I've been trying a PXE-boot, unattended, Automatic install of XP. Having a lot of difficulty.

I can never seem to get past the screen after choosing what image where it halts with:

The operating system image you selected does not contain the necessary drivers for your network adapter. Try selecting a different operating system image. If the problem persists, contact your system administrator.

Setup cannot continue. Press any key to exit.

Been through:

• MSFN's Official Unattended XP CD Guide
  • After reading through this i managed to create a CD with: [XP + Full Unattended Install + Network drivers]. I used this CD to install XP on my Test machine. This working implied that i had my drivers placed in the right place...
    

  [*] "246184 How to Add Third-Party OEM Network Adapters to RIS Installations" on Microsoft Support.

  [*] And the forum's here.

With no luck i decided to post the thorough details (excessive) of my steps and hope you guys will be able to help me get to the bottom of the problem!

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

AIM

Try and carry out a PXE-boot install of Microsoft XP (let's leave SPs out for now). Details on the Setup:

• Server machine: a DELL OptiPlex GX 270, running Windows Server 2003 with: DHCP, DNS, and Active Directory setup.
  
• Client machine: a DELL OptiPlex GX 270, Windows XP already installed.
  • Tech Specs: OptiPlex GX270 Desktop Product Details - Tech Specs
    

  [*]Network Drivers (on these machines): 'Intel PRO/1000 Network Drivers' (Intel Gigabit LOM, v.7.0.34.0, A00)

  • drivers: Network: Intel Gigabit LOM, Driver, Windows XP, OptiPlex GX270 - Driver Download PAGE
    

  [*]Connection: (between them) through a switch (D-Link)

STEPS What happens/ed

• I have successfully created a CD such: [XP + Network Drivers for Client Machine + Fully Unattended Install] following the MSFN's Official Unattended XP CD Guide guide, and help; see thread: Bootable CDs +.../$OEM/ +ISO FileSystem, together.
  
• This CD successfully installs XP on it's own along with the network drivers.
  
• on my SERVER: i use, this CD and Risetup wizard (Start > run > risetup) to create an image. Below are graphics that show the steps i take in creating the image thorugh the Risetup wizard till completion and a (single graphic) that shows all my folders and essential contents:
  
  
• my ristndrd.sif file code (for this Image) as it was produced by Risetup Wizard:
  

  [data]
  floppyless = "1"
  msdosinitiated = "1"
  OriSrc = "\\%SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%\%MACHINETYPE%"
  OriTyp = "4"
  LocalSourceOnCD = 1
  
  [SetupData]
  OsLoadOptions = "/noguiboot /fastdetect"
  SetupSourceDevice = "\Device\LanmanRedirector\%SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%"
  
  [Unattended]
  OemPreinstall = no
  FileSystem = LeaveAlone
  ExtendOEMPartition = 0
  TargetPath = \WINDOWS
  OemSkipEula = yes
  InstallFilesPath = "\\%SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%\%MACHINETYPE%"
  LegacyNIC = 1
  
  [UserData]
  FullName = "%USERFIRSTNAME% %USERLASTNAME%"
  OrgName = "%ORGNAME%"
  ComputerName = %MACHINENAME%
  
  [GuiUnattended]
  OemSkipWelcome = 1
  OemSkipRegional = 1
  TimeZone = %TIMEZONE%
  AdminPassword = "*"
  
  [Display]
  BitsPerPel = 16
  XResolution = 800
  YResolution = 600
  VRefresh = 60
  
  [Networking]
  
  [NetServices]
  MS_Server=params.MS_PSched
  
  [Identification]
  JoinDomain = %MACHINEDOMAIN%
  DoOldStyleDomainJoin = Yes
  
  [RemoteInstall]
  Repartition = Yes
  UseWholeDisk = Yes
  
  [OSChooser]
  Description ="SH-4-MSFN"
  Help ="Shams Hasan's Unattended XP (ONLY) install."
  LaunchFile = "%INSTALLPATH%\%MACHINETYPE%\templates\startrom.com"
  ImageType =Flat
  Version="5.1 (0)"

  
  Just to compare, my code for the unattended CD that i made earlier and this Image is made from, here's my winnt.sif file:
  

  ;SetupMgrTag
  [Data]
      AutoPartition=1
      MsDosInitiated="0"
     UnattendedInstall="Yes"
  
  [Unattended]
      UnattendMode=FullUnattended
      OemSkipEula=Yes
  ;    OemPreinstall=No
  
      TargetPath=\WINDOWS
     OemPreinstall=yes
     UnattendSwitch="yes"
    OemPnPDriversPath="Drivers\001_network"
    DriverSigningPolicy=Ignore
  
  [GuiUnattended]
      AdminPassword= << BLANKED OUT >>
      EncryptedAdminPassword=Yes
      OEMSkipRegional=1
      TimeZone=150
      OemSkipWelcome=1
  
  [UserData]
      ProductID= << BLANKED OUT >>
      FullName="Shams"
      OrgName="CMU-Q"
      ComputerName=*
  
  [Display]
      Xresolution=1024
      YResolution=768
  
  [TapiLocation]
      CountryCode=974
      AreaCode=974
  
  [Identification]
      JoinWorkgroup=SHWRKGRP
  
  [Networking]
      InstallDefaultComponents=Yes

  
  

• I then made changes to the answer file. Here's the code for the edited ristndrd.sif file:
  

  [data]
  floppyless = "1"
  msdosinitiated = "1"
  OriSrc = "\\%SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%\%MACHINETYPE%"
  OriTyp = "4"
  LocalSourceOnCD = 1
      AutoPartition=1
      MsDosInitiated="0"
     UnattendedInstall="Yes"
  
  [SetupData]
  OsLoadOptions = "/noguiboot /fastdetect"
  SetupSourceDevice = "\Device\LanmanRedirector\%SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%"
  
  [Unattended]
  ;OemPreinstall = no
     OemPreinstall=yes
  FileSystem = LeaveAlone
  ExtendOEMPartition = 0
  TargetPath = \WINDOWS
  OemSkipEula = yes
  InstallFilesPath = "\\%SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%\%MACHINETYPE%"
  LegacyNIC = 1
      UnattendMode=FullUnattended
     UnattendSwitch="yes"
    OemPnPDriversPath="Drivers\001_network"
    DriverSigningPolicy=Ignore
  
  [UserData]
  ;FullName = "%USERFIRSTNAME% %USERLASTNAME%"
  ;OrgName = "%ORGNAME%"
  ;ComputerName = %MACHINENAME%
      ProductID= << BLANKED OUT >>
      FullName="Shams"
      OrgName="CMU-Q"
      ComputerName=*
  
  
  [GuiUnattended]
  OemSkipWelcome = 1
  OemSkipRegional = 1
  ;TimeZone = %TIMEZONE%
  ;AdminPassword = "*"
      AdminPassword= << BLANKED OUT >>
      EncryptedAdminPassword=Yes
      TimeZone=150
  
  [Display]
  BitsPerPel = 16
  ;XResolution = 800
  ;YResolution = 600
      Xresolution=1024
      YResolution=768
  VRefresh = 60
  
  [Networking]
      InstallDefaultComponents=Yes
  
  [NetServices]
  MS_Server=params.MS_PSched
  
  [TapiLocation]
      CountryCode=974
      AreaCode=974
  
  [Identification]
  ;JoinDomain = %MACHINEDOMAIN% !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  ;DoOldStyleDomainJoin = Yes
      JoinWorkgroup=SHWRKGRP
  
  [RemoteInstall]
  Repartition = Yes
  UseWholeDisk = Yes
  
  
  [OSChooser]
  Description ="SH-4-MSFN"
  Help ="Shams Hasan's Unattended XP (ONLY) install."
  LaunchFile = "%INSTALLPATH%\%MACHINETYPE%\templates\startrom.com"
  ImageType =Flat
  Version="5.1 (0)"

  
  

• Placed my drivers as such:
  
  1. In the .../$OEM$/$1/Drivers/00_network directory
     
     
  2. The same files were copied directly into the .../i386/ directory
     • This is what is recommended in white paper "
     246184 How to Add Third-Party OEM Network Adapters to RIS Installations" on Microsoft Support.
     

[*] Finally i stop and start Remote Installation services

net stop binlsvc

net start binlsvc

That's the entire deal. Hopefully i haven't left anything out. Hey, if anyone's actually read all this... Thanks a lot for just reading.

So with all that done, down to the meticulous detail... i still get the dastardly blue screen.

Any ideas?

Special INF files for Intel NICs and RIS

e1000325.exe

e100b325.exe

through http://downloadfinder.intel.com/

or

e100b325.exe

e1000325.exe

Ok... so i finally figured it out yesterday...

Here's the details/my thoughts/further questions (for completion's sake).

• I finally went to Intel's Website and got a white paper, 'Networking and communications - Cannot Load PRO/100 or PRO/1000 Network Adapters Using RIS Installation', from there. thank you dk_.
  • Prior to this i was just using DELL's (the OEM) details, with the assumption that the OEM could change/tweak settings/and other things on the drivers and i should go there and it would be useless to go to Intel's website.
    
  • (Read the white paper, but in brief, for this particular problem) there are 3 scenarios discussed, one of most interest is: Windows* Server 2003 RIS Server with Windows XP Clients (the third scenario).
    
  • However for my case it didn't work with just installing SP1. I considered the 2nd scenario: Windows* 2000 RIS Server with Windows XP Clients. THAT WORKED!
    

  [*]So the INF file that is placed in the '.../$OEM$/$1/drivers/nic/ is different from the one in the i386 folder. That's the crux of it.

  [*]Here's my SIF file:

  [data]
  floppyless = "1"
  msdosinitiated = "1"
  OriSrc = "\\%SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%\%MACHINETYPE%"
  OriTyp = "4"
  LocalSourceOnCD = 1
  DisableAdminAccountOnDomainJoin = 1 
  
  [SetupData]
  OsLoadOptions = "/noguiboot /fastdetect"
  SetupSourceDevice = "\Device\LanmanRedirector\%SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%" 
  
  [Unattended]
  OemPreinstall = yes
  FileSystem = LeaveAlone
  ExtendOEMPartition = 0
  TargetPath = \WINDOWS
  OemSkipEula = yes
  InstallFilesPath = "\\%SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%\%MACHINETYPE%"
  LegacyNIC = 1
  OemPnPDriversPath = \drivers\nic
     UnattendMode=FullUnattended
     UnattendSwitch="yes"
     
  [UserData]
  ;FullName = "%USERFIRSTNAME% %USERLASTNAME%"
  ;OrgName = "%ORGNAME%"
  ;ComputerName = %MACHINENAME%
      ProductID= <<BLANKED OUT>> 
      FullName="Shams"
      OrgName="CMU-Q"
      ComputerName=* 
  
  [GuiUnattended]
  OemSkipWelcome = 1
  OemSkipRegional = 1
  ;TimeZone = %TIMEZONE%
  ;AdminPassword = "*"
  AdminPassword= <<BLANKED OUT>>    
  EncryptedAdminPassword=Yes
      TimeZone=150 
  
  [Display]
  BitsPerPel = 16
  ;XResolution = 800
  ;YResolution = 600
      Xresolution=1024
      YResolution=768
  VRefresh = 60 
  
  [Networking]
      InstallDefaultComponents=Yes 
  
  [NetServices]
  MS_Server=params.MS_PSched 
  
  [TapiLocation]
      CountryCode=974
      AreaCode=974 
  
  [Identification]
  JoinDomain = %MACHINEDOMAIN%
  DoOldStyleDomainJoin = Yes 
  
  [RemoteInstall]
  Repartition = Yes
  UseWholeDisk = Yes 
  
  [OSChooser]
  Description ="Try with SP1 :: 2004 10 18 :: 09-55 "
  Help ="Trying it with SP1a"
  LaunchFile = "%INSTALLPATH%\%MACHINETYPE%\templates\startrom.com"
  ImageType =Flat
  Version="5.1 (0)" 
  
  [Components]
  chat=off
  dialer=off
  fax=off
  freecell=off
  hearts=off
  msmsgs=off
  msnexplr=off
  minesweeper=off
  pinball=off
  solitaire=off
  spider=off
  zonegames=off
  media_clips=off 
  
  [Branding]
  BrandIEUsingUnattended = Yes 
  
  [FavoritesEx]
  Title1 = MSFN
  URL1 = http://www.msfn.org
  Title2 = BBC
  URL2 = http://www.bbc.com

  [*]My thoughts/questions now are: Why are there so many ways to do this? I mean ok machine to machine it will be different but it should always be the same on one machine right? So there could just be a documented method for say the DELL Optiplex GX270s. So what i'm getting at is that if i try this on another machine this should be the only way that it works? (Note: the only way... not, 'is this the way')

Thanks guys!

Shams