====== Network-booting Windows PE ======

[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Preinstallation_Environment|Windows PE (WinPE)]] is the Windows Preinstallation Environment, used for installation and repair of Windows computers.

Using iPXE and ''[[:wimboot]]'', you can boot into Windows PE via HTTP.  You can then connect to a standard Windows file server to install a full version of Windows to the local hard disk (or to an iSCSI target).

Booting Windows PE via HTTP is much faster than using traditional TFTP-based methods such as Windows Deployment Services (WDS).  On a Gigabit Ethernet network, it should take less than two seconds to download a typical 200MB Windows PE image.

{{ :clipart:smile.png?100x100 |A smile}}

===== Setting up Windows PE =====

Windows PE is available as part of the [[#windows_assessment_and_deployment_toolkit_adk|Windows Assessment and Deployment Toolkit (ADK)]] for current versions of Windows, or as part of the [[#windows_automated_installation_kit_aik|Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK)]] for earlier versions of Windows.

==== Windows Assessment and Deployment Toolkit (ADK) ====

{{ :clipart:books.png?180x180|Some books}}

The [[https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?id=30652|Windows Assessment and Deployment Toolkit (ADK)]] is compatible with Windows Server 2012, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, and Vista.

[[https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?id=30652|Download]] and install the ADK onto a working Windows system (the "technician computer").

From the **Start** menu, choose **All Programs** -> **Windows Kits** -> **Windows ADK** -> **Deployment and Imaging Tools Environment**.  This should open a command prompt window.  Create 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows PE:

    mkdir C:\temp\winpe
    copype x86 C:\temp\winpe\x86
    copype amd64 C:\temp\winpe\amd64

Copy the contents of ''C:\temp\winpe'' to a directory on your web server (e.g. ''/var/www/winpe'' for Apache, or ''C:\inetpub\wwwroot\winpe'' for IIS).

Download the [[https://github.com/ipxe/wimboot/releases/latest/download/wimboot|latest version of wimboot]] and save it to the same directory on your web server.

Create a text file ''boot.ipxe'' in the same directory on your web server, containing:

    #!ipxe
    
    cpuid --ext 29 && set arch amd64 || set arch x86
    kernel wimboot
    initrd ${arch}/media/sources/boot.wim  boot.wim
    boot

==== Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) ====

{{ :clipart:books2.png?180x180|Some older books}}

The [[https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?id=5753|Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK)]] is compatible with Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Vista, and Windows Server 2003.

[[https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?id=5753|Download]] and install the AIK onto a working Windows system (the "technician computer").

From the **Start** menu, choose **All Programs** -> **Microsoft Windows AIK** -> **Deployment Tools Command Prompt**.  This should open a command prompt window.  Create 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows PE:

    mkdir C:\temp\winpe
    copype x86 C:\temp\winpe\x86
    copype amd64 C:\temp\winpe\amd64

Copy the contents of ''C:\temp\winpe'' to a directory on your web server (e.g. ''/var/www/winpe'' for Apache, or ''C:\inetpub\wwwroot\winpe'' for IIS).

Download the [[https://github.com/ipxe/wimboot/releases/latest/download/wimboot|latest version of wimboot]] and save it to the same directory on your web server.

Create a text file ''boot.ipxe'' in the same directory on your web server, containing:

    #!ipxe
    
    cpuid --ext 29 && set arch amd64 || set arch x86
    kernel wimboot
    initrd ${arch}/ISO/boot/bcd          BCD
    initrd ${arch}/ISO/boot/boot.sdi     boot.sdi
    initrd -n boot.wim ${arch}/winpe.wim boot.wim
    boot

===== Booting Windows PE =====

Boot using [[:start|iPXE]] from the URI of your ''boot.ipxe'' script, e.g. ''%%http://my.web.server/winpe/boot.ipxe%%''.  You should see iPXE download and boot Windows PE via HTTP:

{{ :screenshots:wadk.png?600x334 |Windows PE booting}}

{{ :screenshots:winpe.png?600x450 |Windows PE booted}}

===== Installing Windows =====

You can now connect to a Windows (or [[https://www.samba.org|Samba]]) file server to run the Windows installer.  For example, if you have copied the contents of your Windows installation DVD-ROM to ''%%\\myserver\installers\win8%%'', then you can start the installer using:

    net use \\myserver\installers
    \\myserver\installers\win8\setup.exe

{{ :screenshots:winpe_installer.png?600x450 |Windows PE running Windows 8 installer}}

===== Advanced topics =====

==== Adding a startup batch file ====

{{ :clipart:lightbulb.png?180x200|A light bulb}}

You can customise your Windows PE image so that it automatically connects to a file server and runs the Windows installer.

Create a text file ''install.bat'' containing the commands needed to connect to your file server and start the installer:

    wpeinit
    net use \\myserver\installers
    \\myserver\installers\win8\setup.exe

Create a text file ''winpeshl.ini'' instructing Windows PE to run your ''install.bat'' file:

    [LaunchApps]
    "install.bat"

Copy ''install.bat'' and ''winpeshl.ini'' to your web server and edit your ''boot.ipxe'' script to load these files:

    #!ipxe
    
    cpuid --ext 29 && set arch amd64 || set arch x86
    kernel wimboot
    initrd install.bat                                install.bat
    initrd winpeshl.ini                               winpeshl.ini
    initrd ${arch}/media/Boot/BCD                     BCD
    initrd ${arch}/media/Boot/boot.sdi                boot.sdi
    initrd ${arch}/media/sources/boot.wim             boot.wim
    boot

When you boot into Windows PE, it should now automatically connect to your file server and run the Windows installer.

{{ :clipart:nic.jpeg?158x148|A network card}}

==== Adding a network card driver ====

You can customise your Windows PE image to include drivers for your network card, if your card is not already supported by Windows PE.  You will need the ''ImageX'' and ''DISM'' tools, which are part of the [[#windows_assessment_and_deployment_toolkit_adk|Windows ADK]] (or [[#windows_automated_installation_kit_aik|AIK]]).  A Linux version of ''imagex'' is also available as part of the ''[[https://wimlib.net/|wimlib]]'' package.

Download the drivers for your network card, and extract the driver to ''C:\temp\winpe\drivers''.  If you are using the ADK then you will need to download a driver compatible with Windows 8; if you are using the AIK then you will need a driver compatible with Windows 7.

Use ''ImageX'' and ''DISM'' to add this driver to your Windows PE image:

    imagex /mountrw C:\temp\winpe\amd64\media\sources\boot.wim 1 C:\temp\winpe\amd64\mount
    dism /image:C:\temp\winpe\amd64\mount /add-driver /driver:c:\temp\winpe\drivers /recurse
    imagex /unmount /commit C:\temp\winpe\amd64\mount

==== Installing to an iSCSI target ====

You can use your Windows PE image to install Windows to an iSCSI target.  Create a text file ''install.ipxe'' containing:

    #!ipxe
    
    prompt -k 0x197e -t 2000 Press F12 to install Windows... || exit
    chain boot.ipxe

and copy it to the directory on your web server containing your ''boot.ipxe'' script.

Configure your DHCP server to provide the URI of your ''install.ipxe'' script as the boot [[:cfg:filename]], and the [[:sanuri|SAN URI]] of your iSCSI target as the [[:cfg:root-path]].  If your iSCSI target uses access control lists (ACLs), then you may also need to provide the correct [[:cfg:initiator-iqn]].

You should see the diskless computer connect to the iSCSI target and then prompt you to ”Press F12 to install Windows”:

{{ :screenshots:winpe_iscsi_prompt.png?600x334 |WinPE installation prompt}}

Press F12 to begin the installation process.  If you have already added a [[#adding_a_startup_batch_file|startup batch file]] as described above, then the Windows installer will start automatically.  If not, then connect to your file server and run the Windows installer manually.

Proceed to install Windows as usual. When you reach the ”Where do you want to install Windows?” screen, you should see the iSCSI disk appear as a possible install location: 

{{ :screenshots:winpe_iscsi_install.png?600x450 |WinPE iSCSI installation disk}}