How to modify a WinPE iso to also have the ability to install Windows from the WinPE

Question

I want to use an existing WinPE.wim to troubleshoot problems and run Windows' install's setup.exe, with a desktop shortcut linking to it.

Is this as simple as adding a desktop shortcut to folders containing the setup/install file?
Where can I find information on modifying a WinPE.wim and rebuilding it?

JW0914 · Accepted Answer · 2025-01-22T20:23:07.060

Is this as simple as adding a desktop shortcut to folders containing the setup/install file?

No, as WinPE is a self-contained boot WIM [Windows IMage] containing WinPE OCs [Optional Components]:

WinPE-Setup is required for Windows Setup, which has seven configuration passes:
- Upon selecting Install: windowsPE
- Setup boots to WinPE: offlineServicing, specialize
- Setup boots to Windows: auditSystem, auditUser, oobeSystem

Where can I find information on modifying a WinPE.wim and rebuilding it?

Microsoft Docs, with two routes for customizing a WinPE.wim/WinRE.wim:

Build your own:
- Recommended over customizing an existing custom WIM, as it's more storage efficient and doesn't add a significant amount of time to customization
Create one using WinPESE, which creates a normal Windows GUI within WinPE:
- Cons: the WinPE.wim/WinRE.wim balloons from ~320MB to ~1.5GB+ and the larger the WIM, the longer it takes to boot it, as all data within the WIM has to be mounted [extracted] to a virtual partition [X:]
- Pros: Offers a whole host of advanced troubleshooting tools and, if regularly capturing WIMs of the C: partition, allows for basic work to still be done while booted to WinPE

PreReqs:

Install Windows ADK and WinPE files:
1. ADK (Win7: AIK) for the version of Windows installed
  ^{(Setup: Windows Preinstallation Environment)}
2. ADK: Windows PE Add-On is separate
  ^{(ADK still required)}

Open an Admin terminal: +R → powershell → Ctrl+Shift+OK

Update system PATH:
^{(Update paths accordingly if not using Win10 or an x64 OS)}

Cmd /c Setx /m Path "%PATH%;C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Deployment Tools;C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Deployment Tools\amd64\BCDBoot;C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Deployment Tools\amd64\DISM;C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Deployment Tools\amd64\Oscdimg;C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Deployment Tools\WSIM;C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Windows Preinstallation Environment;"

Close, then reopen, the Admin terminal to reload $env:PATH

Build WinPE Filesystem

Required:

Mount WinPE boot image:

# Load ADK variables:
  Cmd /K "C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Deployment Tools\DandISetEnv.bat"
Copy WinPE files to working directory C:\WinPE:
CopyPE amd64 "C:\WinPE"
Mount WinPE WIM:
Dism /Mount-Image /ImageFile:"C:\WinPE\media\sources\boot.wim" /Index:1 /MountDir:"C:\WinPE\mount"

Add WinPE Optional Components:

# Create OCs directory link in working directory C:\WinPE:
  MkLink /J "C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Windows Preinstallation Environment\amd64\WinPE_OCs" "C:\WinPE\OCs"
Add OCs: (OC and language CABs required for each OC)
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs&lt;name>.cab"
  Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\en-us&lt;name>_en-us.cab"

The following are the minimum I recommend:
^{(dependencies exist, add in the order listed)}

PreReqs:
WinPE-WMI.cab, WinPE-NetFx.cab, WinPE-Scripting.cab

Filesystem:
WinPE-EnhancedStorage.cab, WinPE-FMAPI, WinPE-SecureStartup
Networking:
WinPE-Dot3Svc.cab, WinPE-PPPoE, WinPE-RNDIS.cab, WinPE-WDS-Tools.cab, WinPE-WiFi-Package.cab
PowerShell:
WinPE-PowerShell.cab, WinPE-DismCmdlets.cab, WinPE-PlatformID,WinPE-SecureBootCmdlets.cab, WinPE-StorageWMI
Recovery:
WinPE-Rejuv.cab, WinPE-SRT.cab, WinPE-WinReCfg
Setup:
WinPE-Setup
Depending on use-case: WinPE-Setup-Client.cab, WinPE-Setup-Server.cab

Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\WinPE-WMI.cab.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\en-us\WinPE-WMI.cab_en-us.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\WinPE-NetFx.cab.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\en-us\WinPE-NetFx.cab_en-us.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\WinPE-Scripting.cab.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\en-us\WinPE-Scripting.cab_en-us.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\WinPE-EnhancedStorage.cab.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\en-us\WinPE-EnhancedStorage.cab_en-us.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\WinPE-FMAPI.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\en-us\WinPE-FMAPI_en-us.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\WinPE-SecureStartup.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\en-us\WinPE-SecureStartup_en-us.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\WinPE-Dot3Svc.cab.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\en-us\WinPE-Dot3Svc.cab_en-us.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\winpe-pppoe.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\en-us\winpe-pppoe_en-us.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\winpe-rndis.cab.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\en-us\winpe-rndis.cab_en-us.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\winpe-wds-tools.cab.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\en-us\winpe-wds-tools.cab_en-us.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\winpe-wifi-package.cab.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\en-us\winpe-wifi-package.cab_en-us.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\winpe-powershell.cab.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\en-us\winpe-powershell.cab_en-us.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\winpe-dismcmdlets.cab.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\en-us\winpe-dismcmdlets.cab_en-us.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\winpe-platformid.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\en-us\winpe-platformid_en-us.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\winpe-securebootcmdlets.cab.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\en-us\winpe-securebootcmdlets.cab_en-us.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\winpe-storagewmi.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\en-us\winpe-storagewmi_en-us.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\winpe-rejuv.cab.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\en-us\winpe-rejuv.cab_en-us.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\winpe-srt.cab.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\en-us\winpe-srt.cab_en-us.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\winpe-winrecfg.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\en-us\winpe-winrecfg_en-us.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\winpe-setup.cab"
Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\OCs\en-us\winpe-setup_en-us.cab"

Set WinPE default temp space to 512MB: (default: 32MB)
```
Dism /Set-ScratchSpace:512 /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount"
```

Optional - Add custom:

Drivers: ^{(Network drivers)}

Dism /Add-Driver /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /Driver:"C:\Path\to\driver.inf"

Files/directories: Copy to C:\WinPE\mount

QDir Portable provides an Explorer-like GUI with advanced functionality and is highly customizable via its Q-Dir.ini

Enable to view hidden files in WinPE's SYSTEM Registry hive:

# Load WinPE SYSTEM hive:
  Reg Load HKLM\WinPE "C:\WinPE\mount\Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM"
Show hidden files:
Reg Add HKLM\WinPE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced /v Hidden /t REG_DWORD /d 1
  Reg Add HKLM\WinPE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced /v ShowSuperHidden /t REG_DWORD /d 1
Show file extensions:
Reg Add HKLM\WinPE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced /v HideFileExt /t REG_DWORD /d 0
Unload Hive:
Reg Unload HKLM\WinPE

Startup scripts to: C:\WinPE\mount\Windows\System32\Startnet.cmd
- Some settings can be managed via an answer file [C:\WinPE\mount\unattend.xml], such as firewall, network, and display settings
Startup apps (such as QDir) to: C:\WinPE\mount\Windows\System32\Winpeshl.ini

Background:

Change permissions of C:\WinPE\mount\Windows\System32\winpe.jpg:

# Change ownership to the Administrators group:
  TakeOwn /A /F "C:\WinPE\mount\Windows\System32\winpe.jpg"
Give Administrators group Full permissions:
Icacls "C:\WinPE\mount\Windows\System32\winpe.jpg" /SetOwner Administrators

Replace winpe.jpg with a custom .jpg

Power Scheme: set to Performance by adding to C:\WinPE\mount\Windows\System32\startnet.cmd:
```
powercfg /s 8c5e7fda-e8bf-4a96-9a85-a6e23a8c635c
```

If needed, apply any .msu updates to WinPE from the Microsoft Update Catalog:

# Add update package:
  Dism /Add-Package /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /PackagePath:"C:\WinPE\windows10.0-kbxxxxx.msu"
Lock in the update:
Dism /Cleanup-Image /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount\Windows" /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase

Commit changes, unmount, and export image:

# Optimize:
  Dism /Cleanup-Image /Image:"C:\WinPE\mount" /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase
Unmount:
Dism /Unmount-Image /MountDir:"C:\WinPE\mount" /Commit
Export:
Dism /Export-Image /SourceImageFile:"C:\WinPE\media\sources\boot.wim" /SourceIndex:1 /DestinationImageFile:"C:\WinPE\WinPE_Custom.wim" /DestinationName:"Customized WinPE & Includes: QDir, Show Hidden Files" /Compress:Max /Bootable /CheckIntegrity
Replace original:
Del "C:\WinPE\media\sources\boot.wim"
  Copy "C:\WinPE\WinPE_Custom.wim" "C:\WinPE\media\sources\boot.wim"

Create WinPE boot media via MakeWinPEMedia:

ISO: ^{(via OsCdImg)}

MakeWinPEMedia /Iso "C:\WinPE" "C:\WinPE\WinPE.iso"

USB:
```
MakeWinPEMedia /Ufd "C:\WinPE" F:
```

WinRE Replacement:
^{Required: WinPE-Rejuv & WinPE-SRT}

Mount WinRE partition:
DiskPart → Lis Vol → Sel Vol # → Assign Letter=Z → Exit

Configure WinRE: [ReAgentC]

# Disable WinRE:
  ReAgentC /Disable
Copy modified WinPE WIM to Recovery partition:
Del "Z:\Recovery\WindowsRE\WinRE.wim"
  Copy "C:\WinPE\media\sources\boot.wim" "Z:\Recovery\WindowsRE\WinRE.wim"
Set WinRE Path:
ReAgentC /SetREimage /Path "Z:\Recovery\WindowsRE"
Enable WinRE:
ReAgentC /Enable
Verify:
ReAgentC /Info

Unmount WinRE partition: DiskPart → Sel Vol Z → Remove → Exit

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 01 '21 at 13:54

I would suggest the following:

Create a Windows To Go boot USB from the ISO, by for example using Rufus.
See 5 Tools To Create Windows To Go USB Of Windows 10.
Copy the ISO itself to the USB
To install Windows, boot from the USB and use the mountvol command to mount the ISO as a drive and run its setup.exe.

The USB disk must be large enough to hold the To Go environment and the Windows ISO.

I cannot guarantee that this method will work, as I never tried it.

Nossy Drelich · Answer 3 · 2023-10-29T17:30:14.593

Others have already detailed the process on how to do it, if you want a pre-built winPE with that functionally, here is an incomplete list. If you want to integrate the winPE instead of the Microsoft one, just extract the boot.wim in the sources folder in the ISO, rename it to winre.wim and replace it with the one in the WindowsRE folder.

This is a tutorial how to take an existing winPE that others have made, much more functionality then the standard Microsoft one if you don't want the hassle of making one yourself.

How to modify a WinPE iso to also have the ability to install Windows from the WinPE

3 Answers3

PreReqs:

Build WinPE Filesystem

Copy WinPE files to working directory C:\WinPE:

Mount WinPE WIM:

Add OCs: (OC and language CABs required for each OC)

Show hidden files:

Show file extensions:

Unload Hive:

Give Administrators group Full permissions:

Lock in the update:

Unmount:

Export:

Replace original:

Copy modified WinPE WIM to Recovery partition:

Set WinRE Path:

Enable WinRE:

Verify:

Linked