WDS wim upload "File does not contain a valid install image"

[philjones2000]

Hi

I thought I had it working too!

Setup wds and added the boot images from the waik. Created a boot/capture image.

Made a reference xp machine. Ran Sysprep.

PXE booted the capture image.

When it gets to the upload to wps server it errors with "data is invalid"

If I try to manually copy the wim file it created to the wds server using the add image wizard it returns "The File does not contain a valid install image".

What have I missed?!

Thanks folks.

[Gatt]

Is it reading the WDS Share?

Was there any errors with the XP image? (BSOD, unclean shutdown, etc)
Try going into the XP image and running scandisk/defrag and try again

Is there another PC u can try?

Have you tried fdisking the reference PC and re creating the image?

[philjones2000]

It can see the wds share no problem.

There are no problems with the reference machine. This is the second time I've tried it...

I'll try another machine tomorrow...

Seems strange that it makes the local .wim file but this is useless for the wds server- what's it looking for?

[Gatt]

AKAIK, it creates the WIM locally then on completion of the image it uploads that WIM to the WDS server, and deletes the local copy from the image

I assume this is to cut down on network traffic and the risk of corrupting the image by saving it immediately to a network share.

[maniac]

How much memory has the machine got? I've had lots of weird problems with WDS over the last 3 weeks, most of which were caused by the workstations I was trying only having 256mb RAM, with shared graphics memory taking the memory below the minimum required.

Insted of simply displaying a message telling me I have too little memory, the program tries to run until it basically crashes. For downloading an image this was usually at the stage of initialising the network, for capturing an image it would fail randomly during the process, but never give me a message that made much sense.

Mike.

[philjones2000]

I give up. :cry:

Tried two different machines, restarted all the services. Tried manually adding the image. Tried saving the image somewehere else.

All give me errors like "the image is not valid" or words to that effect. I'm going back to RIS.

All the machines are pretty new with 512mb memory.

Phil

[Gatt]

Hang on, just re-read your original post - you said u copied the boot/capture images from the WAIK...

Thought u needed the .WIM files from a Vista or Longhorn DVD for that?

[philjones2000]

I was under the impression I could use the wim files that came with the WAIK?

Gives you vista PE that can then be converted to a capture image.

[Gatt]

Not sue, certainly everything I read and found referred to using the WIM files from a Vista DVD


Only ussed the WAIK for BDD

[philjones2000]

Well I'll be damned, that seems to be it!

Loaded the boot.wim image from the vista dvd, converted that to a capture image and it worked.

Why wouldn't it work with the vista PE images I wonder? Looks a bit strange with "longhorn" in the menu.

Ho hum, it works like fine now- thanks for your help Gatt

[burgemaster]

Sorted

If you are getting "File does not contain a valid install image" on your imagex wim, then it is probably permissions on the distribution folder..

I had this but sorted it by grant yourself permission on the distribtion folder as both local and domain admin...