This guide provides an easy and relatively quick way to PXE boot windows which means you can install Windows over the network with PXE without the need for a CD drive. While the previous guide allows you to slip stream updates and add extra programs it took a LONG LONG time to do, especially with all the downloads it needed to do, this one just installs a vanilla XP, nice and simple, and a lot quicker

Changelog

2008-05-26 – Initial article published
2010-06-22 – Updated last stage with instructions for injecting NIC drivers courtesy of Maarten

Step 1: Getting started.

What you’ll need:

1. Windows 2000/XP CD (to get the i386 directory off it)
2. PC running 2000/XP (to act as a server)
3. Laptop capable of booting over PXE (such as the L400).
4. Tftpd32
   
5. Bart Network Boot Disk
6. SMARTDRV.EXE
7. A Share. The Server must be able to share files (any Microsoft Windows computer can).
8. Working router or plain crossover cable.

Once you’ve collected all of the above, lets begin;

1. Create a share, for the sake of argument create it at c:\WINSTALL
2. Copy your i386 folder and SMARTDRV.EXE into this folder
3. Make a note of your computer name/host name, you can find this out by right clicking on “My Computer”, going to properties, go to “Computer Name” tab, look under Full computer name, in my example, the computers name is STAR, i believe the name needs to be 12 chars or less for this to work in dos mode, so if its longer change it and reboot.



4. Create a folder to PXE boot from, c:\OUTPUT

Downloads
Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.

Step 1: Getting started.

What you’ll need:

1. The Server – Any PC running 2000/XP
2. The Source – Windows 2000/XP CD (we need to get the i386 directory)
3. The Client – Laptop capable of booting over PXE (such as the L400).
4. Tftpd32
   
5. SysAngel DVD Generator here or if you already have .NET framework 1.1.4322 or higher you can get the self extractible here
6. A Share. The Server must be able to share files (any Microsoft Windows computer can).
7. Working router or plain crossover cable.

Once you’ve collected all of the above, do the below:

1. Download and install latest DVD Generator. It’s a single EXE, double-clicking it will install / upgrade it.
2. Create a C:\OUTPUT directory to store the necessary files for your RIS Service. (There should be at least 600 Mo of free space on the selected drive, but it could be as big as 5 or 6 Go if you choose to download every available software.)
3. Share the C:\OUTPUT directory, according Read rights to everyone. Let’s keep the default share name (OUTPUT).

Downloading necessary sources using the DVD Generator.

1. Launch the SysAngel DVD Generator.
2. In the “1. Select your output folder” textbox, enter C:\OUTPUT.
3. In the “2. Indicate your Windows XP source”, browse to the i386 directory of the Windows XP you want to deploy.
4. In the “4. Enter Windows Serial number” textbox, you may provide a serial but this is optional.
5. Now, click the “5. Generate the SYSANGEL DVD ISO” button. Of course, we don’t really need the ISO image that will be generated, but we do need the software to download or update files used to generate the ISO. We also need the DVD Generator to prepare the Windows release.
6. When everything is done, click the “Finished the custom. Generate the ISO!” button and wait… until you get to the final screen :
7. The C:\OUTPUT folder should be all right. If you want to install Windows with a bootable DVD at a later date, burn the ISO (C:\OUTPUT\DVD.iso). Else, you can simply delete this file.
8. If DVD Generator fails to burn the DVD.iso try using your favourite burning software, you can now close the DVD Generator.