Windows 7 Beta PETools System Requirements

[allanf]

Hi,

Initially, I trialled the new WAIK 2.0 (relaesed for Win7) under XP Pro, after first uninstalling WAIK 1.1 (released for Vista SP1).

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...;displaylang=en

Mounting and Unmounting of .wim images using either the new imagex or the new dism was erratic and caused sporadic errors particularly when Unmounting with dism. Worse was the length of time taken to Mount and Unmount - up to twenty tiimes more than using WAIK 1.1's imagex. The first Mount in a session using the newly installed tools, always seems to be the longest, so I guess that something is initialized.

I assumed that the behaviour was the result of using the new WAIK tools under an unsupported OS. From the download page:

• Supported Operating Systems: Windows 7
  

• Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2003 R2 SP3 • Windows Vista family • Windows Server 2008 family • Windows 7 family • Windows Server 2008 R2 family

(Why two 'Supported Operating Systems' sections?)

So I set up Win7 beta and installed WAIK 2.0. It is no better than using the WAIK under XP!

IMO, the deprecation of the handy little tool peimg was a mistake by MS! Its functions are now rolled into dism. The incorporation of imagex functioality into dism may also have been unwarranted. IMO, it would be better to retain one very efficient tool that is dedicated to Mounting and Unmounting .wim images, like the previous imagex. So, what happened with the new imagex? Why is it struggling too?

On the other hand, dism does seem to provide a friendlier interface for the pkgmgr functions. The help screen is informative, and error messages are more available.

Generally, after trialling the new WAIK tools under XP, Win7 beta and Windows PE 3.0, I would have to say that it might have been better if dism took on the functions of pkgmgr only, and the left the other efficient and dedicated tools alone!

When time is an issue, as it usually is, it is better to stick with WAIK 1.1 (released for Vista SP!) - at least until things improve on the .wim front.

However, the new diskpart, with its VDISK functionality, can be found installed in WAIK 2.0's winpe.wim images (and Win7 beta itself). For some, this may be a compelling reason to move on to the new WAIK.

Regards

Edit: Sorry Tripredacus that this is a general report, and not a specific bug reoprt as you requested.

Edited March 25, 2009 by allanf

[Tripredacus]

I made this same mistake also. I had installed the beta version on Server 2003, and it also did not work very well. I now have this only installed on Server 2008 and went back to v2.1 (Vista SP1 Servicing version) on my 2003 Server.

The system requirements are like this. The first (your bold) is what version of Windows the WAIK is designed for, being Windows 7. That is the main target, to say if you want to work with Windows 7, you need to use this. After you start looking into the documentation, you also see that it is designed for Vista SP1 and Server 2008. The second requirements is what OS is needed on the Technician PC. In my case, my 2003 Server was at SP2, and I am not interested in installing SP3.

I haven't had any problems using the new Imagex. I can use it to mount and unmount images still. I do complain about DSIM because you need to type in full paths for a lot of things and PEIMG did not require your to. For example, packages when building the PE. In addition, the documentation is not up to par for the initial introduction to DSIM, it caused me issues because the syntax of my commands were wrong until I looked at the walkthrough for building a "DVD Windows PE".

[allanf]

I made this same mistake also. I had installed the beta version on Server 2003, and it also did not work very well. I now have this only installed on Server 2008 and went back to v2.1 (Vista SP1 Servicing version) on my 2003 Server.

As previously advised, it makes no difference to the erratic and errant behaviour of the mounting tools whether the WAIK 2.0 is installed on XP or Windows 7 beta.

However, it seems that you may have come across unreleased versions of the WAIK. The latest released was version 2.0 (for Win 7 beta). You should go to Control Panel > 'Programs and Features' | 'Add or Remove Programs' > Select 'Windows Automated Installation Kit' [>

Click here for support information']. Confirm whether or not you have a version 2.1 as you stated. If you do, could you please advise of the origination of the WAIK 2.1. It may be warez. It is very important to know which version you are using when discussing System Requirements.

The system requirements are like this. The first (your bold)...

It's not my bold. The text is copied and pasted directly from the MS Downloads page. You should check the system requirements from the relevent page. A link was provided in the first post.

... is what version of Windows the WAIK is designed for, being Windows 7. That is the main target, to say if you want to work with Windows 7, you need to use this. After you start looking into the documentation, you also see that it is designed for Vista SP1 and Server 2008. The second requirements is what OS is needed on the Technician PC. In my case, my 2003 Server was at SP2, and I am not interested in installing SP3.

The information you provide is doubtful. Again, please visit the MS Downloads page for system requirements. Also read the Documentation, and you will see that the Requirements for a Technician Computer are:

<H1 class=heading>System Requirements</H1>To build a technician computer, you will need:

• An x86- or x64-based computer running Windows XP, Windows Vista, or a Windows Server 2003 operating system.
  
• Windows OPK or Windows AIK.
  
• A CD or DVD burner to create portable media.
  
• Image-burning software.
  
• .NET Framework 2.0 (provided with the tools during setup).
  
• Network access, to download the latest updates (if you plan to use the technician computer as a network share).
  

(Again, copied and pasted and it's not my bold.. This time from the latest WAIK User's Guide, Build Date: 2008-11-16-190528. Obviously needs updating by MS!)

I haven't had any problems using the new Imagex. I can use it to mount and unmount images still. I do complain about DSIM because you need to type in full paths for a lot of things and PEIMG did not require your to. For example, packages when building the PE. In addition, the documentation is not up to par for the initial introduction to DSIM, it caused me issues because the syntax of my commands were wrong until I looked at the walkthrough for building a "DVD Windows PE".

I am unable to find a Walk-Through with "DVD Windows PE" in the title? It may be helpful if you can provide the full title. 'Walkthrough: Create a Bootable Windows PE RAM Disk on CD-ROM' makes no mention at all of dism.exe, and normally a DVD is not required for Windows PE - CDs are sufficient if you are inclined to use optical media for booting.

It seems you are the only fortunate who has found WAIK 2.0's imagex to perform satisfactorily. Have you tried the previous imagex (WAIK 1.1)? You will be surprised. It's very quick, and will make you realise that the new imagex has some serious issues.

Also, refer to:

I'm piloting the Windows 7 Beta (Server 2008 and Vista SP1) OPK Tools (similar to WAIK) and have noticed some issues. While using the PE Tools Command Prompt to mount WIMs to mount points, I am seeing a progress indicator while mounting. Also, it takes 10 times as long to mount and unmount a WIM now. Also, the mount point seems to react very slowly, taking a number of minutes to view folder contents.

Has anyone else experienced this issue?

EDIT: moved to Beta forum. Had brain fart.

Regards

[Tripredacus]

However, it seems that you may have come across unreleased versions of the WAIK. The latest released was version 2.0 (for Win 7 beta). You should go to Control Panel > 'Programs and Features' | 'Add or Remove Programs' > Select 'Windows Automated Installation Kit' [>

Click here for support information']. Confirm whether or not you have a version 2.1 as you stated. If you do, could you please advise of the origination of the WAIK 2.1. It may be warez. It is very important to know which version you are using when discussing System Requirements.

I do not use the WAIK. My company is not licensed to use it. We use the OPK Tools instead. My files are proper as they are downloaded from the OEM Channel sites that I have access to.

The information you provide is doubtful. Again, please visit the MS Downloads page for system requirements.

Please be aware that the documentation is still largely incomplete, and in some cases incorrect. This is still a beta afterall. And I will say that perhaps the OPK and WAIK documentation have different wording. I do not have the WAIK documentation to compare to.

I am unable to find a Walk-Through with "DVD Windows PE" in the title? It may be helpful if you can provide the full title. 'Walkthrough: Create a Bootable Windows PE RAM Disk on CD-ROM' makes no mention at all of dism.exe, and normally a DVD is not required for Windows PE - CDs are sufficient if you are inclined to use optical media for booting.

This was the title of the page:

Walkthrough: Create a Custom Windows PE Image

Also, refer to:

I had the OPK Tools installed on a computer that was not fast enough. If you look at my servers, you will see that 7Server is currently my Technician computer for Windows 7 Beta. Unclesocks is my Technician Computer for XP and Vista.

[allanf]

I do not use the WAIK. My company is not licensed to use it. We use the OPK Tools instead. My files are proper as they are downloaded from the OEM Channel sites that I have access to.

...

Please be aware that the documentation is still largely incomplete, and in some cases incorrect. This is still a beta afterall. And I will say that perhaps the OPK and WAIK documentation have different wording. I do not have the WAIK documentation to compare to.

...

I had the OPK Tools installed on a computer that was not fast enough. If you look at my servers, you will see that 7Server is currently my Technician computer for Windows 7 Beta. Unclesocks is my Technician Computer for XP and Vista.

I can't help you with your licensing issues. You indicated that you had used the Windows 7 pre-installation tools. If this is correct, and you are using the tools in an OEM environment, I strongly suggest that you reveiw your licenses, or have someone explain them to you, particularly the MS Pre-release Software Terms.

Regarding your issues with the User's Guides for the Windows 7 pre-installation tools, you can access them from the 'Start' Button', provided that you have installed a Windows 7 pre-installation kit.

If you haven't installed any Windows 7 pre-installation tools, and would like to read the Documentation before testing them out, you can download the latest English version from here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...;displaylang=en

Note that you cannot install the Windows 7 pre-installation tolls on a PC that has previous versions installed. You must uninstall the previous versions first. Perhaps that is why you have gotten so mixed up.

Regards