Heads up those WDS deploying 32bit UEFI tablets (Atom)

[BHMS]

If like me, you buy some 32bit UEFI tablets without legacy BIOS support you will find your WDS boot images won't actually boot. Firstly remember to disable secure boot in the UEFI settings. Secondly Microsoft kindly omitted the 32bit UEFI boot files from the copype x86 command on their new ADK for WinPE 4.0/Win 8. Their documentation states they only support 64bit UEFI. Right that's BS I thought - how do these OEMs image these tablets in the first place? It dawned on me that the 32bit Windows 8 DVD booted just fine. You can copy bootmgr.efi and the EFI folder on any 32bit Windows 8 DVD to a CD/USB stick for your capture and discover media. Remember to add a new WinPE 4.0 boot.wim to WDS to create your capture, and discover, boot.wim's as normal before adding them to the sources folder on the boot media.

 

Best of luck with your deployments. I hope this helps.

[andy_vic]

Hi,

 

I have the Iconia W510 with this same issue I cant PXE boot reimage this device the only diag information it gives me is Network Boot-IPV4: (MAC address) boot failed.

 

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[BHMS]

UEFI does not support PXE. I used discover media with WDS to image. The several hurdles I ran into and overcome using this process are listed above.

[jamesfed]

You can deploy to UEFI PCs using SCCM 2012 (FIX: Deploy Windows to UEFI devices using MDT + SCCM » RONNIPEDERSEN.COM).

 

Not surprising that Microsoft might want to drop support for 32bit as soon as possible though - getting to be oooolld tech