WinPE add-on installation on Windows 11 fails

Question

I'm trying to install WinPE add-on on my windows 11 machine, but the installation fails with the following error message:

"Setup cannot locate Windows PE Boot Files (OnecoreUAP)-x86_en-us.msi"

• adksetup.exe is already installed
• fresh install of windows 11 (22000.1335)
• both adksetup.exe and adkwinpesetup.exe were downloaded from this link
• internet connection is okay
• I tried running the installer with and without elevated permissions with the same result

Any light on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Hello @Kirst

Thank you for sharing this on this community space.

I wonder if you have read the next article down below:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/871191/mdt-and-adk-setup-for-windows-11-cause-error-in-mm.html

Let me know if that was useful but if not, I can keep assisting you further.

Looking forward to your feedback,

Cheers,

Please "Accept the answer" if the information helped you. This will help us and others in the community as well.

Answer 2

Hi,

Thank you for your question and for reaching out.

I understand that you're having issues installing WinPE add-on on your Windows 11 device. Given that you already reinstalled Windows 11, you may try to perform a Hotfix installation. These are required to update the Windows Image file (boot.wim) with this hotfix, and to update the image on Configuration Manager distribution points.

Step 1: Preparation

Extract the contents of the hotfix. For example, extract the contents to the %userprofile%\downloads folder.

Start an elevated “Deployment and Imaging Tools Environment” command prompt.

Step 2: Prepare Windows PE

Create the Windows PE customization working directory, and then mount the image file. To do this, type the following commands, and then press Enter after each command:

copype.cmd amd64 c:\WinPE_amd64

dism /mount-wim /wimfile:C:\WinPE_amd64\media\sources\boot.wim /index:1 /mountdir:C:\WinPE_amd64\mount

Note The copype.cmd amd64 c:\WinPE_amd64 command is not required for an existing boot image.

Step 3: Save schema.dat state

Back up the permissions that are applied to the existing schema.dat file before you replace it. To back up the file, type the following command, and then press Enter:

icacls c:\WinPE_amd64\mount\Windows\System32\schema.dat /save "%temp%\AclFile"

Step 4: Update the schema.dat file

To replace the schema.dat file that has the updated version, you must take ownership of the file and grant permissions to the local administrators group. To do this, type the following commands, and then press Enter after each command:

takeown /F c:\WinPE_amd64\mount\Windows\System32\schema.dat /A

icacls c:\WinPE_amd64\mount\Windows\System32\schema.dat /grant BUILTIN\Administrators:(F)

xcopy "%userprofile%\Downloads\schema-x64.dat" c:\WinPE_amd64\mount\Windows\System32\schema.dat /Y

Step 5: Reset permissions and ownership

When the schema.dat file is replaced, the permissions saved in step 5 must be restored by running the following commands:

icacls c:\WinPE_amd64\mount\Windows\System32\schema.dat /setowner "NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller"

icacls c:\WinPE_amd64\mount\Windows\System32\ /restore "%temp%\AclFile"

Step 6: Commit Windows PE changes

Commit the changes to the boot.wim file. To do this, type the following command, and then press Enter:

dism /unmount-wim /mountdir:C:\WinPE_amd64\mount /Commit

Step 7: Add a boot image

Note This step is not required for an existing boot image.

Add the boot images by using the methods that are described in the following TechNet articles:

How to manage boot images in Configuration Manager (System Center 2012 Configuration Manager) https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh397288.aspx

Manage boot images with System Center Configuration Manager (current branch) https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt627946.aspx

Step 8: Update distribution points

Update the boot images by using the methods that are described in the following TechNet articles:

Specify where the boot image is distributed (System Center 2012 Configuration Manager) https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh397288.aspx#bkmk_bootimagelocation

Distribute boot images to a distribution point (current branch) https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt627946.aspx#bkmk_distributebootimages

If the reply was helpful, please don’t forget to upvote or accept as answer, thank you.