Windows Preinstallation Environment Explained

Windows Preinstallation Environment should not be confused with Portable Executable.

WindowsPE
Windows Preinstallation Environment
Developer:Microsoft
Release Version:10.0.26100.1
License:Freeware
Kernel Type:Hybrid

Windows Preinstallation Environment (also known as Windows PE and WinPE) is a lightweight version of Windows used for the deployment of PCs, workstations, and servers, or troubleshooting an operating system while it is offline. It is intended to replace MS-DOS boot disks and can be booted via USB flash drive, PXE, iPXE,[1] CD, DVD, or hard disk. Traditionally used by large corporations and OEMs (to preinstall Windows client operating systems on PCs during manufacturing), it is now widely available free of charge via Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (WADK) (formerly Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK)).

Overview

WinPE was originally intended to be used only as a pre-installation platform for deploying Microsoft Windows operating systems, specifically to replace MS-DOS in this respect. WinPE has the following uses:

The package can be used for developer testing or as a recovery CD/DVD for system administrators. Many customized WinPE boot CDs packaged with third-party applications for different uses are now available from volunteers via the Internet. The package can also be used as the base of a forensics investigation to either capture a disk image or run analysis tools without mounting any available disks and thus changing state.[2]

Version 2.0 introduced a number of improvements[3] and extended the availability of WinPE to all customers, not just corporate enterprise customers by downloading and installing Microsoft's Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK).

It was originally designed and built by a small team of engineers in Microsoft's Windows Deployment team, including Vijay Jayaseelan, Ryan Burkhardt, and Richard Bond.[4]

Versions

The following versions are known to exist:

Version Description
1.0 The first release of Windows Preinstallation Environment, built from Windows XP RTM[5]
1.1 Built from Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 1
1.2 Built from Windows Server 2003 RTM
1.5 Called Windows PE 2004; built from Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2
1.6 Called Windows PE 2005; built from Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1
2.0[6] [7] Built from the first edition of Windows Vista. This version differs from the other versions since it doesn't need the disc to load all the files. This means that the download is now 992 MB in size instead of 60 MB from the previous versions. It's possible to modify the default startup disc to have access to a few plug-ins like Windows Management Instrumentation, Windows Scripting Host, additional drivers and other 32-bit applications (or 64-bit applications for 64-bit versions). Other new features include the capability for a rewritable RAM disk since WinPE version 1.x only has a recordable RAM disk.
2.1[8] Built from Windows Server 2008
2.2 Built from Windows Server 2008 SP2
3.0[9] Built from Windows 7 code base. It is included in WAIK 2.0.
3.1[10] Built from Windows 7 SP1 code base. It is included in a WAIK supplementary update provided by Microsoft.
4.0[11] Built from Windows 8 code base. It is included in WADK for Windows 8.
5.0[12] [13] Built from Windows 8.1 code base. It is included in Windows ADK for Windows 8.1.
5.1[14] It is an update for version 5.0 that is applied manually.[15]
10.0.10240.16384 Built from Windows 10, version 1507 code base. It is included in Windows ADK for Windows 10, version 1507.[16] [17]
10.0.10586.0 Built from Windows 10, version 1511 code base. It is included in Windows ADK for Windows 10, version 1511.[18]
10.0.14393.0 Built from Windows 10, version 1607 code base. It is included in Windows ADK for Windows 10, version 1607.[19]
10.0.15063.0Built from Windows 10, version 1703 code base.
10.0.16299.15Built from Windows 10, version 1709 code base.
10.0.17134.1Built from Windows 10, version 1803 code base.
10.0.17763.0Built from Windows 10, version 1809 code base.
10.0.18362.1Built from Windows 10, version 1903 code base.
10.0.19041.1Built from Windows 10, version 2004 code base.
10.0.20348.1Built from Windows Server 2022 code base.
10.0.22000.1Built from Windows 11, version 21H2 code base.
10.0.22621.1[20] Built from Windows 11, version 22H2 code base.
10.0.25398.1[21] Built from Windows Server, version 23H2 code base, and updated in September 2023.
10.0.26100.1[22] Built from Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025, version 24H2 code base, and updated in May 2024.

Derivatives

Windows Recovery Environment

Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) is a set of tools based on Windows PE to help diagnose and recover from serious errors which may be preventing Windows from booting successfully. Windows RE is installed alongside Windows Vista and later, and may be booted from hard disks, optical media (such as an operating system installation disc) and PXE (e.g. Windows Deployment Services).[23] A copy of Windows RE is included in the installation media of the aforementioned operating systems. It is a successor to the Recovery Console.

Features

Windows RE features include:

Starting with Windows Server 2012/Windows 8, the following additional options are added:

Windows 10 adds the following:

Volumes encrypted with Bitlocker can be mounted if a recovery key is available.

Windows Recovery Environment can also be installed to a hard drive partition by OEMs,[28] and customized with additional tools such as a separate system recovery tool for restoring the computer back to its original state.[29] As of Windows Vista SP1, users can create their own bootable CD containing the recovery environment.

REAgentC

REAgentC
Developer:Microsoft
Operating System:Microsoft Windows
Genre:Command

Windows includes the REAgentC command which is used to configure a Windows RE boot image and a push-button reset recovery image. It allows administration of recovery options and various customizations. The REAgentC tool can either be used on an offline Windows image or on a running Windows system.[30] The command requires administrator privileges.[31]

Microsoft DaRT

See main article: Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack. Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset (DaRT), sold as a part of Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack, is yet another toolset based on Windows PE that performs diagnostic and recovery on an offline copy of Windows. It can manage files, edit Windows Registry, uninstall previously installed Windows updates, scan system for malware and restore deleted files.There is currently no Windows 11 version of Microsoft DaRT. It is currently unknown if there will be a DaRT11, or that DaRT will just stay on Windows 10.

See also

Related software

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Network-booting Windows PE . 2012-09-18.
  2. Web site: WinPE 3.0 & Forensics. Praetorian Prefect. 2010-04-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20100427082956/http://praetorianprefect.com/archives/2010/04/winpe-3-0-forensics. 2010-04-27. dead. 2010-04-16.
  3. Web site: Adding XML Parser support into WinPE . 2009-06-16 . 2006-02-17 . 28 April 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060428220128/http://capitalhead.com/articles/adding-xml-parser-support-into-winpe.aspx . dead .
  4. US. 6993642. patent. Method and system for creating and employing an operating system having selected functionality. 2006-01-30. 2006-01-31. 2001-07-24. Burkhardt, Ryan; Harikrishnan, Seetharaman; Yaryan, Tom; Bond, Richard; Shetty, Vijesh; Jayaseelan, Vijayachandran. Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC.
  5. Web site: Windows PE Version Overview . TechNet Wiki . Microsoft . 28 December 2017.
  6. Web site: What is Windows PE?. Previous Versions Documentation. Microsoft Corporation. Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) 2.0 is a minimal Win32 operating system with limited services, built on the Windows Vista kernel.. 2018-07-22.
  7. Web site: Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) . Download Center . Microsoft . 15 September 2013.
  8. Web site: Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 . Download Center . Microsoft . 15 September 2013.
  9. Web site: What is Windows PE?. Previous Versions Documentation. Microsoft Corporation. Windows® Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) 3.0 is a minimal Win32® operating system with limited services, built on the Windows® 7 kernel.. 2018-07-22.
  10. Web site: The Windows® Automated Installation Kit (AIK) Supplement for Windows® 7 SP1 . Download Center . Microsoft . 15 September 2013.
  11. Web site: Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) for Windows® 8 . Download Center . Microsoft . 15 September 2013.
  12. Web site: What is Windows PE?. Previous Versions Documentation. Microsoft Corporation. (WinPE) Windows PE 5.0 (WinPE) is a small operating system used to install, deploy, and repair Windows 8, Windows Server 2012 R2, and other Windows operating systems.. 2018-07-22.
  13. Web site: Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK) for Windows 8.1 . Download Center . Microsoft . 15 September 2013.
  14. Web site: What is Windows PE?. Previous Versions Documentation. Microsoft Corporation. WinPE for Windows 8.1: Windows PE 5.1. 2018-07-22.
  15. Web site: Update WinPE 5.0 to WinPE 5.1 . TechNet Library . Microsoft . 6 April 2014.
  16. Web site: Yong . Rhee . Download: Windows 10 Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) . Yong Rhee's Microsoft Technet Blog . . 11 August 2015.
  17. Web site: Windows PE (WinPE) . Hardware Dev Center . . 2 October 2018.
  18. Web site: Yong . Rhee . Download: Windows 10 Nov. 2015 update (version 1511) Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) . Yong Rhee's Microsoft Technet Blog . . 1 December 2015 . 11 January 2016.
  19. Web site: Mark . O'Shea . Windows ADK for Windows 10 version 1607 available for download . Microsoft Australia OEM Team . . 3 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161111022257/https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/ausoemteam/2016/08/03/windows-adk-for-windows-10-version-1607-available-for-download/ . 11 November 2016.
  20. Web site: windows-driver-content. What's new in the ADK for Windows 11, version 22H2. 2022-05-25. docs.microsoft.com. en-us.
  21. Web site: windows-driver-content. What's new in the ADK for Windows 11, version 22H2 (updated September 2023). 2023-10-10. docs.microsoft.com. en-us.
  22. Web site: windows-driver-content. What's new in the ADK for Windows 11, version 24H2 (updated September 2023). 2024-05-23. docs.microsoft.com. en-us.
  23. Web site: Parveen . Introducing Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) . Windows RE Notes . . 18 September 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171019011224/https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/winre/2006/09/18/introducing-windows-recovery-environment-windows-re/ . 19 October 2017 . 18 December 2020 .
  24. Web site: How Windows RE Works . Windows Vista Technical Library . . 25 July 2008.
  25. Web site: Joseph . Conway . The coolest new DISM command (to me at least) . 14 July 2009 . The Windows Servicing Guy . .
  26. Web site: Refresh and reset your PC . Lee . Desmond . 4 January 2012 . Sinofsky . Steven . . Building Windows 8 .
  27. Web site: Peter . Bright . Making the lives of IT easier: Windows 8 Refresh, Reset, and Windows To Go . Ars Technica . Condé Nast. 19 September 2011 .
  28. Web site: How to install Windows RE on the hard disk. MSDN. 11 January 2007. Microsoft. 2008-02-14 .
  29. Web site: Customizing the Windows RE Experience . TechNet. Microsoft. 2008-02-13. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070220061646/http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsVista/en/library/f19ec108-1922-425a-8cd8-ee29029f4b901033.mspx?mfr=true. 20 February 2007.
  30. Web site: REAgentC command-line options Microsoft Docs . 5 August 2020 . 12 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201112020125/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/reagentc-command-line-options . live .
  31. Web site: How to enable Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) on Windows 10 Windows Central . 13 May 2020 . 5 August 2020 . 12 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200612063831/https://www.windowscentral.com/how-enable-windows-recovery-environment-windows-10 . live .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Windows Preinstallation Environment".

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