Creating Window RE Using Windows AIK

re: Creating WinRE Using WAIK

wosully — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 23:02:18 GMT

Number 3 will not function for me at all: I have the AIK installed and Vista disk:

3. Copy the Windows PE image from the installation media using ImageX

imagex.exe /export /boot e:\sources\boot.wim 2 c:\winre_image\winre.wim “Windows Recovery Environment”

re: Creating WinRE Using WAIK

WinRE — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 23:39:02 GMT

What error do you get from imagex?

re: Creating WinRE Using WAIK

wosully — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 00:07:26 GMT

It states a syntax error, and shows me the imagex switches. Do you think I am doing something incorrect here? Running imagex from the elevated command prompt, Windows PE.

Great articles, by the way!

re: Creating WinRE Using WAIK

WinRE — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 00:27:33 GMT

Seems to work fine for me. May be check the following:

1. Double check the arguments.

2. Make sure that you have write permission to the folder where you are copying the image.

3. Also check that you are using the correct boot.wim. You can run "imagex /info boot.wim" to make sure that it has two images in it.

re: Creating WinRE Using WAIK

wosully — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 03:37:28 GMT

OK, I got it. I just copied it from the DVD manually, then everything went well.

Thanks!

How to install WinRE on the hard disk

Windows RE Notes — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 04:44:50 GMT

I have been getting a lot of questions about installing WinRE on the hard disk. This is good news for

re: Creating WinRE Using WAIK

philippk — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 17:33:36 GMT

I got the same problem as wosully.

I changed the syntax to

imagex.exe /export /boot e:\sources\boot.wim 2 c:\winre_image\winre.wim “WinRE”

and now it works.

Great job, especially the "install WinRE on the hard disk" article!

re: Creating WinRE Using WAIK

Armitage — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:25:11 GMT

First off, I would like to say this is a great site. However, could you dive into more detail with the WinREConfig.xml file. I am unable to get it to work properly. I created the tools folder under the working directory where RecEnv.exe is and added teh WinREConfig.xml file there as well. I modified the contents for the application I want to launch, but it does not show up on the System Recovery Options list. I just get the normal choices. I can launch my utilities through the command prompt, but I would rather be able to launch the front end through the System Recovery Options list.

Thank you for your time!

James

re: Creating WinRE Using WAIK

WinRE — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 23:29:39 GMT

Can you share your winreconfig.xml file? It should have worked fine. The following works for us:

<RelativeFilePath>FabDiag.exe</RelativeFilePath>

</RecoveryTools>

</Recovery>

Please note that the RelativeFilePath is relative to the x:\sources\recovery\tools directory, and the WinREConfig.xml file should be placed under the x:\sources\recovery\tools directory as well.

re: Creating WinRE Using WAIK

Armitage — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 00:37:55 GMT

Here is how my winreconfig.xml file is laid out:

</RecoveryTools>

</Recovery>

The winreconfig.xml file is in the tools folder which is under the recovery folder. The nu2menu.exe is in teh root of the tools folder.

From my understanding it is supposed to add this to the menu that pop's up correct? If not, what is the use of adding this file?

re: Creating WinRE Using WAIK

Armitage — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 01:05:30 GMT

Well, tried it again and it works now. I went ahead and moved everything into the root directory instead of it being in a folder underneath tools. However, I did have the RelativeFilePath set to Nu2menu\nu2menu.exe. Also, I made sure both the tools directory and the winreconfig.xml file were lowercase. I am doubtfull that made any differences. Anyways, it is working now. Thank you for you help!

James

Comment créer WinRE à partir du WAIK

Blog de David Sebban [MSFT] — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 16:34:21 GMT

Un article qui pourra être intéressant pour ceux qui parmi vous, cherchent à récupérer WinRE qui n'est

re: Creating WinRE Using WAIK

mccay_a — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 12:52:01 GMT

I managed to run through the step as outlined and everything went as expected, however when i try to access the "Repair My Coputer" option. The files will seminly load, the windows screen appears, and the computer restarts.

Any ideas. Could it be the hard drive i have it on, or missiong files. Do SATA drives require a driver to be inluded?

re: Creating WinRE Using WAIK

WinRE — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 22:54:18 GMT

Hi, What's in your winpeshl.ini file? Is it in the right place?

Thanks,

-Parveen

re: Creating WinRE Using WAIK

purejamie — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 01:25:49 GMT

Hi there,

I am a big fan of WinRE, however, I have a quick question:

Is it possible to edit the text and/or icon of the custom recovery tool specified between the <RecoveryTools> tags - I would like to launch a HTA here if possible but would also like it to look nice on the menu!

Also, being cheeky, could you tell me what the WinRE front end was written in please?

Many Thanks, keep up the good work! cheers, Jamie.

How to change text of Custom Recovery Tool

Herman — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 22:35:48 GMT

Hello,

I had no problems creating the WinREConfig.xml

and the option is working fine.

However, the text of my custom tools on the Recovery menu is set to "Unknown".

Is there anybody who managed to give his custom recovery tool

re: Creating WinRE Using WAIK

Herman — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 10:08:39 GMT

(sorry, I accidentally hit ENTER)

Is there anybody who managed to give his Custom Recovery Tool a more decent name

in the Recovery menu ?

Or am I the only one who sees "Unknown" as

description of the tool ?

Please let me know what you see in your case.

It is urgent for me.

Thank you in advance !

re: Creating WinRE Using WAIK

WinRE — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 10:24:33 GMT

Hi Herman,

The tool name is taken from the version resource of the tool. WinRE uses the GetFileVersionInfo() API to extract this information: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/winui/winui/windowsuserinterface/resources/versioninformation/versioninformationreference/versioninformationfunctions/getfileversioninfo.asp

So embed the name of tool in the ProductName field and embed the description of the tool in the FileDescription field of the version resource of your binary.

re: Creating WinRE Using WAIK

Herman — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:10:52 GMT

Dear sir,

Now I understand why I had no meaningful name

as menu option.

My custom recovery tool was in fact a .CMD file, (a .bat file) containing commands and not a compiled program.

This is a great Blog, and the concept of WINPE is indeed a major progress for people like me who wants to have a recovery/install environment from a removable device with access to the NTFS file system.

But there is so little information to find what kind of programs, tools we can run under it. I've programs in VB6 and .net 2.0 (console and Windows forms).

I've looked everywhere to find more information about the limitations of WINPE 2.0 and WINRE 2.0.

Okay, I can run Notepad but that's almost the only GUI application. What about a GUI filemanager ? Will VB6 programs run, and what are the limitations. I already know I can forget .net framework.

I understand also why Microsoft wants this WINPE/WINRE to be limited, but what kind of GUI applications can run under it ?

Or do I have to forget my GUI dreams, and focus on cscript.exe and wscript.exe to run scripts ?

I know I'm asking a lot here, but this seems to be the right place to get answers.

Kind Regards,

re: Creating WinRE Using WAIK

WinRE — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 11:19:03 GMT

Hi Herman,

WinRE supports base Win32 API. So any GUI applications that only use native Win32 should work fine. Notepad, Startup Repair, Complete PC Restore are all examples of such applications. Winforms are not supported.

So yes, using cscript- and wscript- based scripting is a good option for this limited environment.

Thanks,

-Parveen

The new WAIK Documentation update is not up-to-date !

Herman — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 23:54:36 GMT

I noticed today (April, 2) that Microsoft

released a documentation update for the WAIK, which can

be downloaded from :

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=993c567d-f12c-4676-917f-05d9de73ada4&DisplayLang=en

However, the instructions on how to create WinRE (from the WinPE.chm file) still don't mention that the WINRE isn't included in the WAIK, and that it must be extracted from the Vista DVD :

imagex.exe /export /boot e:\sources\boot.wim 2 c:\winre_image\winre.wim “Windows Recovery Environment”

I don't understand that this essential item wasn't corrected.

re: Creating WinRE Using WAIK

WinRE — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 01:19:42 GMT

Hi Herman,

You can find the latest Windows AIK documentation with an updated Windows RE walkthrough on Microsoft TechNet at:

http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsVista/f/?en/library/61e08b15-82d8-46bd-a5f1-7947193e6ed81033.mspx

The content on Microsoft TechNet is more recent than the packaged documentation update for Windows AIK on Download Center.

Thanks,

Desmond

Documentation Update

Herman — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 21:18:50 GMT

Thank you Desmond. I saw the updated content on Microsoft Technet a few days ago. That's why I didn't understand they released a documentation update without the right installation instructions.

Best Regards,

Windows Deployment Services

The Lazy Admin — Mon, 07 May 2007 18:16:29 GMT

Deploying BDD is a big project. One of the first elements, and a huge time saver, is installing WDS.

re: Creating Window RE Using Windows AIK

mattdunn — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:06:07 GMT

Hi,

I have tried using the instructions in Step 3 to install network drivers but it does not seem to work. The peimg.exe /inf command executes successfully but when I boot into WinRE, there is no network connectivity.

I have successfully installed the exact same drivers on WinPE by following the instructions provided by Microsoft and it works.

Is it possible to have WinRE access a network? Am I missing a step?

Thanks,

Matt

re: Creating Window RE Using Windows AIK

abucci — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 18:19:48 GMT

Hi there,

I am trying to create a customized version of Windows RE and I was wondering a few things.

1) Just like the person above I was wondering if it is possible to add network connectivity to WinRE. If so how?

2) Is it possible to add more than one custom recovery tool to WinRE? I've been trying to play around with the .XML file with no success.

3) Is there any difference when creating WinRe with WAIK versus WOPK? Is WOPK more flexible on what tools/options you can add to WinRE?

Thanks,

Anthony

re: Creating Window RE Using Windows AIK

coolice — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 15:45:30 GMT

Hi !

- I had read your article in detail, it is a great masterpiece which I was looking for a very long time.

- I could reproduce and creat a WinRe, just as you said.

But I ran into a problem where I would like ot ask your help as I tried evertyhing I could.

- When WinRe starts it is asking for the default keyboard, than you have push the Next button once more as you system search for Windows Installation. How can I bybass these dialogs ? My target is to jump directly to Complete PC Restore. I am sure it is possible, but I dont know how.

Could you help me please with step by step help please ?

Many thank you for yoru time and effort,

Andrew

re: Creating Window RE Using Windows AIK

Data1701 — Fri, 09 May 2008 10:48:28 GMT

No Answers on the blog anymore ?

I'm searching for a way to design a WIN RE environment with network access (RDP e.g.) WIN RE in not more or less than PE 2.0, so why not.

Regards

Data1701

re: Creating Window RE Using Windows AIK, Vista SP1

pmeinl — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:11:31 GMT

Using Vista x64 SP1

imagex.exe /export ... 2 ...

did not work for me. I got a syntax error, and showing the imagex switches.

imagex.exe /info shows PE being image index 1

Using image 1 the extract worked.

When starting repair usind F8 I got the error:

"Windows PE cannot start because the actual SYSTEMROOT directory (X:\Windows) is different from the configured one (X:\$Windows.~BT\Windows). This can be configured with peimg /targetpath..."

I solved this using:

peimg /targetpath=x:\ c:\winre_mount

Now it works

Found out how to get network connectivity in WinRE!

Teqonix — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 02:57:14 GMT

Hey everybody, I'm not sure if anyone else found this out or not - but I found a way to get WinRE working with network connection.

You still need to install the network drivers on the image so WinRE can see your NIC(s), but as some have noted on here, that's not enough to get it to work.

It's really simple, actually. WinPE uses a script when it starts which initializes Plug and Play devices + Network connectivity. That script is located in <WinPE mount directory\Windows\System32\startnet.cmd

Inside this script is the all-too-familiar wpeinit command. Run that, and you have network connectivity in WinRE, now.

This solution works for temporary network connectivity, but it you want full network connectivity from the start of your WinRE session, then what I did is modify the \Windows\System32\Winpeshl.ini file and changed it from starting RecEnv.exe (The WinRE Recovery GUI) to starting startnet.cmd. Of course, the way Winpeshl.ini seems to work is that when the application it starts is closed, the system reboots. So, add a line to startnet.cmd which calls RecEnv.exe, and WinRE will start with network connectivity and will behave like normal from then on until RecEnv.exe is closed, which returns control to startnet.cmd, which finishes, and reboots the computer. All just like normal!

I had some security concerns with launching startnet.cmd at first because it might give unauthorized access to a user that starts WinRE on a client machine via the command prompt that pops up, but the call function seems to lock out the command prompt window until control is returned to it. So, I'm pretty sure that it's still secure to deploy on client systems if you intend to do that like I do.

Anywho, hope this helps. This information seems to be a little difficult to find.

re: Creating Window RE Using Windows AIK

Navneet12 — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 07:48:40 GMT

Plz help. When I type imagex.exe in command prompt it says batch unrecognised. Plz tell if I have to download anything or what to do. I am very much perplexed. Do I have to download the AIK KIT.

re: Creating Window RE Using Windows AIK

Navneet12 — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 07:49:14 GMT

Plz help. When I type imagex.exe in command prompt it says batch unrecognised file type . Plz tell if I have to download anything or what to do. I am very much perplexed. Do I have to download the AIK KIT.