Imaging with free Macrium

I don't really remember when they changed the WinPE. But a very old version may not work when the image is done with a very recent version. It is always prudent to keep the imaging program and the WinPE halfway in sync. But if you have several computers, you can always make a new WinPE when in need.

PE 4 came in with Windows 8.

As they are just downloading standard winpe.wim from MS , it is not clear to me why they aren't using pe5.

I made something to create bootable winpe media for you. It uses whatever version of winre you have. That means it includes windows recovery options. It also includes several other functions. Much better than any of the pe media created by the imaging programs themselves.

Aomei are smart enough to use the same technique, although that does include Aomei itself and windows recovery options, it doesn't have the extra functions I added into mine.. ( It also saves a hefty d/l )

Would your WinPE be available for public download, SIW2? :3

Yes, it is here: RE64v2.zip

It isn't pe in itself. It is a batch file that makes winpe media from what you already have on your HD.

The concept is is simple. You already winre.wim in your Hidden Recovery folder. That is very useful because it already several packages installed - one of them being the windows recovery options.

It finds winre.wim , copies it and mounts it. Then it adds menu, several useful free programs , like explorer, pwedit, bootice, ntrepair. Then it pops in macrium ( or any of the other popular programs ). It will also create a bootable iso and burn it, if you like. If you are running 64 bit windows (or 32 bit 8x ) that will support both efi and bios booting.

You get something far more useful than the winpe created by any of the imaging programs on their own.

Very easy to use.Works on 64 bit 7/8/8.1

RE64v4.zip

Extract onto your drive like this:



Rt click and run as admin on the .cmd file:




1. It will ask if you want to d/l Recuva and MSTools. It is not essential, but it does add some extra functions, so I recommend you enter Y.

It will d/l them for you - only about 8mb.

2. It finds winre.wim, copies it. Mounts it. Takes control of the mounted winre.wim.

3. It then looks for the popular programs like Aomei, macrium, paragon, and pops them in.

4. It adds a menu and few free tools as well.

5. It unmounts the wim and offers to create a bootable .iso.

6. If you want to put on flash , just copy the contents of the "ISO" folder onto a formatted flash drive.

It should only take about 2 mins.

Macrium users will end up with this:



Aomei users end up with this:




Paragon users end up with this:



Note: Paragon only supplies 64 bit files with their paid versions so far. Both Macrium and Aomei supply 64 bit files with their free versions.

Aomei also supplies 64 bit files with all their partition programs - including the free version, so if you have Aomei partition assistant, that will go in as well. They are doing a pro giveaway atm.

Because it includes windows recovery options, click the menu button RECOPTx64 and you will get to the regular windows rec options:



If you prefer keyboard, you can switch between windows recovery options and menu

ctrl+alt+r for rec options

ctrl+alt+e for menu.

( Forgot to mention, it will also automatically have your timezone and keyboard.)

Go ahead and install program to the SSD, they aren't nearly as fragile as many say. I have tow systems with them with many programs on both SSDs. Besides you lose much of the benefits of a fast drive with installs on the spinner drive. :)