Set screen resolution in WinPE 2.x/3.x

By Johan Arwidmark / May 12, 2011

To set screen resolution in WinPE 2.x/3.x, simply put a file named unattend.xml file in the root of the boot image with the following content. Works in all WinPE images calling wpeinit.exe (starting network), meaning for example both MDT 2010 Lite Touch and also ConfigMgr 2007 OSD.

Note: This feature will not set screen resolution correctly on most EUFI-based machines, its primarily only for BIOS-based computers. For a PowerShell script that sets screen resolution in WinPE on UEFI-based machines computers, check out this function from David Segura: PowerShell Gallery | Public/Functions/Display/Set-DisRes.ps1 23.8.28.1

Unattend.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
    <settings pass="windowsPE">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State">
            <Display>
                <ColorDepth>16</ColorDepth>
                <HorizontalResolution>1024</HorizontalResolution>
                <RefreshRate>60</RefreshRate>
                <VerticalResolution>768</VerticalResolution>
            </Display>
        </component>
    </settings>
</unattend>

/ Johan

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Admin

11 years ago

Either by modifying the templates (Unattend_PE_x86.xml and Unattend_PE_x64.xml), or to use the update deployment share hook (UpdateExit.vbs), or to simply crank open the wim with imagex, copy the file (replace existing) files.

Might also be possible by adding a more recent unattend.xml to an ExtraFiles folder, don't remeber what order that file is injected in…

leighwebber

How, *exactly*, do you "put a file named unattend.xml file in the root of the boot image"? I am using WDT and WDS. WDS has a RemoteInstall folder with a Boot folder and various subfolders (ia64, x86, x64, etc.). The x64 folder has an images subfolder where LiteTouchPE_x64.wim resides. I have tried putting a modified unattend.xml just about everywhere I can think of, but it does not get found when I do a PXE boot.

ogeccut

12 years ago

Is there a way to include wallpaper in the PE during the whole build process? With MDT it changes to blue background.
Thank you.