You plan to install Windows 7 on a computer by using a Windows 7 DVD, and you want the installation to be fully automated. Which answer file must you create, and where should you place it so that Setup can use it automatically during installation?

Introduction / Context:
Modern Windows versions, including Windows 7, support unattended installation using XML based answer files. These files provide responses to Setup prompts so that the installation can proceed without user interaction. This question tests your knowledge of the correct answer file name and location required for a fully automated installation when booting directly from a Windows 7 DVD.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The operating system to install is Windows 7.
• Installation will start by booting from a Windows 7 DVD.
• You want the setup process to be unattended, requiring no manual input.
• You are able to prepare an answer file and place it on external media.

Concept / Approach:
Windows 7 uses XML based unattended answer files created with tools such as Windows System Image Manager. For booting from DVD, the special file name autounattend.xml is recognized automatically if it is located in the root of a removable drive, such as a USB flash drive, attached to the computer at the time of installation. When Setup starts, it scans attached drives, finds autounattend.xml, and applies its settings without prompting the user.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Use Windows System Image Manager or another tool to generate an XML answer file tailored for Windows 7 installation.Step 2: Save or rename the file as autounattend.xml.Step 3: Copy autounattend.xml to the root directory of a removable drive such as a USB flash drive.Step 4: Insert both the Windows 7 DVD and the removable drive containing autounattend.xml into the computer.Step 5: Boot from the DVD. During setup, Windows automatically detects autounattend.xml and uses it to answer installation prompts.
Verification / Alternative check:
You can confirm that the unattended installation is working by monitoring the installation process. If no prompts are displayed for language, product key, disk partitioning, or user account creation and the installation completes from start to finish without input, then the autounattend.xml file has been processed successfully. You can also verify by examining log files such as setupact.log that reference the answer file.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, oobe.xml, is not the special automatic answer file name for initial setup from DVD. Option B references winnt.sif, which was used for unattended installations of older Windows versions such as Windows 2000 or Windows XP, not Windows 7. Option C references sysprep.inf, which is related to older sysprep processes and not the Windows 7 DVD driven setup. Only autounattend.xml is recognized automatically by Windows 7 Setup when present on a removable drive at installation time.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to use legacy answer file formats or names from older versions of Windows, expecting them to work unchanged with Windows 7. Another mistake is placing autounattend.xml in the wrong location, such as a subfolder or on the hard disk instead of the root of a removable drive. Following the correct naming and placement conventions ensures a smooth unattended installation experience.

Final Answer:
You must create an answer file named autounattend.xml and place it on a removable drive so Setup can use it automatically.