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So I'm building a new PC. I have Windows 10 Home retail version on the readonly USB stick. At the beginning of the install process I'm getting the error message "Windows cannot read the <ProductKey> setting from the unattend answer file. Clicking "OK" reboots the machine.
I don't see a way to enter in my product key. I'm not trying to do an unattended installation.
I've read where I'm supposed to download an ISO file and create a bootable USB Key or DVD but I don't have a spare USB key.
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I had this happen today when I was trying to upgrade Windows 7 on a fresh VMware Fusion instance. Turns out that VMware Fusion uses the floppy drive to load some drivers initially, and the floppy disk had this autounattend.xml file on it. I just removed the floppy drive from the VMware config and then it worked fine. It took way too long to figure this out - who uses floppy disks in 2021??
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I've registered here just to say thank you! You saved me many hours, if not days.
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This is the one, thanks!
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Yep, this also bit me trying to install Windows 10 on a virtual machine with VirtualBox today. Very obscure, I probably would have given up before figuring that one out. Thank you for your contribution, and thanks Google for showing this result in top slot today!
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this must be the one solution we are looking for.Thank you!
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I was just stuck on the same issue. I can't thank you enough for sharing your solution!
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Remove any other external devices, especially check optical drives for a disk. Removing the mfg motherborad setup DVD fixed my problem.
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This did it for me!!!!
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This fixed it for me.
The error message “Windows cannot read the <ProductKey> setting from the unattend answer file. Clicking "OK" reboots the machine” display because there is an autounattend.xml file in the USB drive.
Just plug it into a working computer and delete:
autounattend.xml
Then, install your Windows 10 by this USB again.
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Did this work? because I’m having the exact same issue I have a brand new SSD brand new motherboard everything is brand new I’ve tried with three different USBs and they all tell me the same thing this! It’s a problem with windows ISO file and they need to fix it.
No, I was unable to delete the file from the USB Key as it is a Microsoft OEM USB key (retail Windows 10) and it is write locked. I tried to make the USB key writeable using either DiskPart or windows permissions.
In the end, the problem turned out to be that I had the drivers DVD from the motherboard manufacturer in the DVD drive. This disk had an autounattend.xml file on it which was causing the issue. I removed the drivers disc and rebooted and was able to proceed with the installation normally.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
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Thank you, this really helped me!
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The drivers DVD from the mobo manufacturer being in the DVD drive turned out to be my issue, as well. So glad I found your post. I was about to start freaking out.
Ran into this before. Your answer file is missing a setting. If you created an answer file using SIM, you have to add the product key to Pass 1 WindowsPE to get pass this error.