WAIK: Install Windows XP via WinPE

To install Windows XP via WinPE/PXE without DVD installation, Windows XP needs:

1. A bootable partition
2. The partition contains the installation files

Prepare Windows XP installation

1. Network boot bare bone machine and execute WinPE via PXE
2. Use “diskpart” to create and format the parition.  Assign driver letter C: to the partition.
3. Run
   

   X:\> Bootsect.exe /nt52 c: /force /mbr

4. Mount the Windows installation share:
   

   X:\> net use s: \Windows-xp-setup-folder">\Windows-xp-setup-folder">\Windows-xp-setup-folder">\\<server>\Windows-xp-setup-folder

5. Prepare local installation files:
   

   X:\> s:\<win-xp>\i386\winnt32.exe /syspart:c: /tempdrive:c: /makelocalsource

6. Follow the screen instruction to enter proper information
7. After the files has been copied to hard drive, Winnt32.exe will exit and back to WINPE
8. Type "Exit" to restart PC
9. Windows XP installation will continue as usual

Unattended Windows XP installation

1. Prepare unattend answer file:
   

   ;SetupMgrTag
   [Data]
   AutoPartition=1
   MsDosInitiated="0"
   UnattendedInstall="Yes"
   [Unattended]
   UnattendMode=FullUnattended
   OemSkipEula=Yes
   Setting OemPreInstall=Yes is necessary if you create an $OEM$
   directory under \i386 to copy files to the target PC and/or are using a cmdlines.txt
   file.  If you aren't copying files to the target PC or using a cmdlines.txt file,
   then set it to No
   OemPreinstall=Yes
   TargetPath=\WINDOWS
   The 2 lines below are used to convert the file system to NTFS
   and then extend the boot/system partition an extra 4GB.
   FileSystem=ConvertNTFS
   ExtendOEMPartition=4000
   
   [GuiUnattended]
   AdminPassword="happyday"
   EncryptedAdminPassword=NO
   OEMSkipRegional=1
   TimeZone=35
   OemSkipWelcome=1
   The following 2 lines tell setup to login 1 time automatically after
   the installation has finished. Setup will only use the local Administrator
   account to login
   AutoLogon=Yes
   AutoLogonCount=1
   
   [UserData]
   You could add a ComputerName= line in this section. However,
   if you are installing multiple PCs, and since each PC needs a
   unique computer name, leaving out this line causes Setup to prompt
   you for a computer name.  Alternatively, you could use a UDF file to provide
   unique user information.
   ProductID=xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx
   FullName="Jane Doe"
   OrgName="Widgets"
   
   [Display]
   BitsPerPel=32
   Xresolution=1024
   YResolution=768
   Vrefresh=75
   
   [Components]
   This section is where you tell XP to not install certain components.
   The line below tells XP not to install MSN Explorer.
   msnexplr=off
   
   [TapiLocation]
   CountryCode=1
   Dialing=Tone
   AreaCode=305
   
   [RegionalSettings]
   LanguageGroup=1
   Language=00000409
   
   [Branding]
   BrandIEUsingUnattended=Yes
   
   [URL]
   Home_Page=www.svrops.com
   
   [Proxy]
   Proxy_Enable=0
   Use_Same_Proxy=1
   
   [Identification]
   This section joins your PC to the domain indicated, creates a computer
   account and uses the username and password indicated to create the account.
   JoinDomain=MYDOMAIN.com
   CreateComputerAccountInDomain=Yes
   DomainAdmin=msmith
   DomainAdminPassword=password
   
   [Networking]
   This section and the ones to follow were generated by Setup Manager.
   They describe what networking protocols and components to install.
   InstallDefaultComponents=No
   
   [NetAdapters]
   Adapter1=params.Adapter1
   
   [params.Adapter1]
   INFID=*
   
   [NetClients]
   MS_MSClient=params.MS_MSClient
   
   [NetServices]
   MS_SERVER=params.MS_SERVER
   
   [NetProtocols]
   MS_TCPIP=params.MS_TCPIP
   
   [params.MS_TCPIP]
   DNS=Yes
   UseDomainNameDevolution=No
   EnableLMHosts=Yes
   AdapterSections=params.MS_TCPIP.Adapter1
   
   [params.MS_TCPIP.Adapter1]
   SpecificTo=Adapter1
   DHCP=Yes
   WINS=No
   NetBIOSOptions=0

2. Install Windows XP with unattend answer file:
   

   s:\<win-xp>\i386\winnt32.exe /syspart:c: /makelocalsource /unattend:unattend.txt

Troubleshoot: "setup cannot load the keyboard layout file kbdus.dll"

If you encounter errors during the installation (e.g.: "setup cannot load the keyboard layout file kbdus.dll"), please make sure the installation partition is not hidden if you have hide it unintentionally.
To check if the partition is hidden:

• diskpart
• select disk 0
• select part 1
• detail part

To unhide the volume:

• diskpart
• select disk 0
• select part 1
• attributes volume clear hidden