How to create WDS Client Unattended File to support both BIOS & UEFI boot

Question

Hi,

I am new to WDS image deployment. I have been using below DiskConfiguration to image the client computers without Windows OS installed with success. However, I received attached screenshot when I tried to install the client computer with Windows OS installed. It appears that the WDS unattended file could not format and wipe out the disk if an existing OS installed on the client computer. Notice that WillWipeDisk is set to true in below DiskConfiguration section. I suspect below DiskConfiguration can only be used for BIOS boot without OS installed on the client computer. How can I configure the DiskConfiguration to support either BIOS or UEFI boot client computer? Do I need to create a separate unattended file to support each?

<DiskConfiguration>
<WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
<Disk wcm:action="add">
<CreatePartitions>
<CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
<Extend>true</Extend>
<Order>1</Order>
<Type>Primary</Type>
</CreatePartition>
</CreatePartitions>
<ModifyPartitions>
<ModifyPartition wcm:action="add">
<Active>true</Active>
<Extend>false</Extend>
<Format>NTFS</Format>
<Label>OS</Label>
<Letter>C</Letter>
<Order>1</Order>
<PartitionID>1</PartitionID>
</ModifyPartition>
</ModifyPartitions>
<DiskID>0</DiskID>
<WillWipeDisk>true</WillWipeDisk>
</Disk>
</DiskConfiguration>

Thanks,
Brandon.

Answer 1

Hi there,

Bios and UEFI take different boot kernels. The WDS server will supply the proper boot file based on the pxe booting client. Also on your WDS server make sure you have the UEFI boot kernels installed.

You need to be running Server 2012 or newer OS with the WDS role enabled. Previous OS does not identify UEFI 2.3.1 properly without using other methods such as PXELinux.

The below thread discusses the same issue and you can try out some troubleshooting steps from this and see if that helps you to sort the Issue.

Can't PXE boot WDS - Error 0x00000001 https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/db8ec71b-92e2-4a2d-9c68-cbdaceef21b9/cant-pxe-boot-wds-error-0x00000001?forum=winserversetup

how to configure WDS to accept UEFI boot clients https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/c7d58ce1-23e0-41bb-8676-c9d636aff1e0/how-to-configure-wds-to-accept-uefi-boot-clients?forum=winserversetup

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