Create a Custom Windows PE 5.0 Boot Image with Configuration Manager

Applies To: Windows 8.1

In Microsoft System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager, you can create custom Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) 5.0 boot images that include extra components and features. This topic will show you how to create a custom Windows PE 5.0 boot image using the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2013 wizard. You can also add the Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset (DaRT) 8.1 to the boot image as part of the boot image creation process.

For the purposes of this topic, we will use two machines: DC01 and CM01. DC01 is a domain controller and CM01 is a machine running Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard. Both are members of the domain contoso.com for the fictitious Contoso Corporation. For more details on the setup for this topic, please see Proof-Of-Concept Environment.

In this topic

• Add DaRT 8.1 files and prepare to brand the boot image

• Create a boot image for Configuration Manager using the MDT 2013 wizard

In this topic

• Integrate Configuration Manager with MDT 2013

• Prepare for Zero Touch Installation of Windows 8.1 with Configuration Manager

• Add a Windows 8.1 Operating System Image Using Configuration Manager

• Create an Application to Deploy with Windows 8.1 Using Configuration Manager

• Add Drivers to a Windows 8.1 Deployment with Windows PE Using Configuration Manager

• Create a Task Sequence with Configuration Manager and MDT

• Finalize the Operating System Configuration for Windows 8.1 Deployment with Configuration Manager

• Deploy Windows 8.1 Using PXE and Configuration Manager

• Monitor the Windows 8.1 Deployment with Configuration Manager

• Refresh a Windows 7 SP1 Client with Windows 8.1 Using Configuration Manager

• Replace a Windows 7 SP1 Client with Windows 8.1 Using Configuration Manager

Add DaRT 8.1 files and prepare to brand the boot image

The steps below outline the process for adding DaRT 8.1 installation files to the MDT 2013 installation directory. You also copy a custom background image to be used later. We assume you have downloaded Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) 2013 R2 and copied the x64 version of MSDaRT81.msi to the C:\Setup\DaRT 8.1 folder. We also assume you have created a custom background image and saved it in C:\Setup\Branding on CM01. In this section, we use a custom background image named ContosoBackground.bmp.

1. Install DaRT 8.1 (C:\Setup\DaRT 8.1\MSDaRT81.msi) using the default settings.

2. Using File Explorer, navigate to the C:\Program Files\Microsoft DaRT\v8.1 folder.

3. Copy the Toolsx64.cab file to the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Deployment Toolkit\Templates\Distribution\Tools\x64 folder.

4. Copy the Toolsx86.cab file to the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Deployment Toolkit\Templates\Distribution\Tools\x86 folder.

5. Using File Explorer, navigate to the C:\Setup folder.

6. Copy the Branding folder to E:\Sources\OSD.

Create a boot image for Configuration Manager using the MDT 2013 wizard

By using the MDT wizard to create the boot image in Configuration Manager, you gain additional options for adding components and features to the boot image. In this section, you create a boot image for Configuration Manager using the MDT 2013 Wizard.

1. Using the Configuration Manager Console, in the Software Library workspace, expand Operating Systems, right-click Boot Images, and select Create Boot Image using MDT.

2. On the Package Source page, in the Package source folder to be created (UNC Path): text box, type \\CM01\Sources$\OSD\Boot\Zero Touch WinPE 5.0 x64 and click Next.

3. On the General Settings page, assign the name Zero Touch WinPE 5.0 x64 and click Next.

4. On the Options page, select the x64 platform, and click Next.

Security Note
In Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) 5.0, which Configuration Manager is using, it’s not necessary to set the scratch space size as in previous versions. Scratch space in Windows PE 5.0 is dynamic. For example, if you have 1 GB of RAM or more on the machine you are deploying, Windows PE 5.0 will automatically set a 512 MB scratch space.

5. On the **Components** page, in addition to the default selected **Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC/ADO)** support, select the **Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolkit (DaRT)** check box. .png) Figure 16. Adding the DaRT component to the Configuration Manager boot image. 6. On the **Customization** page, select the **Use a custom background bitmap file** check box, and in the **UNC path:** text box, browse to **\\\\CM01\\Sources$\\OSD\\Branding\\ ContosoBackground.bmp**. Then click **Next** twice.

7. Distribute the boot image to the CM01 distribution point by selecting the Boot images node, right-clicking the Zero Touch WinPE 5.0 x64 boot image, and selecting Distribute Content.

8. In the Distribute Content Wizard, add the CM01 distribution point, and complete the wizard.

9. Using Configuration Manager Trace, review the E:\Program Files\Microsoft Configuration Manager\Logs\distmgr.log file. Do not continue until you can see that the boot image is distributed. Look for the line that reads STATMSG: ID=2301. You also can view Content Status in the Configuration Manager Console by selecting the Zero Touch WinPE 5.0 x86 boot image.

   Figure 17. Content status for the Zero Touch WinPE 5.0 x64 boot image.

10. Using the Configuration Manager Console, right-click the Zero Touch WinPE 5.0 x64 boot image and select Properties.

11. In the Data Source tab, select the Deploy this boot image from the PXE-enabled distribution point check box, and click OK.

12. Using Configuration Manager Trace, review the E:\Program Files\Microsoft Configuration Manager\Logs\distmgr.log file and look for this text: Expanding PS10000B to E:\RemoteInstall\SMSImages.

13. Review the E:\RemoteInstall\SMSImages folder. You should see three folders containing boot images. Two are from the default boot images, and the third folder (PS10000B) is from your new boot image with DaRT.