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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

In the mounting point browse to Windows\Boot\PXE

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

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

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.

26 Responses to “SCCM: PXE-T01: File not found and PXE:E3B: TFTP Error- File not found Errors”

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1 Andreas Mar 20th, 2008 at 07:38

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 Mar 27th, 2008 at 18:52

Thx a lot, it really helped me and saved me a reinstall, worked like a charm.
3 Andrius Apr 2nd, 2008 at 11:27

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 Apr 23rd, 2008 at 04:05

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 Apr 25th, 2008 at 03:52

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 Apr 25th, 2008 at 08:29

Hi Gopi,
Have not seen this error before in SCCM, but Google points that it might be a media problem.
7 Carl Aug 12th, 2008 at 07:08

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 Aug 21st, 2008 at 11:45

do i need to start wds service because it doesnt start
9 Andrius Sep 2nd, 2008 at 13:32

Carl,
I think you should ask Microsoft.
10 Andrius Sep 2nd, 2008 at 13:33

Hi aurimas,
WDS must start when system boots. It will not start if you have DHCP server running on the same box.
11 Raphael Sep 8th, 2008 at 07:03

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 Sep 8th, 2008 at 12:28

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 Sep 30th, 2008 at 01:17

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 Sep 30th, 2008 at 07:38

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. Oct 14th, 2008 at 14:15

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 Oct 14th, 2008 at 14:24

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 Dec 23rd, 2008 at 17:10

well, hi admin adn people nice forum indeed. how’s life? hope it’s introduce branch
18 Adam Feb 20th, 2009 at 20:35

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 Mar 9th, 2009 at 14:33

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 Apr 29th, 2009 at 18:48

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 Jul 15th, 2009 at 10:56

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 Jul 15th, 2009 at 11:03

Hi,

We have 1 site server and 7 Distribution points ..WDS services are startup and running
23 Ksrinivasulu Jul 15th, 2009 at 11:05

Can any one provide total Documentation for setup OS deployment from SCCM
24 Erin Jul 17th, 2009 at 03:27

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 Apr 29th, 2010 at 20:19

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 Jun 16th, 2010 at 02:49

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.