wmic logicaldisk where drivetype=3 get deviceid,freespace
The most powerful tool in SCCM is the log file. Press F8 to open a command prompt in WinPE and navigate to X:\Windows\Temp\SMSTSLog .
On the distribution point, navigate to: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\SMS\DP Add or modify DWORD MaxVariableSize – set to 8192 (8KB) or 16384 (16KB). Restart the SMS Executive and WDS services.
Before diving into the error, let's briefly review the PXE process and how it relates to SCCM. PXE is a protocol that allows a computer to boot from a network location, rather than from a local hard drive. This is useful for deploying operating systems, as it enables technicians to boot a computer from a network location and install an OS without requiring a local installation media.
In SCCM, the error with Exit Code 14 (often paired with hex code 0x8004016c ) indicates that the Windows PE environment has loaded but cannot establish a network connection to retrieve the environment data ( variables.dat ) from the Management Point or Distribution Point. Primary Causes & Solutions
In the SCCM Console, go to > Operating Systems > Drivers . Import the required driver.
By following the diagnostic path laid out in this guide—starting with smspxe.log , verifying boundary groups, checking the NAA, and validating boot image architecture—you will not only fix exit code 14 but also strengthen your entire OS deployment infrastructure.
Unable to download PXE variable file. Exit code 14.
A 2021 thread reported that a corrupted <variable> tag inside a driver INF file was causing the "Exit Code 14" error and failing the driver import. Deleting this tag from the INF allowed the driver to be added successfully, resolving the PXE boot.
PXE Provider failed to download the PXE variable file. Exit code 14. The Investigation
Another possibility is that the PXE boot is proceeding, but the SCCM server cannot locate a valid task sequence policy for that client.