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.

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.

Anonymous
January 10, 2007
The steps to create a lab installation are easy with Windows Vista AIK. With a clear idea of what you
Anonymous
July 18, 2007
good
Anonymous
January 14, 2008
Thanks for posting the article -- it's been a great help -- got me up and running with a bootable CD in minutes ! Thanks
Anonymous
February 14, 2008
thank you for this mate, the copy of the script i had from Microsoft was incorrect, did yours and away we go!!