How to change the Default RemoteInstall folder for Windows Deployment Services

While reconfiguring my WDS servers storage, I inadvertently changed a drive letter that contained my RemoteInstall folder. This prevented the WDS service from starting. Below is the event log error that I received:

Log Name: Application

Source: ESENT

Date: 6/23/2011 12:07:13 PM

Event ID: 494

Task Category: Logging/Recovery

Level: Error

Keywords: Classic

User: N/A

Computer:

Description: svchost (1116) DDP: Database recovery failed with error -1216 because it encountered references to a database, I:\RemoteInstall\Stores\Drivers\Metadata\DdpDb.mdb', which is no longer present. The database was not brought to a Clean Shutdown state before it was removed (or possibly moved or renamed). The database engine will not permit recovery to complete for this instance until the missing database is re-instated. If the database is truly no longer available and no longer required, procedures for recovering from this error are available in the Microsoft Knowledge Base or by following the "more information" link at the bottom of this message. Event Xml: 494 2 3 0x80000000000000 123686 Application 2008Server.MCTExpert.com svchost 1116 DDP: -1216 I:\RemoteInstall\Stores\Drivers\Metadata\DdpDb.mdb

The new drive letter is now J:. To fix this I opened a command prompt with administrative credentials and executed the following commands.

wdsutil /Uninitialize-Server

wdsutil /Initialize-Server /REMINST:"J:\RemoteInstall"

A refresh of the WDS console showed the WDS server was back online.

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Jason Yoder, MCT

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