MDT WDS deployment failures

[jmak]

My deployment server has been working well, but I've recently had issues with m2 drives. The task sequence runs and the image deploys, but it can't find the bootable device afterwards.

 

One was a custom PC, but I'm having the same issue with Dell Optiplex 7060 and I installed the driver pack in MDT and updated the boot files in WDS.

 

I did have to turn on legacy boot to get it to PXE boot, but I've done that on other models without issue.

 

WDS version 10.0.20348.1

MDT version 6.3.8456.1000

 

Both patched

 

Any suggestions please?

[Oaktech]

Sure it's not a secure boot/boot issue later - installing and creating bios partitions on a device that has uefi set in firmware?

[snagrat]

Check that the drive isn’t set to RAID in the bios. That causes driver issues.

[tech-man]

We are seeing this issue as well with 7060's. Watching with interest....

[mrwoberts]

+1 for RAID sata bios setting - you may need Intel RST drivers injecting. However, I'd be interested to know whether your setup has worked with RAID in the past (Dell usually have this as default)

 

Here's a link to some info

https://www.intel.co.uk/content/www/uk/en/support/articles/000055157/memory-and-storage.html

 

If this is in fact the issue, it makes more sense to switch Sata settings to AHCI, rather than unsettle your working WDS setup.

 

edit: link, and further comment

Edited February 1, 2023 by mrwoberts

[jmak]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm away from that system today - I'll test tomorrow

[jmak]

The first couple of machines I checked were set to RAID so I got quite optimistic, but I changed to AHCI and got the same result.

 

UEFI is deselected, secure boot is set to off

 

Almost our whole estate is Dell. I've had success with older machines which needed legacy boot options turning on and brand new machines with PXE boot built into the UEFI stack.

 

I've also managed Surface Pros and some HP devices which needed a particular driver injecting.

 

I'm fairly concerning it's something to do with these machines or the way their BIOS is configured.