[gPXE] Windows 7 Install to iSCSI with gPXE

[Nick Couchman]

I'm attempting to do a Windows 7 install to my iSCSI volume with gPXE.  I've been through the instructions on the wiki - here's what I'm doing:

- Configure iSCSI volume with plenty of space - 20 GB - and export as target.  I can connect to the iSCSI volume just fine.
- I can't flash the option ROM on the network card built-in to the Dell Optiplex 160, so I have to load gPXE over PXE.  This works fine, and I've set up all of the necessary entries to prevent the loop.  So, the PXE stack contacts the TFTP server, loads gPXE, and gPXE grabs the DHCP address and the root-path, attempts to boot from iSCSI and fails.
- Boot continues, Windows 7 loads, I start through the install and then get to the screen where I select the install disk.  When I get here, I get the following error message:

This computer's hardware may not support booting to this disk. Ensure that the disk's controller is enabled in the computer's BIOS menu.

I've attempted to partition and format the disk, then restart setup, but this doesn't seem to help, either.  I've also gone into the command line and marked the first partition on the disk, as active - no luck there, either.  I'm guessing that Windows 7 sees the fact that the BIOS does not see this disk at all (since gPXE isn't actually burned into the ROM) and is refusing to install because the BIOS can't see it.  Anyone know of a way around this?  Will the WinPE method help with this, or is Windows 7 going to continue to refuse to install due to the fact that the BIOS doesn't see the disk as a bootable device?

Thanks,
Nick



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