SCCM: PXE-T01: File not found and PXE:E3B: TFTP Error- File not found Errors

26 Feb

I’ve been testing SCCM since November and 4 times I’ve ran into the following problem. While trying to PXE boot the new machine I receive the following errors

PXE-T01: File not found
PXE-E3B: TFTP Error – File Not Found

I don’t know what happens and how to reproduce the error but it happened to me 4 times. 2 times I’ve ended rebuilding the whole SCCM installation.
When it happened the third time I found a solution on MS SCCM Technet forums:

1. Remove the SMS PXE role. Look at the PXESetup.log file to verify that the uninstall is complete and successful.
2. Uninstall the WDS server.
3. Reboot the machine.
4. Re-install the WDS server, but “do not configure it”. Do nothing at all other than installing WDS.
5. Add the SMS PXE role. Look at the PXESetup.log file to verify that the installation is complete and successful.
6. Add the boot images to the SMS PXE DP share. Look at the distmgr.log file to verify that the replication of the boot image to the DP is complete and successful.
7. Try booting a PXE client
.

Unfortunately the above solution did not worked the fourth time.
After looking through the logs and installation files I’ve found that c:\RemoteInstall\SMSBoot contains folders ia64, x64, x86 which were empty. I had a rough idea what should be in those folders. The first place I’ve looked at was boot.wim files.
Open SCCM console then go to Site database>Computer Management>Operating System deployment>Boot Images
Right click on image and choose properties
boot_sccm1

Select Data Source Tab. There you will see the image path.
boot_sccm2

Once you know the location you have to mount the image. You will need both image x86 and x64. Copy the image files to a folder(I’ve copied to the root) and rename them. I have renamed them to boot_64.wim and boot_x86.wim

To mount the image you need imagex which is a part of WAIK and WAIK is installed with SCCM.
Open Windows explorer on your SCCM server and go to C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools in there you will find 6 folders

Now you have to open the folder depending on your OS. So if you are running SCCM on x86 you open x86 folder. If its 64 bit then open amd64. For Itanium open ia64.
boot_sccm3

Now right click on file named wimfltr.inf and choose Install. This will install WIM filter.
boot_sccm4

Create a new folder it will be used to as a mounting point. I’ve created WIM_Mount
boot_sccm5

Open Command prompt and mount the image to do that you need to provided image file and image number and mounting point. The syntax would look like this:
imagex /mount ImageFileName.wim ImageNumber ImageMountingPoint

Note: This will mount image as read-only. If you need to modify image then change mount to mountrw but we are not going to need this.

Again you have to use the imagex file depending on the the OS that you are running(x86, x64, ia64).

So in my case the string looks like this:
“C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\amd64\imagex.exe” /mount c:\boot_64.wim 1 c:\wim_mount
boot_sccm6

Once the image is mounted, open mounting point and there you should see folders.
boot_sccm7

In the mounting point browse to Windows\Boot\PXE
boot_sccm8

Copy the content of the folder to c:\RemoteInstall\SMSBoot x86, x64 folder depending what boot image you have mounted. In my case I’ve mounted x64 boot image so I’ve copied everything to c:\RemoteInstall\SMSBoot\x64
boot_sccm9

Unmount the image:
“C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\amd64\imagex.exe” /unmount c:\wim_mount
boot_sccm10

Now mount the other boot image and copy the files to the other folder. Try PXE boot you machine and it should work.
That’s it.

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31 Responses

  1. Andreas says:

    Hello,
    i’ve got the same problem and fixed it like you’ve described.
    Now I have the problem that nothing happens after PE Boot. The Screen is black and after about three minutes the client reboots. Before I advertised a Task Sequence to the collection (where the client are a member) and make it available for PXE Boot.
    What can I do now?

  2. Anders Keis Hansen says:

    Thx a lot, it really helped me 🙂 and saved me a reinstall, worked like a charm.

  3. Andrius says:

    Glad to here it worked.
    Andreas in your case the work arround has worked but the problem you are having is with PE. It might be the drivers issue in PE.

  4. Ram says:

    If you add an additional distribution point (pointing to PXEService), that should work like a charm. Of course you need to import a bare metal computer into SCCM

  5. Gopi says:

    Hi,

    I did try the process above, and the files did start loading. But after the files loaded, i got an error in command prompt itself, saying “Unexpected error: A recent change in your hardware or software has caused this error”. Any suggestions as to what i should do.

  6. Andrius says:

    Hi Gopi,
    Have not seen this error before in SCCM, but Google points that it might be a media problem.

  7. Carl says:

    Fantastic! Mounting and manually copying the PXE boot files works…. can anybody tell me WHY this happens though?? the files were there last week and gone this week! eek

  8. aurimas says:

    do i need to start wds service because it doesnt start

  9. Andrius says:

    Carl,
    I think you should ask Microsoft.

  10. Andrius says:

    Hi aurimas,
    WDS must start when system boots. It will not start if you have DHCP server running on the same box.

  11. Raphael says:

    When I try to mount the image, imagex says: “The image file C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\ia64\imagex.exe is valid, but is for a machine type other than the current machine”. The machine works with an Intel Xeon CPU 5130, 2.00 GHz, 2.00 GHz and is a 64-bit System. What can I do that it works?

  12. Andrius says:

    Hi Raphael,
    You are using ia64 imagex.exe. This is used when you are running Itanium version of Windows. I think in your case you are not running Itanium version of OS. So you need to use the imagex that is located in “c:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\amd64”

  13. sanjee rauniyar says:

    as it mention to “Now mount the other boot image and copy the files to the other folder. Try PXE boot you machine and it should work”

    what will be the default file and default folder to mount. ?

  14. Andrius says:

    Hi sanjee rauniyar,
    the other file is boot_x86.wim and the folder you need to copy files to is c:\RemoteInstall\SMSBoot\x86

  15. John W. says:

    Andrius –

    Thanks for sharing first off, this has helped me resolve the same issue. Now when I PXE boot it works, but I get a “Pending Request ID: 98 Contacting Server: IP of my SCCM server” and it doesn’t continue with the OSD. Any suggestions?

    Thanks in advance.

    Cheers,
    John

  16. Andrius says:

    Hi John,
    The error id does not provide enough information. Do you have both boot images x86 an x64? Most of the new hardware uses 64bit image. Also take a look at smspxe.log as this would provide more information. You can send it to me by using ‘Contact Me’ at the top of the screen. I will take quick look.

  17. cwxwwwxwwxwx says:

    well, hi admin adn people nice forum indeed. how’s life? hope it’s introduce branch 😉

  18. Adam says:

    Hey this worked for me as well. Thanks.

    After the first deployment it ended up deleting the files again. Does anyone know why this happens?

    Anyway I have now just copied the files to another location. So if it happens again I will just copy them right back to the correct location.

  19. Kjetil says:

    Had the same problem, but solved it with a diffrent soulution.

    Emptyed c:\windows\temp – removed and added the PXE distribution points for WinPE and volila the files got back! 🙂

  20. videal says:

    I did as you suggested. the WDS is not configured. I have to configure it manually?
    Note: on the wds server is also the role dhcp.
    thanks

  21. Ksrinivasulu says:

    Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem

    1. Insert your Windows installation disc and restart your computer.
    2. Choose your language settings, and then click “Next.”
    3. Click “Repair your computer.”

    If you do not have this disc, contact your system administrator or computer manufacturer for assistance.

    File : \Windows\system32\boot\win load.exe

    Status: 0xc0000001

    Info: The selected entry could not be loaded because the application is missing or corrupt.

    I am getting this error recently …Before it is working Fine ..Please help me for this issue.

  22. Ksrinivasulu says:

    Hi,

    We have 1 site server and 7 Distribution points ..WDS services are startup and running

  23. Ksrinivasulu says:

    Can any one provide total Documentation for setup OS deployment from SCCM

  24. Erin says:

    I am having issues getting the ia64 boot image into SCCM. When I try to import the WinPE image form the boot.wim file in the Windows 2008 IA CD it errors out. All of my ia64 folders are empty.

    When I PXE boot a ia64 machine I get the file not found error.

    Has anyone seen this before?

  25. Bruno says:

    Hey Andrius,

    I’m doing everything just like u are. My question is should i change the boot.wim file on my task sequence to the one i mounted which was bootx86.wim ? or should I leave my task sequence with the regular boot.wim ?

  26. Syed says:

    Hi,

    I dont have the wimfltr.inf file in my X86 folder to install.am using sccm sp2.

    can u tel me how do i solve this?

    Thanks in advance.

  27. If you are missing files under the SMSBOOT folder:
    That’s the reason you are unable to boot in the PXE Boot.

    Try the follwoing simple steps:
    – Stop the WDS service
    – Under the C:\Windows\TEMP directory rename the PXEBootfile to PXEBootfileold
    – Then restart the WDS and see if that works for you !!!

    🙂

  28. Tati says:

    Hi Paul!

    Great! YOUR SOLUTION YOU SAVED OUR LIFES 😉

  29. Ted says:

    Paul,
    You have saved my day.
    Your solution is amazing.

    Thanks,
    Ted

  30. Tom says:

    Thank you very much, that finally fixed issues I was trying to resolve for days!!

  31. Ken says:

    Year 2016 and this still is still Golden. I am so thankful that I stumbled on to your site. Google is my friend! I have been troubleshooting why I couldn’t get my machines to PXE Boot for the last 3 days. Your fix is the ONLY one that has worked. Thank you my friend!

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