Deploy an SDI Image from a Network

  • Article

5/10/2007

Another way to deploy your Windows XP Embedded image is to use Preboot eXecution Environment (PXE) boot technologies, RIS, Windows PE, and SDI.

After Windows PE has been customized to deploy the SDI disk image, the bootable version of Windows PE must be placed on an RIS server. This provides target devices (with PXE support) with the ability to boot Windows PE from the RIS server. Windows PE will then deploy the SDI disk to the device. For more information about how to set up and configure RIS, see the RIS Installation Guide.

Using Windows PE on a RIS server requires:

  • A Windows XP product disc and a Windows PE disc of the same build number, or the self-contained version of Windows PE from the Windows XP Embedded installation discs
  • A properly configured Windows 2000 with Service Pack 2 (SP2) or later installation
  • Destination computers that have a PXE-enabled network interface card (NIC), or have a NIC that is supported by the RIS boot disk
  • Windows 2000 or later RIS server

To install on a computer running Windows 2000 RIS server, deploy the hotfix referenced in KB article Q299541.

To create a RIS image and boot from it

  1. On the RIS server, open a command prompt and run RISetup.exe –add.

  2. When prompted for a source, point RISetup to the Windows XP product disc.

  3. Browse to the location where RISetup installed the image, such as \\Server_name\Share_name\REMINST\Setup\Language\Images.

  4. In the folder of the new image, open the I386 folder.

  5. Browse the Windows XP Embedded Service Pack 1 disc, which contains the Windows PE files, and open the I386 folder.

  6. Copy the contents of the Windows PE I386 folder into the new I386 folder that was just opened, overwriting all files if prompted.

  7. Open the Templates folder in the I386 folder that you just copied over.

  8. Open the RIStndrd.sif file in a text editor, and on the line that starts with OSLoadOptions, add the switch /minint.

  9. Copy sdimgr.wsf from the Windows XP Embedded folder on Windows XP Embedded disc 1 to the Windows PE I386\System32 folder.

  10. If you want to automate the process of laying down the SDI disk (gold.sdi), modify startnet.cmd in the I386\System32 folder.

  11. Start a RIS client, and select your operating system image. Windows PE starts.

  1. On the RIS server, open a command prompt and run RISetup.exe –add.

  2. When prompted for a source, point RISetup to the Windows XP product disc.

  3. Browse to the location where RISetup installed the image, such as \\Server_name\Share_name\REMINST\Setup\Language\Images.

  4. In the folder of the new image, open the I386 folder.

  5. Browse the Windows XP Embedded Service Pack 1 disc, which contains the Windows PE files, and open the I386 folder.

  6. Copy the contents of the Windows PE I386 folder into the new I386 folder that was just opened, overwriting all files if prompted.

  7. Open the Templates folder in the I386 folder that you just copied over.

  8. Open the RIStndrd.sif file in a text editor, and on the line that starts with OSLoadOptions, add the switch /minint.

  9. Copy sdimgr.wsf from the Windows XP Embedded folder on Windows XP Embedded disc 1 to the Windows PE I386\System32 folder.

  10. If you want to automate the process of laying down the SDI disk (gold.sdi), modify startnet.cmd in the I386\System32 folder.

  11. Start a RIS client, and select your operating system image. Windows PE starts.

See Also

Concepts

How to Create a Device Recovery CD by Using Windows PE and SDI
Duplicate and Distribute Recovery CD

Other Resources

System Deployment Image