Augusto Alvarez

Check also:

Windows Embedded Standard 2009 Step-by-Step Deployment – Part II

Windows Embedded Standard 2009 Step-by-Step Deployment – Part III

I’ve been reviewing, for a while now, the opportunities that Embedded operating systems has to offer. If you take a look to previous posts of mine that I’ve prepared about XP Embedded you’ll find a quick introduction to the platform + the steps for building, preparing and deploying XP Embedded images in your environment, including deploying it on diskless devices (remote boot):

Preparing and Installing Windows XP Embedded Images – Part I: Setting up the Environment

Preparing and Installing Windows XP Embedded Images – Part II: Building Images

Preparing and Installing Windows XP Embedded Images – Part III: Using Remote Boot

Windows Embedded 2009 Standard Overview

Windows Embedded 2009 Standard is the newest version of the Embedded operating systems released by Microsoft, succeeding Windows XP Embedded. These operating systems are oriented to special devices or computers, where you need a secure, small, reliable and manageable OS. WES 2009 contains the same kernel as Windows XP with a few improvements:

• Windows XP kernel with SP3 included
• Internet Explorer 7
• Windows Media Player 11
• Silverlight 1.0
• .Net Framework 3.5 (including also 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0).
• IPv6 support

For more information about Windows Embedded Standard 2009 check the following links:

- Windows Embedded Standard 2009 Home
- [PDF] Windows Embedded Standard 2009 Overview
- [PDF] Windows Embedded Standard 2009 Datasheet
- [PDF] Windows Embedded Kiosk Solutions
- Download Windows Embedded Standard 2009 Trial

So, after a quick review, let’s start with the step-by-step guide for building and deploying Windows Embedded 2009 Standard images, including the remote boot process.

Requirements

We will consider installing all the WES roles within the same machine, including the DHCP server (necessary for the remote boot environment).

Valid Operating Systems

- Windows XP Pro SP2 or higher
- Windows Server 2003 SP1 or higher
- Windows Vista
- Windows Server 2008

Roles

- DHCP Server available on the network
On our case we’ll have this role on the same machine.

 

Valid Database Engines

- SQL Server 2005 SP1 or higher
- SQL Server 2005 Express Edition SP1 or higher *
- SQL Server 2008
- SQL Server 2008 Express Edition

* : Windows Embedded Standard 2009 installation media already includes the SQL Server 2005 Express Edition SP2.

 

 

 

DHCP Configuration

Remember that this role and configuration it’s used only to achieve remote boot on diskless devices. It’s to necessary if that’s not your environment.

The same procedure used for XP Embedded is needed. Check this link for more information.

C:\WINDOWS\system32>netsh
netsh>dhcp
netsh dhcp>server \\<server_machine_name>
netsh dhcp>add optiondef 60 PXEClient String 0 comment=PXE support
netsh dhcp>set optionvalue 60 STRING PXEClient 

To verify the correct configuration, an option should be added and set on your DHCP server. You can check it on the DHCP Snap-In > Server Options.

Windows Embedded 2009 Standard Installation Step-by-Step

Well the process is quite simple, so you should not have any problem following it. But you’ll probably find a small issue within the procedure, let’s take a look:

1. Using the WES 2009 media, start the wizard from the autorun menu.

2. Insert the Product Key that you were given when you registered for the download.

3. Select “Custom” installation.

4. On the components to be installed, check also the entire feature for “Remote Boot Service”.

5. For the TFTP server, select “On this machine”.

6. Accept the default directory and click on “Next”.

7. Now select the SQL Server where the DB should be stored. I’m selecting it the local SQL Server Express instance already installed. Click on “Next”.

8. On the summary click on “Install”.

Here’s where you should find a problem. In the middle of the installation process this message will appear:

Windows Embedded Standard Error: WeUpdate. 
D:\Setup\WMP11.exe failed. Return value = 0×40

(Also the message could appear using other components besides WMP11, Windows Media Player).

The log file should have this message:

Windows XP Embedded Service Pack 3 Installer
Cannot connect to the database – please check the database.
Setup cannot continue.
No objects or files were imported to the database (local)\SQLEXPRESS.
WEUpdate Exiting with return code: 64
*** End of Run ***  

Solution

Wait 5-10 minutes and click on “Retry”.

You don’t believe it? Check this MSDN article about it. It’s related about how the installer access and closes the database during the installation process.

After that the installation should complete normally and you can access Windows Embedded 2009 Standard from the Start Menu.

We’ll review the rest of the process on the following posts.

Check also:

Windows Embedded Standard 2009 Step-by-Step Deployment – Part II

Windows Embedded Standard 2009 Step-by-Step Deployment – Part III

Cheers!