Dario Airoldi TechNotes

Steps to create a bootable Windows PE RAM CD/DVD

The following article shows how to create a bootable WinPE disk with Windows Vista Automated Installation Kit (WAIK).

Requirements

• WAIK: Windows Vista Automated Installation Kit (get the download here).
• CDBurn/Dvdburn utility: this tool allows burning a DVD from a ISO Image (Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit Tools).
• Technician PC: a pc with a CD/DVD ROM Drive (RW capable) with Windows AIK installed on it.
• A blank CD or DVD.

Steps to create the bootable disk

• Run the following commands from "Windows PE Tools Command Prompt":
  • copype.cmd x86 c:\winpe_x86
• (optional) Copy imagex tool and an imagex exclusion list:
  • Run copy "C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\x86\imagex.exe" "C:\winpe_x86\ISO"
  • create a wimscript.ini file to "C:\winpe_x86\ISO" with the following exclusions

    [ExclusionList]

    ntfs.log

    hiberfil.sys

    pagefile.sys

    "System Volume Information"

    RECYCLER

    Windows\CSC

    [CompressionExclusionList]

    *.mp3

    *.zip

    *.cab

    \WINDOWS\inf\*.pnf

• Create the iso for the bootable disk:
  • oscdimg -n -bC:\winpe_x86\etfsboot.com C:\winpe_x86\ISO C:\winpe_x86\winpe_x86.iso
• Burn the iso file to a dvd or cdrom
  • "dvdburn d: C:\winpe_x86\winpe_x86.iso" to burn the iso file to a DVD.
  • "cdburn d: C:\winpe_x86\winpe_x86.iso" to burn the iso file to a CD.

Note that step 2 is not required and is only useful to have imagex tool on the bootable disk.

You may add any other tools or batches to your bootable disk in a similar way.

Published Wednesday, January 10, 2007 7:01 PM by Dario Airoldi