So I have a Windows 7 Pro, image I have created in MDT and I am trying to deploy it to a bunch (well, actually just one at this point) of Lenovo E73 SFF PCs using WDS/PXE.
I created the image working with a VM. I deployed that image to the VM by mounting the ISO. None of the issues I describe below occur in the virtualised build. In fact, that works perfectly. It's once I introduced Hardware that things get complicated.
I can successfully PXE Boot the PCs, and they get an IP address. They load Windows PE. However, I usually get the message "A Connection cannot be made to the Deployment Share" and the message suggests Network Credentials may be the issue.
I have set the credentials in the Bootstrap.ini and quadruple checked that they are correct. What is more odd is that there have been occasions where this message does not appear. Although they are perhaps only 5% of occasions.
When this message appears i will usually hit F8 and enter a net use command to re-enter my credentials. There seems to be three outcomes when I do this. 1. Error 5(?)2 Path Not Found. 2. It works and
the install runs as planned. 3. It take my credentials, but MDT will only run very briefly and the PC will restart.
Furthermore, as I mention in "2." above, there are cases whereby the install will run. It installs the OS successfully but not the Applications (presumably because it cannot connect to the network). At the end of the process I am left with the desktop
and the message "A connection could not be made to the Deployment Share" and this time it specifies the ID of the "PCI/Ven_10E...etc". I have verified that the drivers I have in MDT have this ID in their supported PNP IDs and imported the
Win7 and 8 versions, both x86 and x64 architecture.
Just for the sake of clarity, I am updating the Deployment Share each time (I have tried completely rebuilding it) and updating my boot images in WDS.
I am relatively new to all this. So I it's clearly possible I am doing something basic wrong.
My thinking at this point is that any of the following might be an issue, but I have read so much different articles I just feel a bit overwhelmed.
Also, I also just tested an old HP 3135 I have spare, to eliminate some sort of Lenovo specific issue. On one hand there were none of the issues relating to "credentials". But after running through the
task sequence I got the same message, "Cannot connect to the Deployment Share" relating to the Network Driver. I have added the network drivers for the HP to my deployment before proceeding too.
Any advice would be very welcome.