so…. the problem seems to be VM Ware’s VM Server 1.0.4… (ESX/GSX) .. Could give some very “funny” problems when running a cluster with 1.0.3 and 1.0.4 nodes.. DOH!

Download the Intel e1000 drivers from http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Product_Filter.aspx?ProductID=1878&lang=eng for both XP and Vista. Put them in D:DriversIntel

using Windows AIK command prompt:

1.  In the command window, run copype x86 c:winpe to initialize my WinPE environment.

2.  Run the imagex /mountrw c:winpewinpe.wim 1 c:winpemount command to populate the image folder.

3.  Run the peimg /inf=D:DriversVMWarescsi*.inf /image=c:winpemount for all drivers (e.g. SCSI, NIC,etc.).

4.  Run the peimg /inf=D:DriversIntelPRO2KXP*.inf /image=c:winpemount for the Intel e1000 drivers.

5.  Add the ..WindowsSystem32wdi.dll from a Vista machine to the c:winpemountWindowsSystem32 folder.

6.  Run the imagex /unmount /commit c:winpemount to update the c:winpewinpe.wim.

7.  Run the oscdimg -n -h -bc:winpeetfsboot.com c:winpeiso c:winpewinpe.iso to generate the boot ISO file.
edit the *.vmx file to add the entry Ethernet0.virtualDev = “e1000” after Ethernet.preset = “TRUE” entry using Notepad.
The configure the VM to use WINPE.iso creating in Step 7.