Wpeinit and Startnet.cmd: Using WinPE Startup Scripts

Use Wpeinit and Startnet.cmd to run startup scripts when Windows PE (WinPE) first runs.

Wpeinit outputs log messages to C:\Windows\system32\wpeinit.log.

Startnet.cmd

You can add customized command-line scripts in Windows PE by using Startnet.cmd. By default, Windows PE includes a Startnet.cmd script located at %SYSTEMROOT%\System32 of your customized Windows PE image.

Startnet.cmd starts Wpeinit.exe. Wpeinit.exe installs Plug and Play devices, processes Unattend.xml settings, and loads network resources.

For more info, see WinPE: Mount and Customize.

Wpeinit

Wpeinit syntax

Wpeinit [-unattend:<path_to_answer_file>]

Wpeinit example

Wpeinit -unattend:"C:\Unattend-PE.xml"

Supported Unattend settings

You can create an answer file and include any of the following settings for use with Windows PE:

• Microsoft-Windows-Setup/Display
• Microsoft-Windows-Setup/EnableFirewall
• Microsoft-Windows-Setup/EnableNetwork
• Microsoft-Windows-Setup/LogPath
• Microsoft-Windows-Setup/PageFile
• Microsoft-Windows-Setup/Restart
• Microsoft-Windows-Setup/RunAsynchronous
• Microsoft-Windows-Setup/RunSynchronous

Related topics

WinPE: Identify drive letters with a script

WinPE for Windows 10

Winpeshl.ini Reference: Launching an app when WinPE starts

WinPE: Mount and Customize

Unattended Windows Setup Reference