PXE boot

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Quick guide for installing windows over your local LAN if the cd/dvd drive doesnt work. This requires a bit of preparation.

  • Share your DVD drive on a working computer on your LAN, allow access for everyone.
  • Give it a sharename you can easily remember.
  • Download tftpd32.exe with PE image
    • External guide: [1]


  • Configure tftpd32.exe according to the external guide
  • Turn off all other dhcp servers on your LAN, including your router/firewall if this has DHCP enabled. The only active dhcp server on your LAN should be tftpd32.exe.
  • Enter bios on the computer you are trying to install windows on and set PXEboot as first boot option
  • During boot the computer will try to get an IP from tftpd32, once successful hit F12. (Can follow the process in tftpd32-log to see if its working as intended)
  • Your computer should start downloading winPE image files and start winPE
  • in winpe type:
    • net use k: \\serverip\cdshare
    • username username@serverip
    • password passord (can be blank if you have no password set on the servercomputer)


  • in winPE type:
    • diskpart
    • list volume
    • select windows volume
    • format fs=ntfs label="something of your choice"


If you want to install xp:

  • WINDOWS XP: Copy windows installation files to local temp disk:
 %SOURCE%\i386\winnt32.exe /syspart:c: /makelocalsource /tempdrive:c: 
  • reboot the computer


If you want to install win7:

  • WINDOWS 7: Simply run install.exe from the shared CD/DVD drive


Sidenote:
Running tftpd32 as a dhcp server on a windows 7 computer didnt work for me. For some odd reason dhcp failed utterly. Doubtless due to idiotic security shit in win 7 even tho i turned off all 3 firewalls. 
I solved this by making a virtual xp installation in vmware and bridged the network, then ran tftpd32 on that xp installation instead. Worked like a charm. If you are having trouble sharing your cd/dvd in win7 
as well simply mount it in your virtual xp machine and it works (dont even need a password to mount it with net use in winPE if the admin account doesnt have a pw set). 
That said...its actually easier to install win7 with PXEboot than winXP:)