nstall Windows xp/Vista/7/8/8.

1/10 through Network PXE

Created April 13, 2017 Author admin Category Networking, Software, Windows
Outlook Express
1. Download Serva
Icon Please login to download
Serva - Automated PXE Server 4.42 MB 332 downloads
Serva is an Automated PXE Server Solution Accelerator based on an all-in-one
portable...
2. Run the download to unpack the files and copy the Serva files to any convenient
folder on your Windows hard disk

(you might like to make a link on your Desktop to the exe)

3. Create a C:\SERVA_ROOT empty folder
4. Run Serva.exe and click on the Settings button at the bottom (if you get a
Windows FireWall warning then ALLOW the program access through the firewall)

5. Click on the TFTP tab and set the Root directory to C:\SERVA_ROOT and tick the
TFTP Server box as shown below:

6. Click on the DHCP tab and set proxyDHCP (if you already have a DHCP server or
DHCP router)and tick the BINL box.

7. Quit the app and re-run the Serva.exe app again.

This is necessary because when Serva re-starts it will generate the PXE download
files according to what folders you have created. Serva only does this when it
starts. If you make any changes to the folders under C:\SERVA_ROOT then you should
always quit and re-run Serva before you try a PXE boot.
8. Check that there are now some folders underneath the C;\SERVA_ROOT folder
9. Set up a Windows share to the C:\SERVA_ROOT\WIA_WDS folder and after that, use
the Windows Advanced Properties dialogue (click on the folder and then click
Properties � Sharing) to set access for Everyone and set the Share name to
WIA_WDS_SHARE.
10. Copy the contents of your Windows 7 (or Win8-10 or Vista or Server 2K8R2) DVD
to a new folder � e.g. copy a Win 7 SP1 32-bit install DVD to
C:\SERVA_ROOT\WIA_WDS\Win7_32_SP1
11. If you have more DVDs, just make a new folder for each of them under
C:\SERVA_ROOT\WIA_WDS
12. If you have NT OS source files (e.g. 2003, XP or Server2K8 non-R2) then put
these under C:\SERVA_ROOT\WIA_RIS and share the C:\SERVA_ROOT folder as
WIA_RIS_SHARE (see doc on website). Make sure �Everyone� group has read permission
on the just created share. You also need to set a Null Session share on the
C:\SERVA_ROOT folder.
13. Quit the Serva app and re-run it
14. Now try to PXE boot your target system
15. For a WDS install (Vista, Win7,Win8, SVR2K8R2), you will be prompted for a
username and password � use your host PC computername\username and password � e.g.
mynewHP\Administrator myhppwd.
That�s it � now try to PXE boot a system over Ethernet.
I would recommend using a Windows 7 or 8 32-bit install folder (copy of the install
DVD) to start with as these will have the most network drivers in them already and
will work on any CPU. The troubleshoooting documentation on the Serva website
explains how to add OS network drivers if the standard Microsoft install files do
not already contain the correct network driver for your target systems.
Troubleshooting
After connecting the network cable, watch the Windows SystemTray network icon �
wait until the icon animation has stopped (usually 1-2 minutes) before you attempt
to start Serva.
If you having problems, try disabling the Windows Firewall on your PC and
temporarily stopping your Anti-Virus protection,.
If you are using a router as a hub, disconnect any other Ethernet cable except for
the target PXE system and your Serva Windows PC.
Try a different PXE client notebook or PC � some PXE BIOSes are buggy (not all PXE
BIOS ROMs support proxyDHCP PXE booting)!
If it starts to load the OS installation files and then stops with an error message
� see here.
If you are installing XP and you just see the black screen with the XP logo, make
sure you have set up the Share on the C:\SERVA_ROOT folder correctly and followed
the Null Session share instructions.
If the client is having communication problems with the Serva host PC (e.g. PXE
client is not receiving the DHCP offer or lots of timeouts, etc.) try switching off
and on your router � if still no joy, switch off your host PC, client PC and
router. Then switch on the router, wait 1 minute and the switch on your host PC.
Now try again!
Note: grldr and grub.exe will not work if the PXE server is using proxyDHCP mode.
Grub4dos does not currently support this feature. To use grub4dos your PXE server
must also be the DHCP server (i.e. do not use proxyDHCP mode and disable your DHCP
server services whilst Serva is running).
Use Oracle VM VirtualBox to PXE boot from Serva
You can PXE boot using Oracle VM Virtual Box to test that PXE booting is working.
1. Add a new Virtual machine which has a virtual hard disk that you can install the
OS onto.
2. Set up the Network Adapter to Bridged and set the Name to the physical network
adapter on your host system (see below).

3. Run the VM and press F12 to get the BIOS boot option menu:

Press L to boot from the LAN. You should then see the Serva menu if PXE booting was
successful:

Note that Windows XP will require the correct network driver to be added. See the
Serva website for instructions.
You can now install XP or Win7 to your virtual hard disk (if you wish).

Win7 logon pop-up. You may need to add the correct Win 7 network drivers if they
are not already in Win 7 WinPE.

Was this article helpful?

Yes No
Related Articles
Hirens Boot CD 15.2 USB 2014 � everything in one only CD 6 29300 1
Windows 10 Virtual CD DVD Drive -1 28700
Shuame in English!! 18 23626
Wannacry and other Ransomware Free Decrypt Tools Download 0 6051
Change Windows Administrator Name 0 4939
Windows 10 Disable Program Compatibility Assistant 0 34252
Leave A Comment?
Your Comment

Name

Email
Website

Forums
Networking
General
Compatibility
Customization and Gaming
Security