However, at the end of the Setup process, the Setup program replaces it with “SENSITIVE*DATA*DELETED.” During an unattended installation, the file Unattend.xml or AutoUnattend.xml is copied to the %SystemRoot%\Panther folder of the target computer. For a sample unattended installation file, see “Appendix B: Sample Unattended Installation File.”Note The MAK is stored in clear text in the Unattend.xml file.
For more information, see the Unattended Windows Setup Reference help file in the Windows AIK at.
The Unattend.xml file can be used with Setup.exe or Windows Deployment Services. Installing a MAK During Operating System InstallationĪdministrators can convert a KMS client to a MAK client during the initial installation of Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 by including a MAK in an unattended setup (Unattend.xml) file. For background information about MAK activation, see the Volume Activation Planning Guide. MAK activation is used for one-time activation through Microsoft’s hosted activation services, with no renewals required. Applies To: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2