谈论一件复杂的事情：通过网络安装 Windows。即使通过USB 驱动器(USB drive)安装它也更简单。但是，这并不意味着它不能完成。使用名为Serva的免费工具和一点时间和精力(time and attention)，任何人都可以设置他/她的网络环境(network environment)，以便从一台网络计算机轻松执行(network computer)Windows安装。这是整个过程的工作原理！
非常重要的先决条件
有很多事情你需要事先准备好，才能让一切顺利进行。请(Please)不要跳过任何这些元素，否则失败的可能性会很高：
You need to download and extract a little tool named Serva. Download the appropriate version for your operating system (32-bit or 64-bit). You will notice that there are a "Non-Supporter" version and a "Supporter" version. The free one is the "Non-Supporter" version. It includes a small annoyance when you start it, plus a few limitations that won't impact you unless you are a network admin or IT professional who needs to install lots of operating systems on many network computers. If you are such a professional, go ahead and purchase the "Supporter" version which costs a fair $29.99.
"D:SERVA"
You need the original installation files for the operating system(s) you want to install over the network. Have them at hand as you will need to copy them to a special folder, as they are, without modifications.
For the computers where you are about to install Windows over the network, identify their exact network card model(s). Then, download the appropriate drivers for the Windows version you are about to install on them. By default, Windows setup programs support a limited number of network cards. If your system is rather new, then it is very likely that it won't support its network card and the installation procedure will fail.
Every time you run Serva, run it as administrator. This way it has the required permissions to create files, save the settings you make, etc.
When you run Serva, make sure that it is not blocked by your firewall. The application must be set as allowed on the computer where it runs, otherwise it won't be able to transfer anything over the network.
The computer where the installation files are stored and the one where you want to install Windows must be part of the same network. This means that you have a router on your home network, managing network IP addresses and network traffic. If not, then you should directly connect the two computers with a crossover cable.
第 1 步(Step 1)-运行 Serva 并进行(Run Serva & Make)初始配置(Initial Configuration)
以管理员身份运行Serva(Run Serva)。免费版会要求您等待 7 秒才能使用。等待结束后，单击“谢谢，不是今天”("Thanks, not today")。
它的窗口现在打开了。单击设置(Settings)。
首先，转到DHCP选项卡。如果您的计算机属于同一网络，并且IP 地址(IP Addresses)的管理由您的路由器负责，请启用以下设置：proxyDHCP和BINL。
BINL是一个特殊的附加组件，充当DHCP 协议(DHCP protocol)扩展，Serva在其准备和维护过程(preparation and maintenance procedures)中使用它。proxyDHCP是一个特殊设置，它告诉Serva它不需要充当DCHP 服务器(DCHP server)来为连接到它的计算机提供 IP 地址。
尽管Serva的开发人员不建议启用此设置，但我们在测试中了解到它有助于消除一些问题。因此，还要启用“将(Therefore)DHCP 绑定到此地址”("Bind DHCP to this address")框并保留提供的默认IP 地址(IP address)。
无需修改此选项卡中的其他设置。接下来(Next)，转到TFTP选项卡。
TFTP 来自Trivial File Transfer Protocol，它是Serva用来通过网络传输文件的协议。这个协议也需要一些配置。
首先，选中TFTP Server(TFTP Server)附近的复选框。然后，您需要指定所谓的“根”目录。这是您计划存储Windows 安装(Windows installation)文件的目录。此文件夹可以是您提取Serva的同一文件夹，也可以是新文件夹。请记住，您应该使用短路径并避免在目录名称(directory name)或其路径中使用空格和特殊字符（*、&、" 等） 。
为了帮助消除某些网络环境中的问题，您可能还需要选中“将TFTP 绑定到此地址”("Bind TFTP to this address")附近的框，并保持默认IP 地址(IP address)不变。
按OK保存您的设置。然后关闭Serva并重新启动它（以管理员身份）。在重新启动期间，它将在您指定的根文件夹中创建一个特殊的(root folder)文件夹结构。(folder structure)
在(Amongst)这些文件夹中，您必须找到一个名为WIA_WDS和另一个名为WIA_RIS的文件夹。如果在您指定的根文件夹(root folder)中找不到它们，则Serva的配置有问题。如果一切顺利，请继续阅读本文的下一部分。
第 2 步(Step 2)- 复制Windows 安装文件(Windows Installation Files)
转到您指定的根文件夹。(root folder)在这里，您需要照原样复制Windows 安装(Windows installation)文件，而无需您进行任何修改。
如果要安装旧版本的Windows ，例如Windows XP 或 Windows(Windows XP or Windows) 2000，则需要将这些文件复制到WIA_RIS文件夹中。由于这些操作系统非常老旧，我们不建议使用它们，因此我们不会为它们提供具体说明。
如果您计划安装Windows Vista、Windows 7 或Windows 8，请打开WIA_WDS文件夹。在那里，创建一个根据您要复制的Windows 版本命名的新文件夹。(Windows version)使用(Use)简单的文件夹名称，没有空格或特殊字符。例如，我使用了 Windows_7(Windows_7)。
(Create)使用Serva(Serva)创建单独的文件夹，为您计划通过网络安装的所有Windows版本使用不同的名称。
在该文件夹中，复制并粘贴(copy and paste)要通过网络安装的Windows 版本(Windows version)的所有安装文件。只需(Simply)转到安装光盘(installation disc)的根目录，然后复制其整个文件和文件夹结构(file and folder structure)。
第 3 步 - 启动伺服
(Start Serva)再次以管理员身份启动 Serva ，等待(administrator and wait)它检测到您添加的安装文件。它将创建其特殊的文件夹结构(folder structure)，需要通过网络分发安装文件。
然后，关闭Serva并进行下一步。
第 4 步(Step 4)- 复制网卡驱动(Network Card Driver)程序
接下来，您需要为要安装Windows的计算机复制(Windows)网卡(network card)驱动程序。
转到您复制安装文件的文件夹。就我而言，它是"D:serva"（根目录和 Serva 安装文件夹(root and Serva installation folder)），然后是"WIA_WDSWindows_7"。
在那里，转到"$OEM$$1DriversNIC"。如果找不到这些文件夹，请自行创建。
然后，提取网卡(network card)驱动程序并将它们放入其中。如果您的驱动程序以 setup.exe 或自解压存档的形式出现，请先将其解压缩。确保驱动程序的“.inf”和“.cat”文件直接存储在NIC 文件夹(NIC folder)中。
第 5 步(Step 5)-与网络共享WIA_WDS 文件夹(WIA_WDS Folder)
为了使Serva能够通过网络分发Windows 安装(Windows installation)文件，它们需要与网络共享，以便其他计算机可以访问它们。不幸的是，Serva要求您使用非常特定的共享名称来共享(share name)WIA_WDS文件夹（而不是其子文件夹或其他文件夹） ：WIA_WDS_SHARE。使用任何其他共享名称(share name)意味着安装过程(installation procedure)可能会失败。
要使用我们提到的名称共享此文件夹，您首先需要在Windows中启用高级共享，然后共享它。以下是Windows中高级共享的工作方式： 使用(Windows)高级共享(Advanced Sharing)共享库或文件夹。
您必须授予用户Everyone只读权限。您还可以与特定用户帐户共享此文件夹，您稍后将在网络安装过程中(network installation process)使用其登录详细信息。同样(Again)，只读权限就足够了。
第 6 步 - 启动伺服
(Start Serva)使用管理员权限再次启动 Serva 。它将检测您添加的网络驱动程序并进行一些更改，以便在您在其他计算机上启动安装过程时正确分发驱动程序。(installation process)您现在可以让它保持打开状态并等待网络连接。
接下来，转到要安装Windows的计算机。
第 7 步(Step 7)- 在目标 PC(Target PC)上- 启用LAN 引导和(Lan Booting & Boot)从网络引导
转到要安装Windows的计算机并输入其BIOS。确保(Make)启用了网络启动。此设置可以命名为“从网络启动”("Boot from the network")或“从 PXE 启动”("Boot from PXE")。
然后，启动计算机并按所需的键以调出Boot Menu。在大多数计算机上，您需要按F12或F8，具体取决于BIOS 版本(BIOS version)。选择Network或PXE（同样，这取决于您计算机的BIOS），使用Serva从网络启动。
如果一切正常，您应该会看到类似于下图的屏幕，其中显示了计算机的MAC，并且网卡(network card)通过DHCP请求IP 地址(IP address)。
当计算机连接到网络时，Serva会加载并显示一个屏幕，其中包含可供安装的操作系统。选择你想要的，然后按ENTER。
安装文件被加载，并显示一个名为ServaPENet(ServaPENet)的小窗口。在此步骤中，Serva会安装您之前添加的网络驱动程序(network driver)，加载网络资源并连接到Windows 安装(Windows installation)文件夹。根据您共享WIA_WDS文件夹的方式，它会要求您提供用户名和密码(username and password)以访问它。输入您与之共享的用户帐户(user account)的详细信息并连接。
如果一切顺利，Windows 安装(Windows installation)过程现在就开始了。
第 8 步(Step 8)- 通过网络安装 Windows
接下来，像往常一样继续安装 Windows 。(Windows installation)如果您计划安装Windows 8，请查看此安装指南(installation guide)：如何在您的计算机上安装(Your Computer)Windows 8 RTM。
排除Serva问题
如果您不注意此过程中的所有步骤，有些事情可能会失败。以下是我们在尝试使用此工具时学到的一些东西：
If ServaPENet returns this error: "Failed No NIC/Driver, Aborting!", it means that you forgot to copy the network card drivers as instructed at Step 4. If you copied them and you still get the error, double check that you have the correct driver for the network card of the computer where you want to install Windows, for the Windows version you are about to install. Also, double check that you copied it to the correct folder. Then, restart Serva to make sure it detects the driver before the network installation procedure starts.
If, on the target computer, Serva is not able to load at all over the network, consider enabling the "Bind DHCP to this address" and "Bind TFTP to this address" settings in the DHCP and TFTP tabs.
One last piece of advice is to check the Serva logs. The messages shown there can help you troubleshoot different problems.
另一个很好的提示是每次更改任何设置以及每次将某些内容添加到其根文件夹时都重新启动(root folder)Serva。
由于我们不是该软件的开发人员，因此我们无法为其提供支持并帮助您解决您可能遇到的所有问题。如果我们的指南对您没有帮助，请仔细检查Serva的文档 - Serva PXE/BINL - AN01: Windows Install和高级配置指南 - TFTP 上的高级主题(Advanced Topics on TFTP)。
结论
正如您从本指南中看到的那样，使用Serva进行设置需要相当多的时间和精力(time and attention)。但是，这是通过网络安装任何现代版本Windows的最简单方法。它适用于家庭网络和中小型企业网络。
如果您知道通过网络安装Windows(Windows)的其他有用工具，请不要犹豫，使用下面的评论表分享它们。
How to Install Any Version of Windows from Other Network Computers
Τalk about a complex thing tо do: installing Windows over the network. Even installing it via a USB drive is simpler. However, this doeѕn't mean it cannot be done. Using а free tool nаmed Serva and a bit of time and attention, anyone can set up his/her network environment so that Windows installations are performed with ease, from one network computer. Here's how the whole process works!
VERY IMPORTANT Prerequisites
There are many things you need to prepare beforehand, so that everything works smoothly. Please don't skip any of these elements or the likelihood of failure will be high:
You need to download and extract a little tool named Serva. Download the appropriate version for your operating system (32-bit or 64-bit). You will notice that there are a "Non-Supporter" version and a "Supporter" version. The free one is the "Non-Supporter" version. It includes a small annoyance when you start it, plus a few limitations that won't impact you unless you are a network admin or IT professional who needs to install lots of operating systems on many network computers. If you are such a professional, go ahead and purchase the "Supporter" version which costs a fair $29.99.
"D:SERVA"
You need the original installation files for the operating system(s) you want to install over the network. Have them at hand as you will need to copy them to a special folder, as they are, without modifications.
For the computers where you are about to install Windows over the network, identify their exact network card model(s). Then, download the appropriate drivers for the Windows version you are about to install on them. By default, Windows setup programs support a limited number of network cards. If your system is rather new, then it is very likely that it won't support its network card and the installation procedure will fail.
Every time you run Serva, run it as administrator. This way it has the required permissions to create files, save the settings you make, etc.
When you run Serva, make sure that it is not blocked by your firewall. The application must be set as allowed on the computer where it runs, otherwise it won't be able to transfer anything over the network.
The computer where the installation files are stored and the one where you want to install Windows must be part of the same network. This means that you have a router on your home network, managing network IP addresses and network traffic. If not, then you should directly connect the two computers with a crossover cable.
Step 1 - Run Serva & Make Its Initial Configuration
Run Serva as administrator. The free version will ask you to wait for 7 seconds before you can use it. Once the wait is over, click "Thanks, not today".
Its window is now open. Click Settings.
First, go to the DHCP tab. If your computers are part of the same network and the management of IP Addresses is taken care of by your router, enable these settings: proxyDHCP and BINL.
BINL is a special add-on that acts as a DHCP protocol extension and it is used by Serva during its preparation and maintenance procedures. proxyDHCP is a special setting that tells Serva that it doesn't need to act as a DCHP server in order to provide IP addresses to the computers connecting to it.
Even though Serva's developers don't recommending enabling this setting, we have learned in our testing that it helps eliminate some issues. Therefore, also enable the box which says "Bind DHCP to this address" and leave the default IP address that is provided.
There is no need to modify other settings in this tab. Next, go to the TFTP tab.
TFTP comes from Trivial File Transfer Protocol and it is the protocol used by Serva to transfer files over the network. This protocol needs a bit of configuration as well.
First, check the box near TFTP Server. Then, you need to specify the so called "root" directory. This is the directory where you plan to store the Windows installation files. This folder can be the same folder where you extracted Serva or a new one. Keep in mind that you should use short paths and avoid using spaces and special characters (*, &, ", etc) in the directory name or its path.
To help eliminate problems in some networking environments, you might want to also check the box near "Bind TFTP to this address" and leave the default IP address unchanged.
Press OK to save your settings. Then close Serva and start it again (as administrator). During the restart, it will create a special folder structure in the root folder you specified.
Amongst those folders, you must find one named WIA_WDS and another named WIA_RIS. If they are not found inside the root folder you specified, something went wrong with Serva's configuration. If all is well, go ahead and read the next section in this article.
Step 2 - Copy the Windows Installation Files
Go to the root folder you specified. Here, you need to copy the Windows installation files, as they are, without any modifications from your side.
If you want to install older versions of Windows like Windows XP or Windows 2000, you need to copy those files in the WIA_RIS folder. Since these operating systems are very old and we don't recommend using them, we won't provide specific instructions for them.
If you plan to install Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8, then open the WIA_WDS folder. There, create a new folder named according to the Windows version you want to copy. Use simple folder names, with no spaces or special characters. For example, I used Windows_7.
Create separate folders, with different names for all the Windows versions you plan to install over the network, using Serva.
Inside that folder, copy and paste all the installation files for the Windows version you want to install over the network. Simply go to the root of the installation disc, and copy its entire file and folder structure.
Step 3 - Start Serva
Start Serva again, as administrator and wait for it to detect the installation files you added. It will create its special folder structure, required to distribute the installation files over the network.
Then, close Serva and go to the next step.
Step 4 - Copy the Network Card Driver(s)
Next, you need to copy the network card drivers for the computer(s) on which you want to install Windows.
Go the folder where you copied the installation files. In my case it was "D:serva" (both the root and Serva installation folder), followed by "WIA_WDSWindows_7".
There, go to "$OEM$$1DriversNIC". If you can't find these folders, create them yourself.
Then, extract the network card drivers and place them inside. If your drivers come as a setup.exe or as a self-extractable archive, extract it first. Make sure the driver's ".inf" and ".cat" files are stored directly in the NIC folder.
Step 5 - Share WIA_WDS Folder with the Network
In order for Serva to distribute the Windows installation files over the network, they need to be shared with the network, so that other computers can access them. Unfortunately, Serva requires you to share the WIA_WDS folder (and not its subfolders or other folders) using a very specific share name: WIA_WDS_SHARE. Using any other share name means that the installation procedure is likely to fail.
To share this folder with the name we mentioned, you first need to enable advanced sharing in Windows and then share it. Here's how advanced sharing works in Windows: Share Libraries or Folders Using Advanced Sharing.
You must give the user Everyone read-only permissions. You can also share this folder with specific user accounts, whose login details you will use later on, during the network installation process. Again, read-only permissions are enough.
Step 6 - Start Serva
Start Serva again, using administrator permissions. It will detect the network drivers you added and make a few changes, so that the drivers are distributed correctly when you launch the installation process on other computers. You can now leave it open and waiting for network connections.
Next, go to the computer(s) where you want to install Windows.
Step 7 - On the Target PC - Enable Lan Booting & Boot from the Network
Go to the computer where you want to install Windows and enter its BIOS. Make sure networking booting is enabled. This setting can be named "Boot from the network" or "Boot from PXE".
Then, start the computer and press the required key to bring up the Boot Menu. On most computers, you need to press F12 or F8, depending on the BIOS version. Select Network or PXE (again, this depends on your computer's BIOS), to boot from the network, using Serva.
If all is well, you should see a screen similar to the one below, where the computer's MAC is displayed and the network card requests an IP address via DHCP.
When the computer is connected to the network, Serva loads and displays a screen with the operating systems available for installation. Pick the one you want and press ENTER.
The installation files are loaded and a small window named ServaPENet is shown. At this step, Serva installs the network driver you added earlier, loads network resources and connects to the Windows installation folder. Depending on how you shared the WIA_WDS folder, it will ask you to provide a username and password to access it. Type the details of the user account you shared it with and connect.
If all went well, the Windows installation process is now started.
Step 8 - Install Windows Over the Network
Next, continue with the Windows installation, as usual. If you plan to install Windows 8, check this installation guide: How to Install Windows 8 RTM on Your Computer.
Troubleshooting Problems with Serva
If you don't pay attention to all the steps in this procedure, some things are likely to fail. Here are some things we learned while experimenting with this tool:
If ServaPENet returns this error: "Failed No NIC/Driver, Aborting!", it means that you forgot to copy the network card drivers as instructed at Step 4. If you copied them and you still get the error, double check that you have the correct driver for the network card of the computer where you want to install Windows, for the Windows version you are about to install. Also, double check that you copied it to the correct folder. Then, restart Serva to make sure it detects the driver before the network installation procedure starts.
If, on the target computer, Serva is not able to load at all over the network, consider enabling the "Bind DHCP to this address" and "Bind TFTP to this address" settings in the DHCP and TFTP tabs.
One last piece of advice is to check the Serva logs. The messages shown there can help you troubleshoot different problems.
Another good tip is to restart Serva every time you change any of its settings and every time you add something to its root folder.
Since we are not the developers of this software, we cannot provide support for it and help you with all the issues you might encounter. If our guide does not help you, then double check Serva's documentation - Serva PXE/BINL - AN01: Windows Install and advanced configuration guide - Advanced Topics on TFTP.
Conclusion
As you can see from this guide, setting things up with Serva requires quite a bit of time and attention. However, it is the simplest way of installing any modern version of Windows over the network. It works great both for home networks and small or medium sized business networks.
If you know other useful tools for installing Windows over the network, don't hesitate to share them using the comments form below.
