Initial installation startup methods

Step

Actions

Prepare the startup image

Windows PE for Windows 10 is based on Windows 10 and has some requirements for the hardware (see https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/dn938389(v=vs.85).aspx).

Older computer models may not be compatible with Windows PE for Windows 10 and you may have to use WinPE 3 with USB stick or CD/DVD to boot these computers.

Create the startup image for  Windows PE for Windows 10.

1. Download the English version of Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) for Windows 10 and the Windows PE add-on for the ADK from Microsoft website.
2. Uninstall the previous versions of these components, if existing in your computer. Then install Windows ADK onto your computer and select the "Deployment Tools" feature when running the installer. Install also the WinPE add-on.
3. Open command prompt (Run as administrator).
   • Notice! If you are using Windows PowerShell, you might need to modify the commands used in next steps, since they are examples for the Windows Command Prompt.
4. Map master installation point share to S: drive: net use S:\\<server>\setup$<instance>
   • Where <server> is Miradore server name and <instance> is Miradore instance name.
5. Go to S:\_system\_start\disks: cd /d S:\_system\_start\disks
6. Create PE images using Miradore script: CreatePE.cmd.
   • The script will create PE structures under c:\\WinPE folder and copy the customized images to Miradore network boot folder. You can run CreatePE with agument  /? to see the supported switches.
7. If you need to add drivers to the image:
   • Create C:\\WinPE\drivers\x86 or C:\\WinPE\drivers\amd64
   • Copy drivers to the folder created above.
   • Recreate the image(s) by following steps 4-6.

Create the startup image for WinPE 3 (for older computer models).

1. Download the English version of Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows 7 from Microsoft website.
2. Install Windows Automated Installation Kit onto your computer.
3. Open command prompt (Run as administrator on Windows 7)
4. Map master installation point share to, for example, S: drive: net use S:\\<server>\setup$<instance>
   • Where <server> is Miradore server name and <instance> is Miradore instance name.
5. Go to S:\_system\_start\disks: cd /d S:\_system\_start\disks
6. Create PE images using Miradore script (createpe.cmd): CreatePE.cmd /forcepe3 /dontcopy /workdir C:\\WinPE3
   • The script will create PE structures under c:\\WinPE3 folder but will not copy the customized images to the Miradore network boot folder. You can create a CD/DVD by burning C:\\WinPE3\winpe_x86.iso or exclusively just leave out /dontcopy -switch and the PE images will be copied to Miradore network boot folder. Beware that UEFI installations have been tested only on WinPE 5.0 and may not work as expected on WinPE 3.
7. If you need to add drivers to the image:
   • Create C:\\WinPE\drivers\x86 or C:\\WinPE\drivers\amd64
   • Copy drivers to the folder created above
   • Recreate the image(s) by following steps 4-6.

Create a bootable CD

Burn the created WinPE  ISO image file (C:\WinPE\winpe_x86.iso or C:\WinPE\winpe_amd64.iso) to a CD/DVD by right-clicking and selecting Open with > Windows Disc Image Burner or using a menu option in your burning software usually labeled 'Burn CD ISO image'.

Create a bootable USB Flash drive

Use the script CreateUFD.cmd which resides in the same folder as CreatePE.cmd. See instructions in Step 1 for how to map the folder.

You can also create the bootable USB Flash drive from WinPE menu:

• Start the workstation with a bootable CD/DVD created in Step 2.

• In the Miradore WinPE menu select option 3 "Initialize USB Flash Disk".

Follow the instructions on the screen.

Configure the network to support network boot

Configure DHCP options (see Initial installation DHCP options). At least the options 66 and 67 must be configured to be able to boot from the network.

Miradore TFTP server is part of Miradore and gets installed by default by the Miradore installer if installation point component has been selected to be installed . If necessary, the TFTP service can be installed manually by running the following command on the installation point:

_System\Tools\InstTFTPD.cmd

In order to do a successful network boot, WinPE images (winpe.wim and winpe64.wim) must reside in _System\_Start\boot directory on the installation point. The files get copied there automatically when the PE images are created as described in Step 1.

See also

Initiall installation without network boot

Miradore TFTP server configuration

Prepare devices to support the startup methods

When using the CD/DVD startup method

1. Check and configure computer's BIOS/UEFI settings so that CD/DVD is the first option in the boot order or press a specific key to select a boot device (the key depends on firmware manufacturer, usually Esc, F9 or F12).

2. Insert the correct Miradore Boot CD/DVD (32bit or 64bit) into the device and reboot.

3. Select 32bit or 64bit WinPE CD/DVD depending on the target operating system to be installed. Notice! On 64bit UEFI computers you must use 64bit WinPE and install a 64bit operating system. On 32bit UEFI computers you must use and install 32bit versions. If you don’t know which version of UEFI the computer has, you may try both of the WinPEs until you get the WinPE menu up and running.

4. Wait until the startup image has been loaded. Installation will start automatically if the serial number of the computer has been entered correctly, and if initial installation has been activated on the asset configuration item.

When using the USB Flash Drive (UFD) startup method

1. Check and configure computer's BIOS/UEFI settings so that UFD is the first option in the boot order or press a specific key to select a boot device (the key depends on firmware manufacturer, usually Esc, F9 or F12).

2. Insert the USB flash drive containing the Miradore WinPE startup image into the device and reboot.

3. Select 32bit or 64bit WinPE depending on the target operating system to be installed. Notice! On 64bit UEFI computers you must use 64bit WinPE and install a 64bit operating system. On 32bit UEFI computers you must use and install 32bit versions. If you don’t know which version of UEFI the computer has, you may try both of the WinPEs until you get the WinPE menu up and running.

4. Wait until the startup image has been loaded. Installation will start automatically if the serial number of the computer has been entered correctly, and if initial installation has been activated on the asset configuration item.

When using the network boot startup method

1. Check and configure computer's BIOS/UEFI settings so that network boot option is available.

2. When restarting Press F12 to start from the network.

3. Select 32bit or 64bit WinPE depending on the target operating system to be installed. Notice! On 64bit UEFI computers you must use 64bit WinPE and install a 64bit operating system. On 32bit UEFI computers you must use and install 32bit versions. If you don’t know which version of UEFI the computer has, you may try both of the WinPEs until you get the WinPE menu up and running. If WinPE fails to load, try adjusting WindowSize parameter to a smaller value in the TFTP server settings. If a UEFI system fails to boot from network, check that you have the correct bootfile configured in the DHCP settings (see Initial installation DHCP options).

4. Wait until the startup image has been loaded. Installation will start automatically if the serial number of the computer has been entered correctly, and if initial installation has been activated on the asset configuration item.