Windows 7 Install
Frist step in the process is to either copy the Windows 7 DVD or extract the Windows 7 ISO to a folder. We are using 7-Zip to extract the ISO to a folder. Just right click on the ISO and choose 7-Zip form the right click menu. Then chose Extract to “Windows” to extract the image to a folder.
If you have a DVD just navigate to the DVD and copy all the files to a new folder.
After you are done copying or extracting the DVD or image files to a folder, launch vLite. You might get a Dependencies error just like the one below. Click on the WAIK download link and download and install it.
After you finished with the install, click Install on the Dependencies window. If this doesn’t work click Cancel to exit vLit and open an Explorer window. Click on the Computer group and choose Local Disk and then open the Program Files in the left pane.
Under the Program Files locate Windows AIK and open it.
From the Windows AIK folder find Tools and open that folder as well.
Open the x86 folder under the Tools folder next.
Then find the wimgapi.dll file and copy it. We will need this to bypass the Dependancies window for vLite.
From the address bar click on Program Files.
Find the vLite folder and open it.
Then past the wimgapi.dll file under the vLite folder.
You will be prompted for permission. Unless you lowered the UAC or logged in as an admin. Click Continue to finish the copy.
After the copy is finished open up vLite. You will be taken to the Start Screen. Click Browse to start the process.
You will need to locate the folder where you either copied the Windows 7 DVD to or extracted the Windows 7 ISO to. Click OK after you select the folder.
vLite will ask you what version of Windows 7. Select the appropriate version that you have. For me, since my Windows 7 ISO is Ultimate I will select that from the list. Click OK when finished.
You will be taken to the Tasks tab. Here you will want to check the boxes for Unattended setup and Bootable ISO. Click Next on the bottom to continue.
You will be taken to the Unattended tab. Here you will need to enter the Product Key, check the boxes for Select this version on install and Accept EULA.
After you are finished entering the information in, click on the Regional tab. Make sure the radio button is selected for Specify then choose the UI Language, Time and currency format, Keyboard or input method, and Timezone. Click Apply when ready.
The Apply method window will open. Make sure the radio button is selected to Rebuild one. Then click OK to continue.
The rebuilding process will take a while so be patent.
When the process if finished click Next to move to the last step in the process.
You will be taken to the ISO tab. Here you can, of course, create an ISO image, burn image and more. Select what you want to do and click the button in the bottom right corner.
If you make an image, or ISO file, you can create a Windows 7 bootable flash drive. Also if you do not want use vLite to burn the DVD image, you can use Windows to burn the DVD.
Even though this guide was for Windows 7, you can also use this to create an unattended Windows Vista install DVD or ISO as well.
Downloads
Download vlite here and download Windows 7 ISO here.
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