197 replies to this topic

[downloadonly]

OK can I pose a question?

I may understand (and only up to a certain point, i.e. only within the limits of some specific fields) the *need* for a 64 bit OS.

But WHAT is the actual *need* for a 64 bit PE?

As far as I can see, [some] UEFI firmwares are only able to boot x64 Windows off a GPT disk, mainly because WinLoad.EFI only exists as a 64-bit variant. USB flashdisks (using MBR) or DVDs (using unpartitionned media) provide a derivated way, but it means a distinct media; if you want to put WinPE or something closely derived from it (read WinRE) on a GPT volume, you'll need 64-bit PE, I think.

[AYColumbia]

Hi,
The Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) for Windows® 8 is updated for release, i.e., not a preview any longer. The link is for the small setup that will allow you to download the full installer (actually multiple installers) which requires about 3.4GB.

Edited by AYColumbia, 29 August 2012 - 02:31 AM.

[ericgl]

Hi,
The Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) for Windows® 8 is updated for release, i.e., not a preview any longer. The link is for the small setup that will allow you to download the full installer (actually multiple installers) which requires about 3.4GB.

Actually, you can use the small adksetup.exe to download the entire Win8 ADK (2.55GB) to a folder of your choosing, like this:

adksetup.exe /layout [path to download folder]

[allgames71]

hello sir and everybody :

You have a nice tutorial here. I've already create a Win8pe with BSExplorer and all my software in it.

In your tutorial , you didn't mention about how to integrate "Windows Explorer" and "Computer" in the Win8PE.

Do you have any idea how to integrate them in Win8PE ?

Thanks.

[AYColumbia]

Actually, you can use the small adksetup.exe to download the entire Win8 ADK (2.55GB) to a folder of your choosing, like this:

adksetup.exe /layout [path to download folder]

The installer has that option in its UI already so you can choose the download folder if you choose to download the whole thing. No need to run it from the command line unless you prefer that.

[ericgl]

... In your tutorial , you didn't mention about how to integrate "Windows Explorer" and "Computer" in the Win8PE.

This WinPE is rather minimalistic, and does not include a desktop experience. I use Q-dir as a replacement for Windows Explorer.
If you're looking for a WinPE that has a desktop shell with the taskbar and icons, there are other projects that provide this functionality, such as ones created by Wimb's tools.
Oh, and there is also a nice project called Win7PE SE.

[allgames71]

Sir and everybody : Thanks for all your answers. I've already download the full package of Win8 ADK. I've made my Win8PE with BSExplorer , it's got desktop , taskbar and start menu. Also I use Q-Dir and Explorer++ to substitute Windows Explorer. But it doesn't have the disk management , so I use some partition tools instead. In China , somebody has already made a Win8PE something called "South Lion King" in Chinese , there , it has "Windows Explorer" and "Computer" with "Disk Management" when right click mouse. So all I want is how to modify the Win8PE registry ? And what files to add to Win8PE to have the Windows Explorer. Thanks.

[earnie]

Did anyone had luck with adding WOW64 to any WinPE 4.0 64Bit yet? I would like to use such a PE to be able to boot on "UEFI secure boot" enabled machines. Thanks.

[ericgl]

earnie,
Try Make_PE3 or Win7PE_SE. They both work great and have the WoW64 support.

[decryption]

Thanks so much for this tutorial - works great!

I have two questions though:

- How would I go about adding VSS support? (so I can use Disk2VHD)
- Can you add apps that are not portable into the WinPE installation? (e.g: vmWare Converter)

Thanks again

[ericgl]

decryption,

If you need these things, I would suggest creating a Windows 8 To Go.
It's the full Windows 8 OS running directly from a flash drive. Much more capable than anything "portable" you see on this forum.

[decryption]

decryption,

If you need these things, I would suggest creating a Windows 8 To Go.
It's the full Windows 8 OS running directly from a flash drive. Much more capable than anything "portable" you see on this forum.

Oh cool - I had no idea Windows 8 To Go existed. Thanks again dude - you're a genius

[earnie]

earnie,
Try Make_PE3 or Win7PE_SE. They both work great and have the WoW64 support.

Thanks ericgl
yes they both work great and have WoW64 but lack the "UEFI Secure Boot" that I need in my case (only Win8/WinPE4.0 64Bit has this feature)
I saw you discussed WoW64 injection into PE4.0 somewhere else, therefore I was wondering if you or anyone else had success with this so far. When I tried to copy all *.reg and files mentioned in the wow scripts of Make_pe into a WinPe4.0, I got "Side-By-Side configuration" errors. I wonder if more is needed for this to work, I also saw some patching of smss.exe in the scripts, but I guess the patch is not compatible with Windows 8's smss.exe anymore?

[wimb]

SxS_7PE_SFX.exe in folder Make_PE3MULTISxS_Fix_Win7PE made by JFX solves most Side by Side errors in Win7PE

VHD_W8_Compact 5.0 - Make Portable Windows 8 - Size 1.3 GB in 1.8 GB VHD on USB might be interesting for you
http://www.911cd.net...8C

[scj6771]

What's the bottom line here? Will this work on a Windows 8 64-bit machine? I have used it successfully on a Windows Vista 32-bit machine, but a Windows 8 64-bit machine would not boot to it?

[ericgl]

scj6771,

 

WinPE3 and WinPE4 are supposed to be used on a portable drive (HDD, SSD or flash drive), and the installed OS on the internal drive does not matter.

 

There are many apps today that are offered as native 64bit. I would suggest you create a 64bit WinPE4.0, and just put 64bit apps on it.

 

32bit operating-systems and apps are a "dying breed". Harsh, but true.

[ericgl]

If anyone here want to try to manually add WoW64 functionality into a WinPE4.0 64bit, here's a script made by JFX and ChrisR:

http://w8pese.spam.net/Projects/Win8PESE/Build/5-Wow64.script

 

But you can simply use ChrisR's Win8PE_SE to create an ISO file with a nice GUI and all.

get it from here: w8pese.spam.net/Compressed/

[ericgl]

Guys,

I've just found a new free app-launcher called TBlauncher (created by Terabyte Unlimited). There are 32bit and 64it versions.

Looks like a good alternative for Pstart.

 

Download the following zip and inside you can find both:

http://www.terabyteu.../wp/tbwinre.zip

 

tblauncher.exe for 32bit WinPE.

tblauncher64.exe for 64bit WinPE.

 

So now we have a good standalone FREE app launcher for whichever architecture we want!

[ambralivio]

@ ercgl,

 

are you sure tblauncher can make that ?

 

It seems it is an "environment" laucher , rather than an app launcher lke Pstart !!!!!!!

or, I missed something.

 

ambralivio

[ericgl]

ambralivio,

Well, the interface is a bit cluncky. There is no support for drag-n-drop, and adding apps requires manual editing of the tblauncher.INI file.
Also, TBlauncher is not DPI-aware, as the text on the buttons is overflowing outside (for example, the Shut-Down text is a bit outside of the button's boundaries).
Finally, the window is not resizable, which is a wierd limitation.

I have managed to add some portable apps, as you can see in this screenshot:


So now after I've tested it, it's not so great, but at least it works.

 

This guy also managed to get it going nicely:

http://forums.mydigi...ll=1#post697187

[wimb]

UEFI + BIOS bootable USB-stick with Win8 Recovery folder sources\boot.wim

is made with few mouseclicks in Win 8 Configuration > Recovery menu

 

I have made TBx64.exe AutoIt3 program and added to system32 in Win8 Recovery boot.wim

Remove winpeshl.ini and add modified startnet.cmd to launch TBx64.exe and Recovery Environment.

 

TBx64.exe will search for TBLauncher64.exe found e.g. in in root of USB-stick.

All Apps can be in root of USB-stick and launched from TBLauncher Menu.

 

On booting from USB-stick then Recovery environment appears auto with TBLauncher Menu.

One can launch e.g. WinNTSetup2_x64.exe and prepare drive for install of any Windows e.g. XP

 

[attachment=14129:W8_REC.jpg]

 

I would like to make better picture.

Do you know PrintScreen program that works in x64 Win8 Recovery environment ?

 

 

Download TBx64.7z from http://www.mediafire.../?233dka636369k

 

[ericgl]

Wimb,

 

I have at least 3 portable screen capture applications, but they are all 32bit only.

I can't find a single screen-capture app that is pure 64bit.

 

 

EDIT:

Looks like WinSnap 4.05 has both 32bit and 64bit executables (but it's not a free app).

[wimb]

Looks like WinSnap 4.05 has both 32bit and 64bit executables (but it's not a free app).

 

Thanks for the info.

I tried WinSnapx64.exe in Win8 x64 Recovery Environment, but cannot yet get it working.

It seems it is not to portable and there are missing files e.g. oledlg.dll (adding did not work either).

 

May be someday we have Portable X64 Screen Capture program .....

 

 

After using Dism to add-package WinPE-HTA.cab of ADK to Win 8 x64 Recovery boot.wim
then WinSnap x64 is working OK.

 

amd64\WinPE_OCs\WinPE-HTA.cab
amd64\WinPE_OCs\en-us\WinPE-HTA_en-us.cab

 

[attachment=14148:WIN8_REC-2.png]

 

[ericgl]

Wimb,

WinSnap working fine on my WinPE4.0 x64.

My WinPE4.0 is very standard with very little modifications.

Here's a screenshot I just took on the WinPE4.0 with WinSnap v4.05 x64:

 

[babjanlnt]

Hi,

Is it possible to add UMDF drivers to WINPE 4.0??

Please let me know if anyone has tried this. Thank you.