Ever needed to deploy a device not capable of running WinPE 2.x or WinPE 3.0? Here are the steps to PXE boot WinPE 2005 (WinPE 1.6) from a WDS running Windows Server 2008 R2.
Disclaimer: This is not supported by Microsoft! Use at your own risk...
Step 1 - Add a boot menu to WDS, follow this guide
Adding a boot menu to Windows Server 2008 R2 WDS
http://www.deployvista.com/Home/tabid/36/EntryID/126/language/en-US/Default.aspx
Step 2 - Create a WinPE 2005 bootable ISO
1. Copy the WINPE folder from the Windows PE 2005 CDROM to C:\
2. Insert the Windows Server 2003 SP1 CD-ROM (F: in this example). Start a command prompt and type:
cd /d c:\winpe
mkimg.cmd F: C:\winpe2005 /WMI
Note: This compiles WinPE 2005 with WMI support
3. Add support for WHS/ADO/HTA by starting a command prompt and type:
cd /d c:\winpe
Buildoptionalcomponents /S:F: /D:C:\winpe2005 /Q
4. Create a Bootable CD by starting a command prompt and type this
cd /d c:\winpe
oscdimg -h -n -betfsboot.com C:\workdir C:\WINPE2005.ISO
Step 3 - Add necessary boot files and create the entry for WinPE 2005 in the PXE menu
1. Expand the following files from a Windows Server 2003 SP1
setupldr.ex_
startrom.n1_
2. Copy the expanded files to D:\RemoteInstall
rename setupldr.ex_ to NTLDR
rename startrom.n12 to startrom.0
3. Copy C:\WINPE2005.ISO to D:\RemoteInstall
4. In D:\RemoteInstall\Boot\, create a file named winnt.sif with the following content
[SetupData]
BootDevice = "ramdisk(0)"
BootPath = "\i386\System32\"
OsLoadOptions = "/noguiboot /fastdetect /minint /rdexportascd /rdpath=winpe2005.iso"
5. Update the default file in the pxelinux.cfg folder
LABEL WinPE 2005
KERNEL startrom.0
Step 4 - Configure the readfilter in WDS to allow the WinPE2005.iso to boot
1. Add winpe2005.iso to HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WDSServer\Providers\WDSTFTP\Readfiler
2. Restart Windows Deployment Services
Bonus reading...
If you need scratchspace in WinPE 2005
How to create a custom WinPE 2005 SDI image
http://www.myitforum.com/articles/8/view.asp?id=8832
If you need to reduce the WinPE 2005 size (Step 4)
Adding a Windows PE 2005 image to WDS (boot-in RAM)
http://www.deployvista.com/Blog/JohanArwidmark/tabid/78/EntryID/20/language/en-US/Default.aspx
/ Johan