tinyapps.org / docs / Build a custom WinPE without third party tools like WinBuilder

Tested under Windows 10 Pro x64, version 1903

0. Acquire

1. Download WAIK and install Deployment Tools therewith

2. Download and install Windows PE (no longer available from within WAIK since version 1809)

1. Create

1. Launch Deployment and Imaging Tools Environment from Start > Windows Kits with admin rights

2. copype amd64 C:\WinPE_amd64

2. Customize

1. Mount

   dism /Mount-Image /ImageFile:C:\WinPE_amd64\media\sources\boot.wim /index:1 /MountDir:C:\WinPE_amd64\mount

• Add drivers

  dism /Image:C:\WinPE_amd64\mount /Add-Driver /Driver:c:\drivers /Recurse

• Add apps
  

  md C:\WinPE_amd64\mount\windows\<MyApp>
  xcopy C:\<MyApp> C:\WinPE_amd64\mount\windows\<MyApp>

• Add files and folders - Copy desired files and folders into C:\WinPE_amd64\mount\; they will be located at the root of X:\ when WinPE is booted.

• Change background wallpaper (The Microsoft instructions inexplicably veer off into a lengthy GUI-based procedure, despite the fact we're already at the command line; here's how to stay there):

  takeown /F C:\WinPE_amd64\mount\Windows\System32\winpe.jpg
  
  icacls C:\WinPE_amd64\mount\Windows\System32\winpe.jpg /grant Administrators:F
  
  copy new-background.jpg C:\WinPE_amd64\mount\Windows\System32\winpe.jpg

3. Unmount & commit changes

• dism /Unmount-Image /MountDir:C:\WinPE_amd64\mount /Commit

4. Create ISO or bootable drive

• ISO

  MakeWinPEMedia /ISO C:\WinPE_amd64 C:\WinPE_amd64\WinPE_amd64.iso

• Bootable drive (e.g., a USB flash drive assigned F:)

  MakeWinPEMedia /UFD C:\WinPE_amd64 F:

Notes

• Additional customizations covered by Microsoft include: packages, languages, startup scripts, PowerShell support, scratch space, power scheme, WinPE settings, DISM, and Windows updates.

• Windows PE does not include a graphical shell or usable Desktop; just the wallpaper background image and cmd.exe. A simple GUI shell / file explorer can be had by running notepad.exe then clicking File → Open.

• Microsoft's Optimize and shrink the image instructions resulted in a slightly larger ISO file:
  DISM /Cleanup-Image /Image=C:\WinPE_amd64\mount /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase

• If you run into errors or just want to start over: dism /Cleanup-Mountpoints

• Besides ISO images and bootable drives, VHD output is also supported.

Sources & Further Reading

• Create bootable WinPE media

• Unmounting a wim image error

• Download and install the Windows ADK

• WinPE: The following processor architecture was not found: amd64.

• How to extract CAB File using command line tools in Windows 10/8/7

• Create a WinPE bootable disk to support Dell hardware (NIC, Mass Storage Injection)

created: 2019.07.16