[REQ] Adding custom sections and keys to the Unattended (answer) file

[intelfx]

This question about configuring multiple input locales (https://www.ntlite.com/community/in...lues-for-inputlocale-multiple-keyboards.2431/) suggests that it is possible to "edit the XML" or "add the rest manually" if one needs to specify custom unattended configuration not supported by the UI, such as multiple input locales in a list.

However, this does not seem to work: items in the preset XML that do not conform to what NTLite expects are silently removed.

Attached are three files: the original preset (with two manual edits), the auto-saved preset (that silently drops unsupported keys and values), and the resulting autounattend.xml file (that also omits both customizations).

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Please advise, what is the recommended way to add custom unattended configuration within NTLite?

 

[garlin]

NTLite only supports a limited set of Unattended settings and directives, compared to the full set of documented options.

The reason is importing someone else's answer file, and making sure NTLite doesn't conflict with them opens a bigger can of worms. For now, the solution is what it's always been, and for you to manually edit the autounattend.xml, with your extensions after NTLite is done.

Could NTLite be smarter about it? Yes, but most of the technical investment has been in safely managing Windows updates and component removals. It's the old 80/20 rule. Where should the time be spent on improving the product?

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O/T – I wrote a PS script to modify unattended files to handle correct disk layout (with Recovery partition at the end), and in my experience to perform this task safely, and not interfere with other parts of the file was a total pain. And I was using XML routines to make life easier.

You can get tripped out on weird XML or unattended format rules which have nothing to do with your actual task.