• Files needed:
  • smartdrv.exe
  • TFTPD Server
  • pxelinux.0
  • memdisk
• Download and unzip TFTD Server, create Folder “root”.
• Start TFTP Server
• Settings:

- Server Interface: Choose the right NIC
- DHCP Server:
Start Pool: 192.168.2.40
Size of pool: 4
Boot File: pxelinux.0
WINS/DNS Server: 192.168.2.1
Default Router: 192.168.2.1
Mask: 255.255.255.0
->> Press Save
- Under "Seetings"
Base Directory to the created "root" Folder
TFTP Security "None"
PXE Compatibility
->> Press OK

• Copy memdisk, menu.c32, pxelinux.0, bartdisk.IMA to the root Folder
• create pxelinux.cfg Folder within root
• create File with Name “default” (no .txt or such!) with following stuff inside:

DEFAULT menu.c32
TIMEOUT 300
ALLOWOPTIONS 0
PROMPT 0
MENU TITLE PXE Boot System
LABEL BartBoot
MENU LABEL ^Bart Network Disk
kernel memdisk
append initrd=bartdisk.IMA
LABEL BootNormal
MENU LABEL ^Boot Normal
LOCALBOOT  0

• Create an SMB Share in an Folder of your Choice. I took the Folder D:\PXE and did share that as pxe
• Create Subfolder for every Windows Version you want to share. I created the subfolder tabxpsp3
• Copy the i386 Folder from the Windows CD to that Folder
• Do also copy the smartdrv.exe into the i386 in your pxe/subfolder/i386
• Start tftpd
• Connect the Laptop to the Network, choose PXE / NIC as Bootmedia in the BIOS.
• Let that thing boot to PXE and go through everything with just default settings.
• Fidsk: Delete All, than Create Primary Partition with all Space (minus 1000 MB), create extended Partition with the space left - and logical Partition in that
• Reboot
• This time, only accept normal default settings until an “Idetification Settings” comes up. Fill out and enable lmhosts option
• In the empty pad enter IP Adress of your SMB Server TAB Name of the Server. For example: 192.168.2.39 ATOM, and press ALT+X to save and leave
• Format: format c: and format d:
• net use x: \atom\pxe
• cd tabxpsp3\i386
• smartdrv
• winnt (/T D:)

Orginal taken from: http://www.lockstockmods.net/2008/04/26/easy-way-to-pxe-boot-windows/

Problem solutions if you can’t connect to the SMB Share via net use:

• Do install Netbios Protocol on your SMB Server NIC and restart
• Make sure your Servers Name ain’t longer than 8 characters
• As well as the Name of your share