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.
If you get help from our reply, please click "Accept Answer" on a reply to help other community members find the helpful reply quickly.
If you resolve issue using your own solution, please share your experience and solution here. It will be very beneficial for other community members who have similar questions.
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.
If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.
Information posted in the given link is hosted by a third party. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy and effectiveness of information.
Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.
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!
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??
11 people are following this question.
