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366444
September 6th, 2011 16:00
Dell drivers for use with Windows Deployment Services (WDS)
Hello,
I am planning on using WDS to deploy Windows 7/64 images to a range of Dell systems – primarily Latitude, OptiPlex, and Precision. I have used this method on a small number of Latitude E6520’s with good results – after some effort. It’s been a few months since I did this, but in that case I believe I downloaded individual drivers from the Dell site, installed them on an E6520, copied the resultant driver install folders to the WDS server and imported them into the WDS driver store to be available to whatever imaging operation might need them.
My first question is: Is it possible to download a complete driver bundle/package for a given Dell system such that the drivers don’t need to be downloaded piecemeal? I’ve seen traffic on the web about downloading from the Dell Enterprise Technology Center at the following link - which would seem to provide the solution. However, back when I was doing the initial deployment to a handful of E6520s I tried using drivers from this site but there seemed to be an issue with the drivers being unsigned.
Second Question: Can someone confirm for me whether all drivers from this site are signed?
Last Question: Does anyone who has used Microsoft WDS for image deployment to Dell systems have any recommendations regarding the handling of drivers?
Thank You
sidmvl
1 Message
0
September 8th, 2011 07:00
Hello,
I don't know of any other way than piecemeal download. As far as the second question goes I believe that depends on how old the drivers are. Now for the last question, there is a product out there that packages up all of the drivers for deployment. You can read more about it here, but essentially they take all the headache out of downloading drivers and sorting through a finding which driver for which machine it does it for you. The product name is SmartDeploy Enterprise and it works hand in hand with WDS. You can download it for a trial here.
Hope this helps.
dmagnant
20 Posts
0
September 12th, 2011 14:00
Sidmvl – thank you for your response. Not really wanting to go to involve another deployment product, if possible, I did the following;
After a bit more investigation I found the Dell driver CAB file for the Latitude E6520 on the standard drivers download page (under the Systems Mangement sub-category). I downloaded this CAB, extracted drivers using CABARC.exe and imported these into their own driver group in WDS. I configured the driver group with no filters, simply letting whatever PnP device that needs a driver look for one. I then disabled all other driver groups on the WDS server so that only these would be available.
I happened to have two fresh, out of the box, Latitude E6520’s on hand. I deleted the Dell Recovery partition and C: partition on one system, performed a PXE boot to the WDS server, and selected a generic Win 7/64 Enterprise install image. At the conclusion of the install, after stepping through the OOBE screens, I went to Device Manager and had a look. The good news is that there were no yellow bangs. For comparison I set that E6520 to the other unit (still factory fresh) to do a side by side Device Manager comparison.
What I found was this (looking at the newly imaged system relative to factory fresh install);
Display Adapters
- Intel HD Graphics Family (missing)
Sound, Video, and Game Controllers
- NVIDIA High Definition Audio (this is not present on factory install)
System Devices
- Second Generation Intel Core Processor Family PCI Express Controller – 0101 (missing)
- High Definition Audio Controller (has one extra of these)
- Intel 6 Series/C200 System Management Engine Interface – 1C3A (not present on factory install)
- Intel Management Engine Interface (missing)
- Xeon E3-1200/2nd Generation Intel Core Processor Family PCI Express Root Port – 0101 (not present on factory install)
I'm not sure how serious/significant these differences are, or, if they may in part be caused by version differences between the CAB file drivers and the factory installed drivers. If anyone has any thoughts/input on these differences I woudl be very interested to hear.
Also, why does the factory installed E6520 show, in the Device Manager, both an Intel and nVidia display adapter? Is the Intel adpater being used in some fashion for external VGA or docking station output?
Thank You
mjschug
4 Posts
0
July 25th, 2014 08:00
@DMAGNANT
I believe what you are looking for is the Dell Enterprise Cabs.
http://en.community.dell.com/techcenter/enterprise-client/w/wiki/2065.dell-driver-cab-files-for-enterprise-client-os-deployment.aspx
I believe that they are signed, but not 100% certain on all of them.