Hello

I have Windows 8.1 Enterprise image failing at the end of the PE phase from a WDS Server. Ive searching through every related post but nothing solves the issue. My scenario is similar to this one (http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/7ce4c49d-e8a4-460a-ae17-240daaf5f50e/deploying-a-win7-image-via-wds-fails-with-offlineservicing-error?forum=w7itproinstall), but with Windows 8.1 Enterprise instead.

Basically, I have sysprepped Windows 8.1 and capture the image successfully without any problem. Then, Ive uploaded the image to my WDS without any unattend xml file, but when trying to install it I get the following error message after completing the "Expanding Windows Files" phase:

• Windows could not apply unattend settings during pass [offlineServicing]

Ive used the official image release, plus the only one partition disk is formatted before the installation. Every configuration seems to be set correctly. I wonder if there is any particular issue related to Windows 8.1. 

Ive already done this procedure with many other OS images and Ive never got this error message.

Furthermore, I also tried to perform the installation with an empty unattend answer file attached to the deployed image, but the error still appears.

I wonder if the Win8.1 image needs a proper configuration of the unattend answer file, specially on the Pass 2 of OfflineServicing. Unfortunately I dont know how to configure it. I would like to keep the credentials and partition configuration be set manually.

Thank you for any help you can give me.

You will need to look at the error logs on the client. You can find them in C:\windows\panther.

Hi,

Please make sure that the unattend mode is uncheck under Properties of the image you would like to deploy in WDS.

I also would like to know whether you use DISM to apply some updates and drivers packages in your image. If yes, please remove these packages and try to deploy again.

Please find and check log files for WDS and client computer by referring following article:

How to enable logging in Windows Deployment Services (WDS) in Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, and in Windows Server 2012

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936625

These logs may help you to address the main issue.

Keep post.

I am facing the error at installation phase. Therfore, C: volume is still not available.

Anyway, I looked for the X:\Windows\panther directory in the client machine, but there is no panther folder (I've already configured WDS Server to enable logging on client machines).

If C: is not available, then it would have failed sooner. The OS volume not being available would indicate that Setup was unable to see/format the disk.

If at a time, using Setup based installation, you receive an error message you can press SHIFT+F10 to access the command prompt. You would then be able to view the OS volume and find the logs.

See here for appropriate log file locations:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927521

Hello, thanks for the replay but I didn't found any relevant log file on the client machine.

Unattend mode is unchecked, and I haven't used DISM at all when creating the image. I haven't also opened nor updated any metroApp (although if this were the case, it would raise an issue on sysprep phase).

• X:\Windows\panther directory does not exists; (C: volume is not available at installation phase)
• X:\Windows\diagerr.xml doesn't have any relevant information (it defines some AtrributeType tags with a number in a xml format but it has no content on any tag.)
• X:\windows\tracing\ folder is empty;
• X:\windows\Logs & \Logs\CBS folders are empty;

I've checked all the volume and I couldn't find any relevant log which shows an error on the instalation.

In addition, I tried to look into WDS server, but the Enable Log property that the article refers for Windows Server 2012 (WDS is installed in a Windows Server 2012), is not shown at the EventViewer - Deployment-Services-Diagnostics section. Plus, I search the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\WDSMGMT entry in order to enable it, but it does not exist.

WDS worked and is working without any issue regardless this Windows 8.1 image. I don't think it has a somthing to do with its configuration.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Excuse me if I didn't make myself clear. What I mean was that there are no files available on C volume. After I get the error and open a command prompt with SHIFT+F10, I am able to navigate C volume but after executing DIR command it throws a message of "Drive C is system reserved. Directory of C:\ File not found.".

I seached for \panther folder everywhere in X: volume (every path describe in the article and some more) but I couldn't find it.

I found however the setupapi.dev.log file and it details the following errors, although the EXIT STATUS is SUCCESS at the end of the file:

• Loading module "X:\Windows\System32\wlaninst.dll" failed. Error 126: The specified module could not be found.
• Error 126 loading COInstaller (wlaninst.dll, WLanDeviceClassCoInstaller), the specified module could not be found.

• Loading module "X:\Windows\System32\wwaninst.dll" failed. Error 126: The specified module could not be found.
• Error 126 loading COInstaller (wlaninst.dll, WWanDeviceClassCoInstaller), the specified module could not be found.

• No CoInstallers found.

Thank you for any solution you can give me.

If C is the System Reserved, then your OS would be on another letter that isn't C or X. Maybe it is D? Offline Servicing errors won't be logged to the ramdisk.

I got the same issue when I tried to install Windows 2012 R2 and I re-added the boot image from 2012 R2 ISO - it fixed the issue as I had Windows 8 boot image previously.

• Edited by Karan.T Friday, November 22, 2013 9:57 PM
• Marked as answer by Kate LiMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Monday, November 25, 2013 2:33 AM
• Unmarked as answer by GOstrowsky Friday, November 29, 2013 2:52 PM

Im afraid I didn't mark this post as answered. I barely understand the solution you are providing me. Are you saying that I should deploy the .wim file from the Windows 8.1 ISO image into WDS instead of sysprepping as I was doing?

For the record, I just finished configuring WDS into a Windows Server 2012R2 but the Windows 8.1 deployed image keeps trhowing me the same error ("[offlineServicing]").

I will try to add the install.wim image from the Windows 8.1 ISO file to WDS and reply with the results.

Thank you very much for all the suggestions!

UPDATE: The install.wim image copied from the Windows8.1 ISO image didn't work. It throws the same offlineServicing error. 

I am out of options. Log files haven't appeared on any installation attempt.

• Edited by GOstrowsky Friday, November 29, 2013 3:42 PM

Upload and install the boot.wim from your Windows 8.1 Enterprise media and import it into your WDS boot images.  Initially, I had similar errors.  Once I done this, however, all worked perfectly.  The Windows 8.1 boot image will successfully install Windows 8.1, Windows 8, and Windows 7 (along with all of the server variants) WDS client images.

• Marked as answer by GOstrowsky Monday, December 02, 2013 1:43 PM

Thank you! Installation of Windows 8.1 went successful without any issues. It's getting started right now.

So apparently, the problem I was facing was due to the Boot image I was using, which seemed to became deprecated for Windows 8.1 OS - previous Boot OS Image was boot-w8-x64 for Windows 8.

Problem solved! Thanks a lot!

thanks DarienHawk67

• Edited by Poul G 2 hours 31 minutes ago

thanks DarienHawk67

• Edited by Poul G Friday, January 24, 2014 9:16 AM