Using WinPE 2.0 to Deploy an Image Larger than One DVD

This article describes the secret art of deploying an image larger than one DVD using WinPE 2.0. "Why WinPE 2.0?" The answer is simple: WinPE2.0 loads to a RAM-Disk instead of loading directly from a CD/DVD. This allows you to remove the disc while it is running.

Please note that this article describes only how to use the 32bit version of WinPE2.0. In order to use the 64bit version, you would need to build a 64bit WinPE2.0 on a 64bit system. Also your image would have to be captured in 64bit mode. Basically all computers involved need to be using 64bit hardware/software.

Required Tools (all items listed as links to the software):

• Windows Vista WAIK
• ISO mounting tool Such as Daemon Tools
• Microsoft Virtual PC (for testing before burning)

The first step is to install the WAIK onto your build computer. Open the .img file that you downloaded in Daemon tools to prevent you from having to burn the CD/DVD or you can burn and insert the DVD.

Click to view.

Click windows AIK setup and follow the wizard to install. I installed mine to the D drive to save space on my system drive.

Click to view.

Go to program files->windows AIK-Winpe Tools command prompt.

Type the following commands:

mkdir mywinpe
imagex /apply x86\winpe.wim 1 mywinpe

Click to view.

In order to use the VB scripts I setup for the imaging process you need to install scripting support into WinPE. Type the following command:

peimg /install=WinPE-Scripting-Package mywinpe

Click to view.

Next run the following commands to prep and compress the customized boot.wim file:

peimg /prep mywinpe     (you need to confirm this by typing yes)
imagex /boot /compress max /capture mywinpe boot.wim "Winpe2.0"

Click to view.

Now lets mount and customize our boot.wim file

Type:

mkdir mount
imagex /mountrw boot.wim 1 mount

Click to view.

You can skip this section (bolded) if you do not want to customize an installer script in your winpe image. I recommend doing this though because it makes it much nicer to use and only takes a few minutes to setup.

Now minimize the command window but keep it open and browse to the folder you mounted the boot.wim in. My folder is D:\waik\Tools\PETools\mount because I installed the waik to my d drive. By default it is under c:\program files\Windows AIK\tools\petools\mount.

You will see a windows directory under mount.

Open the windows directory and then system32.

Create a new text file and paste the following into it:

wscript.sleep(2000)
set objscripting = wscript.createobject("wscript.shell")
set FSO = createobject ("scripting.filesystemobject")
set coldrives = FSO.drives
for each objdrive in coldrives
if objdrive.drivetype=4 then
driveletter=objdrive.driveletter
answer=MsgBox("Would you like to install the image?",4,"Image install")
if answer = 6 then

wscript.echo("Enter the Imaging DVD into the "&objdrive&" drive")
objscripting.run("cmd /c start rdeployt -md -f "&driveletter&":\image.exe")
end if
end if
next

Save and then rename the txt file to image.vbs.

Make sure you place it in the mounted windows\system32 directory.

Edit the startnet.cmd (in the same directory) to have the following contents:

wpeinit
wscript image.vbs

Here is a screen capture of my finished edit of the files:

Click to view.

Browse to the express share of your Altiris server ->rdeploy->windows folder and copy the rdeployt.exe file into the windows\system32 directory of the boot.wim mount

Click to view.

Click to view.

Now let's commit the changes to the boot.wim file. Maximize the Windows pe Tools command prompt windows and type:

imagex /unmount /commit mount

Click to view.

Next create the PE build tree by typing:

copype.cmd x86 buildpe

Click to view.

Overwrite the default boot.wim with our customized one by typing:

copy ..\boot.wim iso\sources\boot.wim

Click to view.

Finally lets build the actual winpe2.0 iso file by typing:

oscdimg -n -betfsboot.com iso winpe2.0.iso

Click to view.

Leave the Windows PE tools Command Prompt open but minimize the window for now.

Test this ISO by mounting it via Daemon Tools and booting to it using Microsoft's Virtual PC 2007. (under the CD menu select "use physical drive" and the drive letter of your virtually mounted CD)

Here is a screen-shot of test booting to the new iso file.

Click to view.

Burn this ISO to a disc and set it aside. It can be used as a "Master" boot disc for all of your large images.

For each large image create a set of DVDs. Rename the image files to image.exe, image.002 image.003, image.004, etc. 2 2.0gb image parts should fit on one single layer dvd.

Enjoy! :)