Windows 10 deployment without PXE availability

[SteveB_NI]

Most of our desktops are able to PXE boot to allow me to deploy out our customised Win 10 boot image (WIM) but 1 suite of desktops doesn't have the ability to PXE boot

 

If I take the .WIM file from the WDS server, is there an ideal way to change this into a bootable USB? Just wondering if there is a better way rather than having to manually install vanilla Win 10 on each machine then having to manually make changes to each one.

 

It connects to the domain etc ok afterwards, but some way of accessing this pre-built Wim file would be excellent.

[simpsonj]

Do you use MDT at all? It can a bootable .ISO image when updating the deployment share.

[SteveB_NI]

Do you use MDT at all? It can a bootable .ISO image when updating the deployment share.

 

No - unfortunately only WDS via PXE boot

[simpsonj]

Then you'll want to make a Discover image

 

ITs Amazing IT Technical Support : WDS: Creating Discover Images

[simpsonj]

I only use that website as an example, not used it myself, it's been awhile since I've needed to make a discover iso!

[mrstrong]

not heard of discover images, looks interesting.

 

Also another option may be if you create bootable usb with the windows iso e.g. use rufus https://rufus.ie/

then just copy over your custom wim to sources\install.wim

 

e.g. see step 3:

 

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/deploy-a-custom-image

Edited December 8, 2020 by mrstrong

[CHiLL]

We have some devices that can't PXE, though we use SCCM. For those devices, I've created the WinPE boot image, which I can boot from via USB. This just loads the WinPE environment that WinPE would do and then it loads it's basic network drivers and can connect to the SCCM server and start pulling the Windows image. The main issue I had for this, was WiFi only devices, which I either use a USB Ethernet adapter or just a full deployment image via USB.

[chazzy2501]

Yes, I made a 32bit "PXE instead" usb boot drive. This was for our old tablets, boot from the usb and then install from the WDS server as per usual.

[Mujja]

What's preventing the desktop from PXE booting? Does the NIC have an incompatible PXE ROM?

 

Try a USB to Ethernet adapter, one which you know PXE boots on other devices.

 

A quick n dirty workaround, extract a Windows ISO to USB, delete USB:\sources\install.wim and replace with your WIM renaming to install.wim

 

Create an autounattend.xml or unattend.xml and drop in to the root of the USB.

[SteveB_NI]

What's preventing the desktop from PXE booting? Does the NIC have an incompatible PXE ROM?

 

Try a USB to Ethernet adapter, one which you know PXE boots on other devices.

 

A quick n dirty workaround, extract a Windows ISO to USB, delete USB:\sources\install.wim and replace with your WIM renaming to install.wim

 

Create an autounattend.xml or unattend.xml and drop in to the root of the USB.

 

Not sure why these machines won't PXE boot - in the bios it's set to network boot as one of the options, but it won't appear when attempting to boot, and if I put it as default option 1, it skips automatically.

 

They are Acer Veriton N2620G's

 

I also tried to replace the install.wim file, but it throws an error when trying to boot from that USB now.

 

My workaround now is to make one perfect image then use Clonezilla to image the drive. That's what I had to do to put Win 7 on them in the first instance

[SteveB_NI]

Update - just done another Google search, and found: https://isjw.uk/network-boot-on-an-acer-veriton-n260g/

 

What a bizarre place to have the LAN option disabled.... changed that, and working perfectly now via PXE.

 

Thanks for everyone's other suggestions - much appreciated!

[mrstrong]

Yay, I used to use clonezilla Was also going to suggest trying legacy boot in bios

Had one recently that wouldn't pxe boot without this, anyway glad you got it working.

[_techie_]

Have a look at NtLite can make a custom image including drivers, apps and whatever else you want from a wim, then turn into an ISO.

Use RUFUS to make bootable ISO on pen drive and go rouND each machine.

Job done.