Windows Deployment with WinPE 2005

[Romain]

Hi,

I have to use WinPE 2005 with RIS to deploy Windows 2003 & Windows XP.
The main reason to use WinPE is that we have to partition disks on 2
two partitions *before* install operating system. However, the
partition's size may be different between two machines. So I can't use
a basic script combined to DiskPart utility.

I boot correctly with RIS & WinPE but I want automate the partition
process. I think use a ramdisk (I downloaded a free version at
http://users.compaqnet.be/cn021945/RAMDisk/ramdiskfree.htm). It seems
to be compatible with WinPE but it doesn't work. I have founded some
documentations but it's described for old versions of WinPE.

My idea : With a vbs script, I prompt the user for the desired size of
the first partition. I create a .txt file that works with diskpart like
:
select disk 0
create partition primary size=SizePartition
active
assign letter=c

I save this file in the Ramdisk and run diskpart /S savedfile.txt

Could you help me ??


Thanks,


Best regards,


;-) Romain.

 

[Michael Niehaus [MS]]

There are read/write RAMdisks that you can add to Windows PE 2004 that will
do the trick. I have also seen people successfully use the WshShell's
"Exec" method to start DISKPART and feed it commands interactively, avoiding
the need for the temporary file (and therefore the RAMdisk).

Windows PE 2005 (which should be available in early May) shouldn't change
this any.

-Michael Niehaus
Senior Consultant
MCS US Centers of Excellence - Deployment AOS
(e-mail address removed)
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.