WDS - Windows Deployment Services

RedTen · 14 Jan 2009 at 12:39

Right,

Hopefully some of you may be able to help me with this. I need to install and configure WDS to allow remote installations of XP Pro. Our servers and client pcs meet the requirements.

A couple of points,

We dont own a volume license. We use RES Powerfuse and Wisdom, i assume this can be bypassed this way. (update xp license info etc)

I dont fully understand how we go about creating the image and creating a custom install. I'm reading through the windows guide at the moment but i think im missing the main concept.

Could somebody possibly just bullet point simply the process for me?

Thanks,

Panser_bjorn · 14 Jan 2009 at 13:20

Unfortunately this is not possible - you can deploy images of XP machines using ImageX and the WIM format - but you can't perform remote installations.

WDS can only be used for Windows Vista remote installations.

There is lots of documentation on this on the Microsoft website - be warned though, it's all very repetitive and each piece of documentation covers a slightly different scenario.

Good Luck.

Seaniboy · 14 Jan 2009 at 14:15

You can still use ris as long as you setup WDS is mixed mode.

You may find this useful for creating images and various other bits - http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/...1F-77AC-4400-A0C1-FE871C461A89&displaylang=en

Ringiho · 14 Jan 2009 at 17:20

For deploying XP with WDS you need to install Server 2003 SP1 and configure RIS. Just addon an XP installation to RIS and then do the upgrade to WDS.

This means you can run WDS in mixed mode, as posted above.

I personally haven't used RIS/WDS for installing Windows but I have it setup to boot a WinPE ISO from our network for imaging using Ghost.

I had a play with WDS but ended up going back to simple RIS, but I am not sure how this would work for you.

There are a few guides out on Google for getting XP onto WDS.

Link: http://datanotes.wordpress.com/2007/11/26/how-to-deploy-xp-using-windows-deployment-services-wds-2/

Also, if you are going to be using SysPrep don't install Windows Media Player 11 as it corrupts the image. I have done this one too many times! Just to warn you!

Good luck!

knowlesy · 19 Jan 2009 at 16:22

Panser_bjorn said:
Unfortunately this is not possible - you can deploy images of XP machines using ImageX and the WIM format - but you can't perform remote installations.

WDS can only be used for Windows Vista remote installations.

There is lots of documentation on this on the Microsoft website - be warned though, it's all very repetitive and each piece of documentation covers a slightly different scenario.

Good Luck.

bogus xp can be used for remote installations its just a PAIN IN THE A**

this link will solve all your problems

http://www.oakdome.com/lab/?page_id=78

Misan · 21 Jan 2009 at 19:35

Check my wordpress site.

http://www.apollon-domain.co.uk/wordpress/?cat=3

I've written up a guide for fully automating the deployment of XP images via unattend.xml.
And also one that covers injecting drivers with WindowsPE.

I've recently used this setup to deploy over 60 Windows XP workstations with a standard image at work.

If you have any questions, ask away

Pixie · 1 Feb 2009 at 12:10

Misan said:
Check my wordpress site.

http://www.apollon-domain.co.uk/wordpress/?cat=3

I've written up a guide for fully automating the deployment of XP images via unattend.xml.
And also one that covers injecting drivers with WindowsPE.

I've recently used this setup to deploy over 60 Windows XP workstations with a standard image at work.

If you have any questions, ask away

A very nice guide there, shame I've only just come accross it after learning it all elsewhere....

Have you started writing the one about HAL independant images yet? Im quite interested in this area.