MDT and ADK setup for Windows 11 cause error in MMC

Jaco van den Berg 26

Hi,

having an issue with WDS/MDT/ADK setup to deploy Windows 11

Installed a fresh 2019 Server (1809) , fully patched
added WDS feature
downloaded and installed MDT (latest 6.3.8456.1000)
downloaded and installed ADK for WIN11 (latest 10.1.22621.1)
downloaded and installed ADK-WINPE for WIN11 (latest 10.1.22621.1)

First disable x86 support on the deploymentshare, otherwise you cannot build your WIM/ISO bootimages. MS has removed x86 support from WINPE11.

now, after generating the deployment share, one get's an MMC error, causing it to crash:

Rightclick your deploymentshare,
select properties
choose TAB "Windows PE"
crash !

The pltaform option in the gui is still set at "x86", but MS has removed x86 support for WINPE11!
However, they have not removed this option, leading to an error now :-(
anybody came across this issue and solved it ?

Rui Santos 11 Reputation points

2022-06-01T05:22:26.287+00:00

I had the exact same problem on Server 2022

The way i solved it was to uninstall the Win 11 PE add on for ADK. Then download and install the Windows 10 PE add on (still supports x86).
After that i copied the x86 folder folder to the desktop (C:\DeploymentShare\Boot\x86).

Then i uninstalled the Win 10 PE addon and re-installed the Win 11 PE add on. After that i copied the x86 folder back io C:\DeploymentShare\Boot\x86 and bam problem solved.
Thomas Gibbs-Case 1 Reputation point

2022-07-03T07:39:19.56+00:00

Had the exact same problem too, it would be nice if Microsoft tested thigs before releasing... Thanks for the solution I've been tearing my hair out.
Bryan Weaver 1 Reputation point

2022-08-04T21:30:09.683+00:00

I installed the Windows 10 PE add on and did not get the crash. I then copied, installed, and installed like you suggested and copied the x86 folder back. It still crashed. I am going to uninstall Win 11 PE add on and re-install the Windows 10 PE add on and hope that works for now.
Martijn Rethmeier 11 Reputation points

2022-08-07T09:21:25.527+00:00

The error as described above is caused by the Windows 11 22H2 ADK version 10.1.22621.1, because the Windows PE installation only requires 3.5GB of diskspace. (x64 only)
If you download the previous Windows 11 22H1 ADK version 10.1.22000.1, it requires 6GB of diskspace during the installation , which means it also installs the x86 Windows PE, even though Microsoft states the folllowing:
"The 32-bit versions of Windows PE in the Windows PE add-ons for Windows 11 and Windows Server 2022 aren't supported. The last supported version of 32-bit Windows PE is available in the Windows PE add-on for Windows 10, version 2004."

Links are found here: (under "Other ADK downloads")
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/get-started/adk-install#other-adk-downloads

Direct links to the Windows 11 22H1 ADK version:
ADK for Windows 11: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2165884
Windows PE add-on for the ADK for Windows 11: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2166133
Cdac001 1 Reputation point

2022-09-15T15:38:51.253+00:00

This worked for me. Thanks.
Nicole Ponce 11 Reputation points

2022-10-12T09:52:29.9+00:00

You need to uninstall your windows PE add-on.
Install Windows 11 21H2 WinPE add-on: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2166133

Once you have installed Windows 11 21H2 WinPE add-on, Copy the folder somewhere, you will need to put it back on the original path:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Windows Preinstallation Environment\x86
C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Windows Preinstallation Environment\arm
C:\DeploymentShare\Boot\x86

Uninstall Win11 21H2 WinPE add-on and install the latest Win11 22H2 WinPE add-on

Place back the files you copied.
Open MDT, Right-click on your MDT Deployment Share > Properties
Disable the Platforms supported x86 > Click Apply
Go to Windows PE tab > Choose Platform x64
Jason Paterson 1 Reputation point

2022-12-01T15:10:57.723+00:00

This worked for me, thankyou!

2 answers

Milton Velez 61 Reputation points

2022-11-15T17:50:33.127+00:00

My error provided a clue. I added a folder called WinPE_OCs to this path and it worked: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Windows Preinstallation Environment\x86\WinPE_OCs
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12 people found this answer helpful.
Mario Veras 41 Reputation points

2023-01-13T20:11:29.32+00:00

You sir are a genius! Thank you! I can't believe Microsoft leaves bugs like this in the software.

Alphaeus Mote 0 Reputation points

2023-01-19T17:18:24.09+00:00

This comment did not show up as it needed to be expanded. I tried this same solution without seeing this answer and I can confirm that this does indeed work!

For those using PowerShell, close the MDT Deployment Workbench and run the following command

New-Item -Path "$(${env:ProgramFiles(x86)})\Windows Kits\10\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Windows Preinstallation Environment\x86\WinPE_OCs" -ItemType Directory -Force -Verbose

Open the workbench afterwards, ensure that x86 is disabled as a platform and generate boot images as necessary.

Brandon Limpert 0 Reputation points

2023-05-02T20:13:34.4433333+00:00

Yep this worked! This was the only option on this thread that worked. Just add the directory x86\WinPE_OCs

Jeroen van der Wildt 0 Reputation points

2023-05-16T11:37:35.8833333+00:00

I didn't expect it to work but it did. Thx a lot.

Cole Schmidt 0 Reputation points

2024-01-22T23:42:08.5266667+00:00

Worked for me, thank you.

xuyang zhang 0 Reputation points

2024-03-14T03:07:20.4333333+00:00

You sir are a genius! It works and solved this bug perfectly. Thanks a lot.
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Sean Adams 5 Reputation points

2023-07-14T21:50:14.8833333+00:00
Same here, @Milton Velez except mine was missing:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Assessment and Deployment Kit \ Windows Preinstallation Environment \ x86 \ WinPE_OCs**
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1 person found this answer helpful.

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