Good morning:

Scenario:

Used Hyper-V to create a Windows 10 Pro x64 virtual machine from an ISO file (Gen 1 VM) to deploy to several client PCs.  We have a WDS server and client PCs will PXE boot and install the base image. 

Built VM without trouble, made a copy of the vhd file, then ran sysprep /oobe /generalize from an elevated command prompt.  Captured the image, uploaded to my Windows Deployment Server.  No errors during any of this. 

Went to create an unattended answer file for this image.  I open Windows System Image Manager, New Answer File, navigate to my D:\Images\Win10 folder, select the install.wim file, and select Yes to the question about generating a catalog file. 

After a few minutes, I get the following:

"Windows SIM was unable to generate a catalog.  For troubleshooting..... 

Details: The operation failed to complete."

Log file is here:

*****

9:24 AM :
9:24 AM : Windows SIM was unable to generate a catalog. For troubleshooting assistance, see the topic: 'Windows System Image Manager Technical Reference' in the Windows OPK or Windows AIK User's Guide.
9:24 AM :
9:24 AM : System.InvalidOperationException: The operation failed to complete. ---> System.Reflection.TargetInvocationException: Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation. ---> System.ArgumentNullException: String reference not set to an instance of a String.
Parameter name: source
   at System.Globalization.CompareInfo.IsPrefix(String source, String prefix, CompareOptions options)
   at ?A0xfe36268f.ConvertToNtPath(String path)
   at Microsoft.ComponentStudio.ComponentPlatformInterface.CbsSessionAdaptor..ctor(String bootDrive, String imageWinDir, String servicingPath)
   at Microsoft.ComponentStudio.ComponentPlatformInterface.OfflineImageImpl.InitializePackages()
   at Microsoft.ComponentStudio.ComponentPlatformInterface.OfflineImageImpl..ctor(OfflineImageInfo imageInfo)
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   at System.RuntimeMethodHandle._InvokeConstructor(Object[] args, SignatureStruct& signature, IntPtr declaringType)
   at System.Reflection.RuntimeConstructorInfo.Invoke(BindingFlags invokeAttr, Binder binder, Object[] parameters, CultureInfo culture)
   at System.RuntimeType.CreateInstanceImpl(BindingFlags bindingAttr, Binder binder, Object[] args, CultureInfo culture, Object[] activationAttributes)
   at Microsoft.ComponentStudio.ComponentPlatformInterface.Cpi.PlatformImplementation.CreateOfflineImageInstance(OfflineImageInfo imageInfo)
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---

Server stack trace:
   at Microsoft.ComponentStudio.ComponentPlatformInterface.Cpi.PlatformImplementation.CreateOfflineImageInstance(OfflineImageInfo imageInfo)
   at Microsoft.ComponentStudio.ComponentPlatformInterface.Cpi.CreateOfflineImageInstance(OfflineImageInfo imageInfo)
   at Microsoft.ComponentStudio.ComponentPlatformInterface.OfflineImageCatalog.Serialize(OfflineImageInfo imageInfo)
   at Microsoft.ComponentStudio.ComponentPlatformInterface.OfflineImageInfo.CreateCatalog()
   at Microsoft.ComponentStudio.ComponentPlatformInterface.CatalogCreatorImpl.CreateCatalog(OfflineImageInfo offlineImageInfo)
   at System.Runtime.Remoting.Messaging.StackBuilderSink._PrivateProcessMessage(IntPtr md, Object[] args, Object server, Int32 methodPtr, Boolean fExecuteInContext, Object[]& outArgs)
   at System.Runtime.Remoting.Messaging.StackBuilderSink.SyncProcessMessage(IMessage msg, Int32 methodPtr, Boolean fExecuteInContext)

Exception rethrown at [0]:
   at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.HandleReturnMessage(IMessage reqMsg, IMessage retMsg)
   at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.PrivateInvoke(MessageData& msgData, Int32 type)
   at Microsoft.ComponentStudio.ComponentPlatformInterface.ICatalogCreator.CreateCatalog(OfflineImageInfo offlineImageInfo)
   at Microsoft.ComponentStudio.CatalogGenerator.CreateCat(ProgressDialog pd, Object o)
9:24 AM : System.Reflection.TargetInvocationException: Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation. ---> System.ArgumentNullException: String reference not set to an instance of a String.
Parameter name: source
   at System.Globalization.CompareInfo.IsPrefix(String source, String prefix, CompareOptions options)
   at ?A0xfe36268f.ConvertToNtPath(String path)
   at Microsoft.ComponentStudio.ComponentPlatformInterface.CbsSessionAdaptor..ctor(String bootDrive, String imageWinDir, String servicingPath)
   at Microsoft.ComponentStudio.ComponentPlatformInterface.OfflineImageImpl.InitializePackages()
   at Microsoft.ComponentStudio.ComponentPlatformInterface.OfflineImageImpl..ctor(OfflineImageInfo imageInfo)
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   at System.RuntimeMethodHandle._InvokeConstructor(Object[] args, SignatureStruct& signature, IntPtr declaringType)
   at System.Reflection.RuntimeConstructorInfo.Invoke(BindingFlags invokeAttr, Binder binder, Object[] parameters, CultureInfo culture)
   at System.RuntimeType.CreateInstanceImpl(BindingFlags bindingAttr, Binder binder, Object[] args, CultureInfo culture, Object[] activationAttributes)
   at Microsoft.ComponentStudio.ComponentPlatformInterface.Cpi.PlatformImplementation.CreateOfflineImageInstance(OfflineImageInfo imageInfo)
9:24 AM : System.ArgumentNullException: String reference not set to an instance of a String.
Parameter name: source
   at System.Globalization.CompareInfo.IsPrefix(String source, String prefix, CompareOptions options)
   at ?A0xfe36268f.ConvertToNtPath(String path)
   at Microsoft.ComponentStudio.ComponentPlatformInterface.CbsSessionAdaptor..ctor(String bootDrive, String imageWinDir, String servicingPath)
   at Microsoft.ComponentStudio.ComponentPlatformInterface.OfflineImageImpl.InitializePackages()
   at Microsoft.ComponentStudio.ComponentPlatformInterface.OfflineImageImpl..ctor(OfflineImageInfo imageInfo)

*****
WDS server is Server 2008R2 Standard x64. 

Image built using Hyper-V on a Server 2012 R2 Enterprise x64 Hyper-V Host.

All available Windows updates are installed.

Any input is welcomed and appreciated.

Best,

Jeff B

I've been messing around with a generic unattend file for our WDS server for quite a while now. I have it very simply automated entirely except the disk configuration. Here is the disk config excerpt of the .xml file I'm currently using. This is one of many that I've tried with no luck:

<DiskConfiguration><Disk wcm:action="add"><CreatePartitions><CreatePartition wcm:action="add"><Order>1</Order><Extend>true</Extend><Type>Primary</Type></CreatePartition></CreatePartitions><ModifyPartitions><ModifyPartition wcm:action="add"><Active>true</Active><Format>NTFS</Format><Label>Windows</Label><Letter>C</Letter><Order>1</Order><PartitionID>1</PartitionID></ModifyPartition></ModifyPartitions><DiskID>0</DiskID><WillWipeDisk>true</WillWipeDisk></Disk><WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI></DiskConfiguration>

This validates perfectly fine, but does not automate the wiping and partitioning of the disk. Any help would be much appreciated, thank you!

Hi,

By default the .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0) role/feature binaries on 2012R2 do not reside in %SystemDrive%:\Windows\WinSxS

So in order to install you need internet connectivity for Windows Update or point the installer to the Windows 2012R2 media.

How can you configure this so that the binaries are included so installation does not need internet or access to media.

With the uninstall-windowsfeature there is the remove switch which deletes relevant files in %SystemDrive%:\Windows\WinSxS but I cannot see an equivalent that will allow you to add binaries when not installed.

Thanks.

Hi All,

I have windows 2008r2 server running as KMS HOST Currently which activates all the clients upto windows server 2012 r2 as we have  VOLUME_KMS_2012-R2 channel key installed on it.

I want to install a new 2012 r2 KMS host in existing environment to  activate my windows 10 clients and office 2016 products. I have VL keys for windows 10 and office 2016. I want to know what KMS HOST key i put in during the install of new KMS server as is shown in http://blogs.technet.com/b/askcore/archive/2013/03/14/installing-volume-activation-services-role-in-windows-server-2012-to-setup-a-kms-host.aspx#pi169993=2 in step 7 . will it be the new windows 10 or something else.

If someone can help with steps or link that i can follow for installing this 2012R2 KMS server for activating win 10 and office 2016.

Regards,

Anil

I have been tasked to create a "Golden Image" of Windows 10x64 and deploy it via WDS (Server 2012).  Currently we have three images and they all will load fine when legacy boot is enabled in BIOS.  The WDS server and the DHCP server are on separate servers on the same subnet.  Workstations are on a different subnet.

All images were captured the same way via WDS image capture.  The difference is where Windows 7x64 and Windows 10x64 images were captured on computers where UEFI was not enabled; the workstations were booting via legacy boot mode in BIOS.  The third image was captured the same way (Windows 10x64 UEFI) where the system was UEFI enabled and Windows was loaded via UEFI boot with the Windows 10x64 software on DVD. 

When choosing F12 while the "golden computer with Windows 10x64 UEFI) is booting up, you will see "Windows Boot Manager" as an option to boot from under UEFI options.  When selecting this option, you will boot straight from the HD and enter into Windows.  All is good.  When booting into Windows and typing "System Information" you will see"BIOS Mode = UEFI." UEFI Mode is what I am trying to make the future imaged computers to match. The other two computers will show "BIOS Mode = Legacy." This is normal so far.

The trick of trying to image new workstations (That required BIOS Mode = UEFI) is that are all computers are set to "Legacy" Boot mode in BIOS and you will need to choose "UEFI" in order to change the setting before deploying the image.  I found that I need to verify Option 66 and 67 in DHCP under Scope Options to read the following:66=(IP address of WDS Server) and 67=boot\x64\wdsmgfw.efi.  Previously 67 was set to67=boot\x64\wdsnbp.com.  When 67 was set to boot\x64\wdsnbp.com, systems would be able to PXE boot and load the image just fine (Problem: this is for BIOS not UEFI).  When I changed setting 67=boot\x64\wdsmgfw.efi as shown in several blogs, I get an error showing me"PXE=E79: NBP is too big to fit in free base memory."Several blogs explained that you need to configure "Option 60" to PXEClient, but there is no "Option 60" on my DHCP server.  Then I read where you will need to login to WDS Server/Open WDS/Right click on WDS server/choose DHCP tab/ and choose the bottom option to add Option 60 to your DHCP server.  Well, it gives me an error and does not allow me to add option 60 to my server.  I read on TechNet that Option 60 should not exist in DHCP if your WDS and DHCP servers are on separate servers.  Then I read that "IP Helper" needs to be configured by the Network Administrator to assist the workstation to find your WDS server and the image.  I have not contacted my Network Administrator yet...does it sound like I am on the right track to resolve the "PXE=E79:NBP is too big to fit in free base memory?" I find the error interesting because I changed option 67 to boot from wdsmgfw.efi instead of wdsnbp.com.

I have a server (QAWDS) that I have built to be my WDS server.  So far everything is working well. The server responds via DHCP, the client boots, starts the install via PXE, unattended install runs... everything is perfect except that I can NOT get clients to join the dang domain. The worst part is that this server, up until a week ago was working perfectly including joining the new clients to the domain.  It crashed and we ended up rebuilding the server, and now everything is back together but I'm stuck at this issue.  When the client completes the install process, I get this error on the WDS server:

Log Name:      Microsoft-Windows-Deployment-Services-Diagnostics/Admin
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-Deployment-Services-Diagnostics
Date:          5/30/2012 4:01:29 PM
Event ID:      4113
Task Category: None
Level:         Error
Keywords:
User:          SYSTEM
Computer:      QAWDS.corp.mydomain.com
Description:
The following WDS Client has encountered Domain Join Error:

SessionGuid: {98d33d96-07fa-45f9-a53c-106287b22dde}
MAC: 00155D013728
IP: 10.15.0.200
ClientGuid: {447c78f6-209d-4d54-9810-458bb234a76a}
Arch: 9
MachineName: qasvr-10.15.0.200#
MachineOU: OU=New Server Staging,OU=Test and QA,DC=corp,DC=mydomain,DC=com
ErrorCode: 0x8007054b
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event"><System><Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Deployment-Services-Diagnostics" Guid="{22B7D623-566B-47B6-9BA0-BC9DA3C9D646}" /><EventID>4113</EventID><Version>0</Version><Level>2</Level><Task>0</Task><Opcode>0</Opcode><Keywords>0x4000000000000000</Keywords><TimeCreated SystemTime="2012-05-30T23:01:29.176077600Z" /><EventRecordID>9</EventRecordID><Correlation /><Execution ProcessID="3160" ThreadID="3244" /><Channel>Microsoft-Windows-Deployment-Services-Diagnostics/Admin</Channel><Computer>QAWDS.corp.mydomain.com</Computer><Security UserID="S-1-5-18" /></System><UserData><WdsClientDomainJoinErrorEvent xmlns:auto-ns2="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events" xmlns="Microsoft-Windows-Deployment-Services-Diagnostics"><SessionGUID>{98D33D96-07FA-45F9-A53C-106287B22DDE}</SessionGUID><ClientMAC>00155D013728</ClientMAC><ClientIP>10.15.0.200</ClientIP><ClientGuid>{447C78F6-209D-4D54-9810-458BB234A76A}</ClientGuid><ClientArch>9</ClientArch><MachineName>qasvr-%03#</MachineName><MachineOU>OU=New Server Staging,OU=Test and QA,DC=corp,DC=mydomain,DC=com</MachineOU><ErrorCode>0x8007054b</ErrorCode></WdsClientDomainJoinErrorEvent></UserData></Event>

We've even gone so far as to alter the machine account for QAWDS so that it has Full Control to the target OU specified in the WDS configuration. WDS is still running as Local System per the default install. Does anyone have any other ideas?  I'm stuck now...

I'm having an issue with WDS on server 2012 R2 - VMware ESXi 6.0 e1000 adapter. I can connect clients to the server for a period of time and image without issue then the server stops responding to requests. DHCP and DNS are hosted on the site domain controller, not on the WDS server. Restarting the server gets everything working again and I'm not sure why I'm receiving the following errors when it stops working:

I get this error for random ports bt 50000-60000.
"An error occurred while trying to create the UDP endpoint for WDSTFTP provider on interface 169.254.16.219:53971. This can happen if the network interface was disabled or changed, or some other application is already using the port. The provider  will not be able to receive requests on this interface.
 
 Error Information: 0x2741"

"An error occurred while trying to create the UDP endpoint for WDSPXE provider on interface 169.254.16.219:67. This can happen if the network interface was disabled or changed, or some other application is already using the port. The provider  will not be able to receive requests on this interface.
 
 Error Information: 0x2741 "

"An error occurred while trying to create the UDP endpoint for WDSTFTP provider on interface 169.254.16.219:69. This can happen if the network interface was disabled or changed, or some other application is already using the port. The provider  will not be able to receive requests on this interface.
 
 Error Information: 0x2741"

Thanks in advance!

I have DHCP and WDS on the same server.

I have only configured option 60 = PXEClient

I have ticked the two boxes in WDS, "don't listen" and "configure DHCP options"

But still I get "ProxyDHCP service did not reply to request on port 4011"

Can some please help I don't want to rebuild my domain controller.

My setup is

Server 1: 2012R2 AD/DHCP/DNS, no option 60, 66, or 67.

Server 2: 2012R2 WDS installed

Server 3: 2008R2 WDS installed

Same subnet for all servers

Boot and install image for both x86 and x64 uploaded

When trying to PXE boot server 4 from the 2008R2 machine it works perfect. When trying to PXE boot from the 2012R2 machine it can't find the boot image (2008R2 is disabled). With Wireshark I can see that the DHCP server offers an IP address (DHCP Info and DHCP Offer) but no DHCP Requests or DHCP Ack follows that. I get a DHCP Offer from the WDS server shortly after the DHCP Offer from the DHCP server just as I get from the 2008 server. Comparing with the 2008R2 server it looks the same to this point except for the DHCP Offer from 2012 WDS contains the WDS server name which 2008 DHCP Offer doesn't. Sometimes I can see that the DHCP Offer from WDS comes after 3-4 Info+Offer from DCHP server. No virtual machines involved at all.

I even tried to install another new 2008R2 with WDS and upgraded it to 2012R2. It work fine before upgrade.

Any clues to what is wrong?

I've seen many posts regarding this, but no answers that would fit my scenario.

Freshly installed MDT, and added a single OS & task (then updated).

I can access the deployment share fine, as well as read/write to the directories. I receive the aforementioned error when attempting to run litetouch.vbs directly from the script folder. I've tried two repositories, one on the host PC, and one on a share with zero security. Both mention invalid credentials. Mapping the drive didn't work.

Any clues?

Thanks,
stewy

Windows cannot install required files. Make sure all files required for installation are available, and restart the Installation. Error code 0x80070020.

When i boot to winpe and use imagex to install the image from a network share, no problem encountered.
I've tried recreating and reloading the boot images and install images into WDS.
Which log files can I use to troubleshoot this problem?

I'm having trouble activating Windows 10.

My KMS server is Windows server 2008 R2 with the Server 2012 R2 Product key and patch 3079821.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3079821

Yet Win10 ent will still not activate.  Is there something I'm missing ?

Hello,

I am running a windows server 2008 r2 environment with 3 domain controllers. I have my primary domain controller which runs DHCP, DNS, GC and all that good stuff. I want to upgrade to windows server 2012 r2. My questions is which of the domain controllers should I upgrade first or does it even matter? and should I raise the forest and domain functional level after the upgrade?

Should I consider migration? I am running in a vm environment and I don't have any issues with my AD forest.

thanks

Hi all,

So the time has come to upgrade my Domain controllers from 2008 Std to 2012 R2. This process in itself is a fairly standard procedure which I'm happy with however I have a question regarding trusts.

Quite simply my question is...

Will my existing 2way forest trust migrate to the new Server 2012 R2 domain controller along with all the ADDS roles after I complete the ADDS configuration wizard?

Thanks in advance...

durrie.

Hi folks, 

I am having an issue with a Windows 2008 R2 SP1 - Enterprise Edition that i am working on.

The server is a HP BL460c Gen9 and is configured to boot from SAN.

I have about 100+ servers to deploy with this image but when i run sysprep with generalize it blue screens on the following: 

1. Safe mode hangs on bchtsw64.sys and crashes.
2. If load the system registry hive and bypass bchtsw64.sys it then hangs and crashes on bfad_up.sys
3. If I bypass both bchtsw64.sys & bfad_up.sys it then hangs and crashes on disk.sys

if i do not use the generalize switch it works fine but obviously i need some of the items that the generalize does. 

I believe that the issue is that the generalize step removes items relating to the above drivers. 
Any help would be greatly appreciated here...

Many thanks. 

Steve.