
Browse button do not work in "Windows Deployment Services" console.
This BUG exist also in Windows Server 2012 R2.
The BUG exist in English-US, French, and probably other languages (not related to a language)To produce the bug do the following:
On www.msdn.com download Windows Server Technical Preview
At command prompt install WDS Server role in StandAlone mode with the folowing command:
PowerShell Add-WindowsFeature WDS -IncludeManagementTools -IncludeAllSubfeatureInitialize the WDS role "IN STAND ALONE MODE" with the folowing command:
wdsutil /verbose /progress /initialize-server /server:localhost /REMINST:C:\RemoteInstall /StandAloneThe bug exist only if WDS is installed in standalone mode !
To create a "prestaged device" and associate to this device an answer file we need an "answer file".
To reproduce the BUG a simple text file can be created with notepad in C:\RemoteInstall\WDSClientUnattend folder with the name PC1.xml. The content of this file is not important to reproduce the BUG.Now we will create a local "Prestaged Device" and will try to associate with the already existent answer file that we have created C:\RemoteInstall\WDSClientUnattend\PC1.xml:
ServerManager, Clic "Tools", select "Windows Deployment Services"
Click "Servers", Click on the name of your server, Right Click "Prestaged Devices", Select "Add Device",
( Do not confuse "Prestages Devices" with "Active Directory Prestaged Devices" because "Active Directory Prestages devices is not available in Stand Alone mode),
Name: PC1
DeviceID: 123456123456, Clic "Next"On the page "Boot", Clic "Next"
On the page "Client Unattend", to see the bug click "Browse", Clic "C:", Clic "RemoteInstall", Click "WDSClientUnattend", Clic "PC1.xml"
You can see that the PC1.xml are NOT added as "Unattend File".
BROWSE BUTTON FAIL TO ADD THE SELECTED ANSWER FILE ! You can clic Next buton but your selected file ARE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRESTAGED DEVICE.
My opinion is: The path to Unattend file must be relative to C:\RemoteInstall and must NOT contain C:\Remoteinstall.
If you clic on Browse button you will indicate a FULL PATH and this is not accepted because the BUG. Also if you fill manually a FULL PATH next to Unattend File this is not accepted. Only file path relative to C:\Remoteinstall are accepted. This can be very confusing for somebody who do not know this.
WorkAround:
Insted of clic on Browse button, you can write the relative path: "WDSClientUnattend\PC1.xml",
Clic Next, Click Back, You can see that Unattend File is WDSClientUnattend\PC1.xml and this is right.Conclusion: relative path are OK, Full path including C:\RemoteInstall are not accepted. Browse button do not work !