Creating a Windows PE boot disk
Windows PE enables you to boot a computer directly into memory (RAM Drive) and run various tools such as, deployment and recovery ones! To create a bootable Windows PE CD or DVD media and install the ImageX Windows WAIK tools perform the following steps:
Before proceeding further, I recommend you to Compress and Decompress your most popular archives with WinTar application!
- Install Windows AIK tools on your computer
- From ALL Programs\Windows AIK open the Deployment Tools Command Prompt
- Create a local Windows PE build directory as follows:
copype.cmd <architecture> <destination>
where <architecture> can be x86 for Windows 32-bit environment, amd64 for 64-bit (including Intel 64-bit processors) and ia64 for Intel Itanium architecture
while <destination> is the path to a local directory
copype.cmd x86 c:\winpe_x86 –> for the 32bit env or copype.cmd amd64 c:\winpe_amd64 –> for the 64bit env - Now you are in c:\winpe_amd64 (assuming a 64-bit environment from now onwards)
- Copy the base image (Winpe.wim) to the \Winpe_amd64\ISO\sources folder and rename the file to Boot.wim Ex: copy c:\winpe_amd64\winpe.wim c:\winpe_amd64\ISO\sources\boot.wim
- Copy the ImageX tool to c:\winpe_amd64\iso\ Ex: copy “C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\amd64\imagex.exe” c:\winpe_amd64\iso\
- Optionally, create a configuration file called Winscript.ini that will instruct the ImageX tool to exclude certain files during the capture operation. Wimscript.ini should be saved to the same location as the ImageX tool – below is a sample Winscript.ini (make sure you save the file with a .ini extension)
[ExclusionList]
ntfs.log
hiberfil.sys
pagefile.sys
“System Volume Information”
RECYCLER
Windows\CSC - [CompressionExclusionList]
*.mp3
*.zip
*.cab
\Windows\inf\*.pnf - Save Winscript.ini to C:\winpe_amd64.old\ISO
- Create a Windows PE image (.iso) file by using the Oscdimg tool Ex: oscdimg -n -bc:\winpe_amd64\etfsboot.com c:\winpe_amd64\ISO c:\winpe_amd64\winpe_amd64.iso
- Finally, burn the image (Winpe_amd64.iso) to a CD-ROM/DVD-ROM disc. Windows AIK does not include CD-ROM burning software. Use trusted third-party software to burn the image to a CD-ROM/DVD-ROM disc. – Download a ready made 32bit Windows PE image – Windows PE 32bit iso.
Important Note: - The 32bit Windows PE client is upward compatible (can be used with 64bit systems) and hence, makes it more practical. Although, to-days hardware is mostly 64bit based, one would find the 32bit client useful with older hardware and in virtual environments when creating 32bit virtual machines 
This was awesome.I’ve been naging my head against the wall all day trying to do this via the instructions in the 70-680 book. Your instrucitons worked flawlessly (however I haven’t tried to capture a reference image yet
)
I suggest you have a look at the Image deployment article
Thanks! A guide that finally works and is easy to understand, keep up the good work. Your blog is now a bookmark
Awesome! It worked for me. thanks a million
Great, thanks! Could you perhaps tells us how to have it so it opens our favorite “3rd party backup and recovery program” into it?
I guess that’s something that your 3rd party backup provider can tell you, if a way exists. However, after recovering your system using Windows PE, you can then run your 3rd party backup program to restore personal data!
I am not an advanced user but I do know how to copy & paste. In step 6
of Create Window PE Boot Disk I keep getting “Syntax of the command is
incorrect”. What am I doing wrong? Steps 3 & 5 went like a charm. I
would appreciate any help. Thanks in advance. Michael
Make sure that you include the quotes in “C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\amd64\imagex.exe” c:\winpe_amd64\iso\
I followed Poultons 70-680 book and it’s directions but was unable to do this.
After reading your directions i found that book does not contain your step 5 at all.
( copy c:\winpe_amd64\winpe.wim c:\winpe_amd64\ISO\sources\boot.wim )
BTW. it’s a bit painful using windows PE with foreign keyboard layout.
Some directions should point that out before ppl. create those .ISO’s that they might want to switch to their own layout.
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/configmgrosd/thread/3c45deed-f1bf-44ed-95dd-f78ea530fc31
It’s frustrating to hit random keys when trying to find \:/ .
I got those localizations done.
Mounting:
dism /mount-wim /wimfile:E:\deployment\winpe_x86\winpe.wim /index:1 /mountDir:E:\deployment\winpe_x86\mount
Checking current language versions:
dism /image:E:\deployment\winpe_x86\mount /get-Intl
Switching locales to finnish:
Dism /image:E:\deployment\winpe_x86\mount /Set-SysLocale:fi-FI
Dism /image:E:\deployment\winpe_x86\mount /Set-UserLocale:fi-FI
Dism /image:E:\deployment\winpe_x86\mount /Set-InputLocale:fi-FI
Dism /image:E:\deployment\winpe_x86\mount /Set-TimeZone:”E. Europe Standard Time”
And unmounting with commmit (save changes to image):
Dism /unmount-wim /Mountdir:E:\deployment\winpe_x86\mount /commit
Finding that correct timezone was not easy until i found out that it must be checked from registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Time Zones\
Time zone isn’t that important of course, at least not on PE disc which is used just occasionally, but i was curious and wanted to change that too.
And as being unemployed i have not rush to anywhere.