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Thread ID: 110412	2010-06-16 03:04:00	Windows PE & Imagex Problems -- Any experts on these ?	wainuitech (129)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1110614	2010-06-16 03:04:00	Been playing about with Windows PE and imagex to install windows on customers new PC's in a fraction of the normal time - so far going great, only two minor problems. :help: If I can sort the problems I can load windows on a brand new PC, fully up to date with the latest W7 updates with the new user and their product key in under 10 minutes. While its no big deal, I can work around the problems doing it manually, it would be nice to get them working correctly. Problem 1: When preparing the Drive to accept the image you have to run diskpart. Instructions from MS: Format the hard drive to reflect the disk configuration requirements by using the DiskPart tool from the Windows PE Command Prompt window. For example, type diskpart select disk 0 clean create partition primary size=200 select partition 1 format fs=ntfs label="system" assign letter=c active create partition primary select partition 2 format fs=ntfs label="Windows" quick assign letter=d exit Note: You can create a script with this information by saving it to a text file and by storing it in the same location as your image. To run the script from a Windows PE Command Prompt window, type: diskpart /s <scriptname>.txt where <scriptname> is the name of the text file that includes the Diskpart commands. Answer required --- Doesn't work - comes up with an error saying file not found, even put it on a flash drive, winPE sees the file but wont run it. If you type in the commands manually it works perfectly. Problem 2: After dropping the image onto the drive you need to fix the boot loader: Instructions From MS: Use BCDboot to initialize the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store and copy boot environment files to the system partition. For example, at a command prompt, type d:\windows\system32\bcdboot d:\windows Answer Required comes up with an error saying directory not found. Workaround is to boot from the windows 7 repair CD (twice) 1st time it locates the install, second one repairs the boot loader and away it goes happy as. IF I can get this problem sorted :confused: I can knock the time for a full install ready to go down to under 10 minutes. Any Suggestions , esp from people who have used WinPE/ImageX ?????	wainuitech (129)
1110615	2010-06-16 03:59:00	Hi WT, I think problem one needs a pathway!, you just have file name. When PE boot, it usually allocatesx: to itself, I would try with a pathway in front of the file name... Problem 2), can you not include the boot partition in your image? I use Windows Deployment Server, if you have WHS, just use that!, aa long as SP2 is on it, you can install the services...much easier than the above!	SolMiester (139)
1110616	2010-06-16 05:04:00	Hi Sol, I can Via WinPE going to a flash drive, sees the txt fine if I type in dir. When I run it as per the instructions, it only brings up all the options, as if I had typed in diskpart /? not the actual running of the script -- Weird. Could fire up Windows Deployment Server, as I do have WHS and Small Business Server. The problems are only minor, but I'd I'm the sort of person that likes to fix "why" it wont work when it should. The actual imaging of the OS to a blank Drive over the LAN from the Server is quick compared to a "normal" Install from DVD looking at the actual time (www.imagef1.net.nz) is no problem, once it boots -- Since I have syspreped the image to remove all drivers etc, I add in the user details, and their product key and away it goes, all fully up to date (till today anyway).	wainuitech (129)
1110617	2010-06-16 05:09:00	The second problem should be able to be avoided by either including the boot partition (the hidden ~100MB partition that Windows 7 creates) in the image (WIM files can hold more than one partition) or by stopping Windows from creating it in the first place, thereby using the C: drive as the boot drive (I can't quite remember how you do this, I think when you select unpartitioned space as the install location and click next in Windows 7 setup, it tells you it will create the partition, then you can click back and delete it).	ryanjames.powell (13554)
1110618	2010-06-16 05:27:00	Thats possible. I did the original master PC install using a autounattend file that I made up, that on its own saved a fair amount of time as well , boot from the DVD with the flash drive in the back containing the file and bugger off and leave it to its own devices, user name, COA, regional settings the lot. I do remember trying it a few days ago to install only to one partition using the autounattend file -- It really spat the dummy :lol: May try it manually, making a new master install (when I have time)	wainuitech (129)
1110619	2010-06-16 05:33:00	Hi Sol, I can Via WinPE going to a flash drive, sees the txt fine if I type in dir . When I run it as per the instructions, it only brings up all the options, as if I had typed in diskpart /? not the actual running of the script -- Weird . Could fire up Windows Deployment Server, as I do have WHS and Small Business Server . The problems are only minor, but I'd I'm the sort of person that likes to fix "why" it wont work when it should . The actual imaging of the OS to a blank Drive over the LAN from the Server is quick compared to a "normal" Install from DVD looking at the actual time ( . imagef1 . net . nz/files/WinPE . JPG" target="_blank">www . imagef1 . net . nz) is no problem, once it boots -- Since I have syspreped the image to remove all drivers etc, I add in the user details, and their product key and away it goes, all fully up to date (till today anyway) . Then try with the ext included . . . ie:diskpart . exe /s script!	SolMiester (139)
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