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:

Code:

dism /cleanup-wim

Run the copype.cmd script:

Code:

copype.cmd x86 c:\winpe

NOTE: the syntax for this command is:

Code:

copype.cmd <architecture> <destination>

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.

Now, copy and rename the base image:

Code:

copy c:\winpe\winpe.wim c:\winpe\iso\sources\boot.wim

Mount the wim file:

Code:

dism /mount-wim /wimfile:c:\winpe\winpe.wim /index:1 /mountdir:c:\winpe\mount

Add imagex to the system32 folder so it is pathed:

Code:

copy "c:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\x86\imagex.exe" c:\winpe\mount\windows\system32

NOTE:
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:

Code:

dism / image:<path_to_image> /add-package /packagepath:<path_to_package>

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-driver /driver:<path_to_driver> /recurse

Unmount the finished wimfile:

Code:

dism /unmount-wim /mountdir:c:\winpe\mount\ /commit

Copy the finished wimfile:

Code:

copy c:\winpe\winpe.wim c:\winpe\iso\sources\boot.wim /y

Create a bootable iso file:

Code:

oscdimg -n -bc:\winpe\etfsboot.com c:\winpe\iso c:\winpe\winpe.iso

Close the Deployment Tools Command Prompt.

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.

Related Tutorials

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• How to Create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc
• How to Create a Windows 7 Universal Installation Disc
• How to Create a Windows 7 Recovery Partition
• How to Create a Windows 7 Installation USB Key
• How to Slipstream Windows 7 SP1 and Updates to Create a Bootable USB, Installation DVD, or ISO File