Unattended iso/wim pxe boot

[notawizard]

Dear windows-noob.com,

 

We currently have a WDS set up for deploying captured XP images on prestaged computers.

We update our image by deploying, installing stuff/updating stuff and recapturing it.

When a computer is getting a (new) image they automatically have the right computer name and such.

 

But clean installations still need to be done manually, and here is what we want:

1. In our PXE menu add "Clean install" next to our existing "Capture" and "Restore image".

2. Make the "clean install" load an unattended windows XP installation that won't have any questions for the user

 

I have tried making the unattended iso and using ImageX to capture that iso into a wim file but i can't add it to the WDS because it says its not a valid installation file.

We also tried using Sysangel DVD generator but somehow it won't make the c.7z file it says its making.

 

 

Is there any way to make our unattended Windows XP ISO file bootable through PXE?

We are also using a pxelinux.0 menu to password protect our WDS so if possible we can add your answer in that menu as well (Sysangel DVDgenerator also went there)

 

Thanks in advance.

 

TOO LONG; DID NOT READ: Is there any way to make our unattended Windows XP ISO file bootable through PXE?

[ndog37]

Is there any way to make our unattended Windows XP ISO file bootable through PXE?

 

Do you mean, can we install windows xp from an iso file using pxelinux?

 

If so, yes but you need to use memdisk in conjunction with winvblock driver, you need to understand that booting an iso file in PXE loads the iso into RAM, which you need memdisk to do. You also need a Windows Driver, winvblock, to read the iso in memory.

 

The best way is to create a winvblock floppy image (.ima) and use F6 to install the driver (in windows setup). Then install. On the second reboot you need to boot from harddisk and not iso, but you need to mount the iso the same.

 

For more info

http://pxe.dev.aboveaverageurl.com/index.php/PXE_Booting/Windows_2003

http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/149675-install-xp-from-a-iso-file/page__st__20

 

But was this your question?