Windows 7: Download your Winpe media now

I have heard Paragon will not be offering winpe media after 30-3-12.

If you have a Paragon product that comes with it - you need to d.l it before then.

I don't know why exactly - MS has changed the licensing terms - and I presume Paragon don't think it is worth it.

It is quite odd.

I only found out thru a couple of people who have been sent emails from Paragon Germany to that effect.



We will find out in due course if other software companies follow suit.

This morning I received an email from Paragon Software. States:

"You own a Paragon product with the WinPE recovery environment. We would like to inform you that Microsoft has changed its license conditions, meaning that we will no longer be allowed to offer you the Paragon WinPE as of March 30, 2012.
If you haven’t downloaded your WinPE from the Paragon website yet, we recommend you to do so by March 30, 2012. To do this, log in at Paragon My Account, download the WinPE and use it to create your boot medium in case of emergency. This is the most convenient way to restart your operating system without reinstallation in the event of system failure.
After March 30th, it will no longer be possible to download the WinPE recovery environment using your account! Customer service/support will not be able to send it retroactively!"

Only recently, Macrium Reflect started offering WinPE Recovery even for its free version. Going by the above I would think that this will apply for all the imaging software, paid or free.

So if you haven't created the WinPE Recovery module or downloaded it, do it before the deadline.

EDIT: A search indicates that it may only be a license dispute between Paragon and Microsoft. So may be it affects only Paragon users.

I understand that for every WinPE recovery Module sold, the software vendors have to pay a fee to Microsoft. So when MacriumReflect offered one with their free version, I was a little surprised. On this count I still wonder whether MacriumReflect will continue to offer it with the free version. Could be that they circumvent paying Microsoft any fee by only providing the necessary plug-in and asking the user to create the WinPE Module by downloading the WAIK.( instead of offering a complete WinPE ISO as such.)

EDIT: OK. SIW had already reported it about 11 hours back - while I was asleep.Found it while googleing.

I received the same email this morning. Such a shame as the winpe disk is very handy.
I hope this doesn't apply to all imaging software? :-(

Vendors are no longer allowed to provide winpe directly.

I got a message fro Paragon asking everyone to d/l from thier paragon account before 30/3/2012.

At first it seemed that might have been a disagreement between Paragon and MS over licensing costs.

However, there is this message on Paragon downloads page:



( Paragon will be providing a way to make winpe on your own machine. )

It seems it applies to all software vendors.

Therefore it is worth its own thread.

Sounds like they will be going down the Macrium Free route. What is the matter with MS don't they want systems to be recovered reliably? Maybe they don't judging by how hard it is to find imaging in W8.

I am not sure win sys img is going to survive - judging by the way they are hiding it atm.

Not many people use it according to the telemetry.

Have you managed to find Recent Items in win8 ?

Lot of stuff has been taken out - or maybe I just can't find it.

Previous versions has gone too replaced by File History a very restrictive backup of libraries and a few other folders with no easy way to change it.

New e-mail from Paragon:

"New service after April 1st, 2012: Paragon Boot Media Builder!

Don’t worry: you won’t have to do without the convenience of the Paragon WinPE medium that you’re used to. After April 1st, 2012, you can download the Paragon Boot Media Builder which will help you conveniently create your own WinPE CD, DVD or USB stick yourself. Check your MyAccount section to download the Paragon Boot Media Builder as soon as it is available."

Yes - removing previous versions is weird - never mind - ShadowExplorer is better anyway.

They have even removed the option to just do data in system protection.