Copy an applications folder to a WinPE image and burn it to disk

I normally use a built-in WinPE builder from an application(like Acronis/Macrium) and use WAIK which is installed on my pc to create a WinPE bootable disk. Now a friend was asking me earlier, "How can I copy an applications folder to a WinPE image and burn it to disk?"

He previously has asked customer support of the product he wants to create a WinPE disk but said program did not have a builder. He got a reply, "You can install the Partition Wizard on your computer first, then copy the Partition Wizard folder to the WinPE image and burn it to the disk."

Earlier I just learned that said customer support was not keen on helping him make one(WinPE) stating that Microsoft has discontinued it etc etc--lame He has WAIK installed on his pc but could not help him make the WinPE for Partition Wizard Pro as there was no builder included. Kindly see the image attached of winpe_x86 folder in C:\, http://postimage.org/image/xk9nbb01d/

Can you help me how to make a WinPE bootable disk for Partition Wizard Pro for my friend please. This is new to me as mentioned have always relied on the builder for my applications and I and just a starter using WinPE. Here I see WinPE 4 and a universal PE! Anyway, just this one so I can help him out.

First it is going to important that the app be tested before burning the disc with the software included. I usually handle this phase by burning just the PE disc (actually I use PXE boot but same thing). Then boot into the PE. Make sure your software is available on a USB key or other method. Copy it to the PE, probably make a folder in Program Files. Then try to run it. You might want to put Depends in your PE as well so you can see if you are missing any files. Then when you are sure the app works properly, you can put the app folder into your PE build and burn the disc.

To actually add the folder to the PE, you'll have to mount the boot.wim using DISM, which lets you access the PE image offline. The boot.wim is located in the Sources folder in your screenshot (or it should be anyways).

Thank you for the reply there Tripredacus. I am getting confused as I do not really understand all of it. Pardon for the very newbie approach here. Really am very new here and have been (as stated) dependednt on builders/plugins  such as that of Acronis/Macrium. So I'd like to try it out on a partition (F:\)prior helping my friend through your help.

You said,
 

I usually handle this phase by burning just the PE disc (actually I use PXE boot but same thing)

-- How can I do that? Burn just the PE disc?

I was reading on some info on technet about:

Create a Custom Windows PE Image  http://technet.micro...ibrary/cc709665(v=WS.10).aspx
Building a Windows PE Image  http://technet.micro...ibrary/cc766066(v=WS.10).aspx

I did the,

copype.cmd <architecture> <destination>
copype.cmd x86 F:\winpe_x86
 

http://www.bild.me/b...urces_empty.jpg
 

Will I mount that? Is this correct mounting...(again I am basing this on the links give above)

imagex /mountrw F:\winpe_x86\winpe.wim 1 F:\winpe_x86\mount

If this is correct, from there what will I do to burn the PE disc?


Assuming I had burned the PE disc,

Make sure your software is available on a USB key or other method

.
-- I installed the program Minitool Partition Wizard Pro in the pc. C:\Program Files\MiniTool Partition Wizard Professional Edition 7.7. Will copy that to a usb stick...I mean that whole folder from the Program Files..?

Copy it to the PE, probably make a folder in Program Files. Then try to run it.

-- Will copy,

C:\Program Files\MiniTool Partition Wizard Professional Edition 7.7 to F:\winpe_x86\mount..?

http://www.bild.me/b...531396mount.jpg

 

To actually add the folder to the PE, you'll have to mount the boot.wim using DISM, which lets you access the PE image offline.

-- How can I mount using DISM..?

The boot.wim is located in the Sources folder in your screenshot (or it should be anyways).

-- I did not find that "boot.wim" there in the sources folder. F:\winpe_x86\ISO\sources

Somehow I maybe doing this incorrectly...sorry for that..Can you help me out please..

Thanks.

Jcon99

Edited by Jcon99, 28 February 2013 - 09:22 PM.

Sorry. First here is a good guide on how to build a PE manually:

http://www.msfn.org/...yment-using-pe/

I use this method, which you see will copy the winpe.wim to sources\boot.wim.

Now, because you are saying you are going to be using a CD, I recommended that you don't immediately copy your program into your PE because its quite likely it won't work on the first attempt. This means wasted CDs. If you used USB, it would be easier since they can be re-used.

To test your program, if there is no portable version, you can try copying it from its installed source (Windows PC). You say this location:

C:\Program Files\MiniTool Partition Wizard Professional Edition 7.7

Put the MiniTool folder on your USB key. Boot your CD, insert your USB key. You can use diskpart to determine what the drive letter of your USB key is. Copy the MiniTool folder to x:\"program files". Then CD into that dir and try to run the EXE to see if it works properly.

If it does, then you can mount your boot.wim (or winpe.wim actually would be in the same root that the mount sits in) and put it into Mount\Program Files. Since I don't use my PEs as an OS replacement or thin client, I keep all my files in System32, since that is the default location for startnet.cmd. Where you put the files really doesn't matter.

Mounting command:

DISM /MOUNT-WIM /WIMFILE:e:\transfer\boot_images\winpe4\boot.wim /MOUNTDIR:c:\winpe_x86\mount

and when done

DISM /UNMOUNT-WIM /MOUNTDIR:c:\winpe_x86\mount /COMMIT

use /DISCARD to not save changes. You must make sure you are not viewing the contents of Mount or sub-dirs or DISM will give you an error.

DISM is not case-sensitive, CAPS in the switches for illustrative purposes, you can use lower or mixed case if you want.

Sorry. First here is a good guide on how to build a PE manually:

http://www.msfn.org/...yment-using-pe/

I use this method, which you see will copy the winpe.wim to sources\boot.wim.

 

Now, because you are saying you are going to be using a CD, I recommended that you don't immediately copy your program into your PE because its quite likely it won't work on the first attempt. This means wasted CDs. If you used USB, it would be easier since they can be re-used.

 

To test your program, if there is no portable version, you can try copying it from its installed source (Windows PC). You say this location:

C:\Program Files\MiniTool Partition Wizard Professional Edition 7.7

 

Put the MiniTool folder on your USB key. Boot your CD, insert your USB key. You can use diskpart to determine what the drive letter of your USB key is. Copy the MiniTool folder to x:\"program files". Then CD into that dir and try to run the EXE to see if it works properly.

 

If it does, then you can mount your boot.wim (or winpe.wim actually would be in the same root that the mount sits in) and put it into Mount\Program Files. Since I don't use my PEs as an OS replacement or thin client, I keep all my files in System32, since that is the default location for startnet.cmd. Where you put the files really doesn't matter.

 

Mounting command:

 

DISM /MOUNT-WIM /WIMFILE:e:\transfer\boot_images\winpe4\boot.wim /MOUNTDIR:c:\winpe_x86\mount

and when done

DISM /UNMOUNT-WIM /MOUNTDIR:c:\winpe_x86\mount /COMMIT

use /DISCARD to not save changes. You must make sure you are not viewing the contents of Mount or sub-dirs or DISM will give you an error.

 

DISM is not case-sensitive, CAPS in the switches for illustrative purposes, you can use lower or mixed case if you want.

Hello Tripredacus,

Thanks for the reply. I am in the office right now but I will check it out when I get home in a couple of hours. I woll definitely check it out. Incidentally I have a cd-rw but I have a usb stick that I can use. Problem is sometimes the usb stick is not being read/detected properly (sometimes only). Will check it out.

Will be back to report what happened. Hello,

Thanks for the reply. I am in the office right now but I will check it out when I get home in a couple of hours. I woll definitely check it out. Incidentally I have a cd-rw but I have a usb stick that I can use. Problem is sometimes the usb stick is not being read/detected properly (sometimes only). Will check it out.

Will be back to report what happened.