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I say big, very big thanks to you.

I was playing for 2 days with WDS and I couldn't force my images to be seen as operating system to select to install like on the attached print screen, then I found your manual, and I followed it, and it started to work.

post-136892-1186266679_thumb.jpg

For others having the same problem what I did wrong:

I created "Capture Boot Image" using "Windows Vista PE from the WAIK" and I created "Discover Image" from "Windows Server 2008" boot.wim.

So to correctly capture and later deploy image I had to create both capture and discover from "Windows Server 2008" boot.wim image.

Btw. To ease the instillation job before I did sysprep I created sysprep.inf file using setupmgr.exe with all answers windows XP needs to install unattended, if you want to try it don't forget to copy folder i383 form XP CD to C:\sysprep before you start sysprep.exe it is needed during the installation and be aware that after you deploy XP to new box C:\sysprep and all it content is deleted.

So good luck for the rest of you and again thanks Chdboy4 for your effort, :thumbup without that probably I would spend next few days searching for solution, but now I already deployed my first Win XP.

Last hint:

If you want correctly transfer your image to WDS server do like this:

  • 1. Select where to save the image first, you can choose c:\ drive or other if you have or USB stick
    2. check the box Upload image to WDS server
    3. put WDS server name, click connect, enter login and password for WDS 4.chose created before Image group

5. click finish

post-136892-1186266598_thumb.jpg

Edited by italian0
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  • 2 weeks later...

Where oh where am i going wrong? :unsure:

I am still failing, in fact I have gone backwards!!

Here is what I have spent the last few days doing:

As I have stated previously I would like to image machines with an XP Pro Image using WDS.

Here are the recent steps that I have taken:

I extracted F1_WinPE and F3_WinPE from WAIK

In the WDS MMC right click the "Boot Images" folder and select "Add Boot Image"

Browsed to the location I saved the WinPE images extracted earlier: ‘F1_WinPE and F3_WinPE’

Added both images. The images appear in the "Boot Images" folder.

Microsoft Windows Vista PE (x86)

Microsoft Windows Vista PE (AMD64)

I then copied ‘boot.wim’ from the Windows 2008 DVD

I then added image to the ‘Boot Images’ folder which now read:

Microsoft Windows Vista PE (x86)

Microsoft Windows Vista PE (AMD64)

Microsoft Windows Longhorn Setup (x64)

I selected Microsoft Windows Longhorn Setup (x64) boot image then:

"Create Capture Boot Image"

Named the new boot image “Capture Microsoft Windows XP (x86)” and selected to save the new image to: E:\RemoteInstall\Images

This created the capture image.

I then right clicked the "Boot Images" folder and selected to add another boot image

Navigated to the location I just saved the capture image and imported into WDS as

‘Capture Windows XP”. The capture image appeared in the "Boot Images" folder.

Boot Images:

Microsoft Windows Vista PE (x86)

Microsoft Windows Vista PE (AMD64)

Microsoft Windows Longhorn Setup (x64)

Capture Windows XP

I selected Microsoft Windows Longhorn Setup (x64) boot image then:

"Create Discover Boot Image"

I created the ‘Discover Boot Image’ then imported into ‘Boot Images’

Boot Images:

Microsoft Windows Vista PE (x86)

Microsoft Windows Vista PE (AMD64)

Microsoft Windows Longhorn Setup (x64)

Capture Windows XP

Discover Windows XP

Reference: Machine to be imaged:

Installed Windows XP Pro along with Office 2007

Created a folder in the root of the C: drive called sysprep

From the XP Pro CD I copied contents of ‘Deploy’ from the support folder to C:\sysprep

From sysprep folder I ran "setupmgr.exe" to create the answer file.

Options Chosen:

Create New

Type of Setup: Sysprep Setup

Product: Windows XP Professional

No, do not fully automate the installation

I followed the wizard and accepted defaults for all settings with the exception of:

Configured Time Zone (UK)

Automatically generate computer name

Use following Administrator Password: “My Password”

Customized regional settings: UK

Saved answer file to default option:

C:\sysprep\sysprep.inf

Then from the sysprep folder I ran the sysprep executable

Ticked the box "Use Mini Setup" and click the "RESEAL" button Shutdown Mode = Reboot

On restart I selected to PXE boot (F12).

Windows then displayed “Windows is loading files” and a progress bar. This took 1-2 hours

post-147188-1187191556_thumb.jpg

followed by:

post-147188-1187191607_thumb.jpg

That’s as far as I am getting!!

Boy my head is spinning!!!

Thanks,

Phil.

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Getting there. I created Capture & Discover images from vista boot.wim.

I managed to capture XP image then this uploaded to the WDS server when complete.

I then wanted to deploy this image. I PXE booted machine. The boot images were displayed. I selected 'Discover' image but no images were displayed? Just started to run the 'Windows is loading files'???

Any ideas?

Phil.

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Phil,

Why are you doing this it is unnecessary?

I extracted F1_WinPE and F3_WinPE from WAIK

Second notice how you used the X64 image? This is where the computer gets confused, because you are using a 64-Bit Discover Image to deploy a 32-Bit version of windows, the computer doesn't like this.

I selected Microsoft Windows Longhorn Setup (x64) boot image then:

"Create Discover Boot Image"

So to fixing your problem "should" be easy.

First

-Delete all your boot images

-Add the x86 Windows Server 2008 or vista boot.wim using the wizard in WDS (do not export these images, just point the wizard to the boot.wim file "D:\sources\boot.im" where D: is your dvd drive or mounted ISO)

-Name this boot image Windows Server(or Vista) Setup x86

-Create a Capture image from this image

-Create a Discover image off this file.

And you should be good to go.

Hope this helps.

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