ConfigMgr 2007: Unable to enable command prompt support in Configuration Manager 2007 OSD Boot Images

The option "Enable command support (testing only)" option is enabled in an Configuration Manager 2007 OSD Boot Image, but hitting F8 while in WinPE does not bring a Command Prompt window. Furthermore, the PC automatically reboots from WinPE and does not display the "Task Sequence Wizard" screen to select a Task Sequence and/or a Task Sequence never starts automatically.

Selecting, unselecting, and reselecting the "Enable command support (testing only)" option and rebuilding the WinPE Boot Image does not resolve the problem.

The cause of the problem is actually not that the command prompt window is not enabled in WinPE (it is), but it seems instead that there is an invalid driver in WinPE that causes WinPE to crash, which leads to the PC being automatically rebooted out of WinPE.

Remove all unnecessary drivers from the WinPE Boot Image. The only drivers that should be loaded in WinPE are NIC and Mass Storage Drivers. Any other type of drivers (Audio, Video, Wireless NIC, Modem, Chipset, etc.) are not needed and should not be included as part of the WinPE Boot Image.

To check what drivers are loaded as part of the WinPE Boot Image and to remove unnecessary drivers:

1. In the ConfigMgr 2007 Admin Console, expand the "Boot Images" node under the "Computer Management" - - > "Operating System Deployment" nodes.
   
2. Right click on the Boot Image being used and select "Properties".
   
3. Click on the "Windows PE" tab.
   
4. Make sure that the option "Enable command support (testing only)" is checked.
   
5. Under the "Drivers:" box, remove any drivers that are not NIC or Mass Storage related by highlighting the driver and clicking on the red "X" button.
   
6. When done removing all unnecessary drivers, click on the "OK" button.
   
7. In the "Distribution Point Update Required" window, click on the "Yes" button.
   
8. Click on the "Next" button in the "Manage Distribution Points Wizard". When the wizard completes, click on the "Close" button.

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