How to Create a Windows PE Disk
Let me begin by saying this tutorial does not cover every possible scenario, nor is it intended to. It's pretty basic but, if followed, will create a usable Windows PE disk based upon Windows 7. I'm using Windows 7 professional.
Links were tested and confirmed to be working as of the writing of this tutorial. (December 2010)
I want to thank Jeffrey Schenk of DataSchenk for the training.
and Brian Jackson, who's blog on the subject was a key source of information.
Start by downloading the Windows Automated Installation Toolkit
Download details: The Windows® Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows® 7
You'll find online documentation here:
Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK) User's Guide
Downloadable documentation here:
Download details: Windows Automated Installation Kit for Windows 7 documentation (May 2010 Update)
and the readme here:
Windows Automated Installation Kit for Windows 7 Readme
Once you have the WAIK downloaded, either burn it to disk or USB, and install.
Once installed, open the AIK Command prompt:
Start – All Programs – Microsoft Windows AIK – Deployment Tools Command Prompt
Begin with a cleanup:
Run the copype.cmd script:Code:dism /cleanup-wim
NOTE: the syntax for this command is:Code:copype.cmd x86 c:\winpe
so you'll need to change “x86” to “amd64” or “ia64” for those architectures. Also, my chosen destination is “c:\winpe” but you can create your folder elsewhere if you want. Just keep in mind that this tutorial uses “c:\winpe” in the examples, so you'll need to adapt that to your choice of destination. The command creates the necessary folder structure within the destination folder.Code:copype.cmd <architecture> <destination>
Now, copy and rename the base image:
Mount the wim file:Code:copy c:\winpe\winpe.wim c:\winpe\iso\sources\boot.wim
Add imagex to the system32 folder so it is pathed:Code:dism /mount-wim /wimfile:c:\winpe\winpe.wim /index:1 /mountdir:c:\winpe\mount
NOTE:Code:copy "c:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\x86\imagex.exe" c:\winpe\mount\windows\system32
I don't add any additional packages or drivers to my Windows PE, however I am including the following two steps for those who might need them.
You can add additional packages by using the following syntax:
Drivers can be added using the following syntax: (The recurse switch causes the command to add all drivers within the path including those in subdirectories.)Code:dism / image:<path_to_image> /add-package /packagepath:<path_to_package>
Unmount the finished wimfile:Code:dism /image:<path_to_image> /add-driver /driver:<path_to_driver> /recurse
Copy the finished wimfile:Code:dism /unmount-wim /mountdir:c:\winpe\mount\ /commit
Create a bootable iso file:Code:copy c:\winpe\winpe.wim c:\winpe\iso\sources\boot.wim /y
Close the Deployment Tools Command Prompt.Code:oscdimg -n -bc:\winpe\etfsboot.com c:\winpe\iso c:\winpe\winpe.iso
Browse to c:\winpe\ and right-click on winpe.iso and choose Open With – Windows Disk Image Burner to burn the iso to disk.
You now have a usable Windows PE disk. Mine has proven invaluable since I support a herd of over 200 Windows boxen and frequently need to image machines.
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