Help to make a Windows PE disc

Hi there
another possibly EASIER suggestion -- download Windows 8 ENTERPRISE version (Free 90 / 180 day trial) and create a very useful WINDOWS to GO system --this is a FULLY functioning Windows system (Not a "Live CD") which BOOTS AND RUNS from an external USB / HDD. You can load / install Windows programs on it such as free recovery software. Install this say on an SSD and it even runs decently fast when booted from a USB2 slot with a SATA==>USB2 adapter -- even better if you have USB3 ports with a SATA ==>USB3 adapter.

http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.co...ows-to-go.html

Cheers
jimbo

SIW2 said:

Is that allowed?

Windows 8 is also a snag.

Page 2 of your link says this - bit pointless, then:

To maintain the security of the Windows To Go workspace, the USB Windows To Go USB device can’t see the hard drive(s) of the host system it’s running on. Therefore, you can’t use a Windows To Go device to repair a computer or recover files from it.

Hi there
Don't use the workspace or "certified devices" but do it Manually as shown in the link below.

If you create a Windows to go system on a "bog standard" USB device it has full access to all the HOST's HDD's (on any machine --that's why it's PORTABLE).


Creating a Non-Certified Windows To Go USB Drive » ADMIN Magazine

Note on reference to the Image the F1_image file is for 32 bit systems and the F3_image is for 64 bit systems so when reading the article remember to select the correct image.

You also don't need a Microsoft account to download the WAIK either so ignore that piece in the article. If you already have the W7 WAIK that's fine.

I'm actually running this on a W8 to go system which I created as per the article on a Samsung 840 SSD disk. The actual HOST machine is a FRENCH Work computer --can't understand a word so I've booted my own system . No probs whatsoever accessing all the work network HDD's as well.

The response time via SSD and USB port is actually faster than the old W7 system with a spinner in it. !!! (OT here but another reason for always using an SSD where possible for your OS -- W7 performs really fast too with an SSD but I can't make a W7 to go system unfortunately).

Cheers
jimbo

SIW2 said:

Is that allowed?

Windows 8 is also a snag.

Page 2 of your link says this - bit pointless, then:

To maintain the security of the Windows To Go workspace, the USB Windows To Go USB device can’t see the hard drive(s) of the host system it’s running on. Therefore, you can’t use a Windows To Go device to repair a computer or recover files from it.

Windows To Go - Unhide Drives from Host Computer

Yes, you can see all partition.

UEFI not need.
Windows To Go: Feature Overview

Hi there
Not only can you see all the partitions on the host machine but you get Network access to all network drives on your LAN (assuming you have permissions) just like you would when using a "Normal" windows system.

If you are uncomfortable with Windows 8 just install VMware player on the Windows to Go system and then fire up a W7 VM -- response time is fine even if your whole W8togo setup plus the VM's are on an external HDD -- on an SSD response time won't be a problem.

BTW for testing UEFI systems using a VM - VMware virtual bios allows you to set UEFI even on a non UEFI system so you can play around with that feature on a VM whether your host has the feature or not.

Cheers
jimbo