![]() Windows PE 10.0 (based onWindows 11), showingWindows Command Prompt,Registry Editor andWindows Task Manager | |
Developer | Microsoft |
---|---|
Source model | |
Released to manufacturing | 2002; 23 years ago (2002) |
Latest release | 10.0.26100.1 / May 22, 2024; 9 months ago (2024-05-22) |
Kernel type | Hybrid |
License | Freeware |
Official website | learn |
Windows Preinstallation Environment (also known asWindows PE andWinPE) is a lightweight version ofWindows used for the deployment of PCs, workstations, and servers, or troubleshooting an operating system while it is offline. It is intended to replaceMS-DOSboot disks and can bebooted viaUSB flash drive,PXE,iPXE,[1]CD,DVD, orhard drive. Traditionally used by large corporations andOEMs (topreinstall Windows client operating systems on PCs during manufacturing), it is now widely availablefree of charge viaWindows Assessment and Deployment Kit (WADK) (formerlyWindows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK)).
WinPE was originally intended to be used only as a pre-installation platform for deploying Microsoft Windows operating systems, specifically to replaceMS-DOS in this respect. WinPE has the following uses:
The package can be used for developer testing or as a recoveryCD/DVD for system administrators. Many customized WinPE boot CDs packaged with third-party applications for different uses are now available from volunteers via the Internet. The package can also be used as the base of aforensics investigation to either capture a disk image or run analysis tools without mounting any available disks and thus changing state.[2]
Version 2.0 introduced a number of improvements[3] and extended the availability of WinPE to all customers, not just corporate enterprise customers by downloading and installing Microsoft's Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK).
It was originally designed and built by a small team of engineers in Microsoft's Windows Deployment team, including Vijay Jayaseelan, Ryan Burkhardt, and Richard Bond.[4]
The following versions are known to exist:
Version | Description |
---|---|
1.0 | The first release of Windows Preinstallation Environment, built fromWindows XP RTM[5] |
1.1 | Built fromWindows XP SP1[5] |
1.2 | Built fromWindows Server 2003 RTM[5] |
1.5 | Built fromWindows XP SP2[5] |
1.6 | Built fromWindows Server 2003 SP1[5] |
2.0[6][7] | Built from the first edition ofWindows Vista. This version differs from the other versions since it doesn't need the disc to load all the files.[citation needed] This means that the download is now 992 MB in size instead of 60 MB from the previous versions. It's possible to modify the default startup disc to have access to a few plug-ins likeWindows Management Instrumentation,Windows Scripting Host, additional drivers and other 32-bit applications (or 64-bit applications for 64-bit versions). Other new features include the capability for a rewritableRAM disk since WinPE version 1.x only has a recordable RAM disk. |
2.1[8] | Built fromWindows Server 2008 |
2.2 | Built fromWindows Server 2008 SP2[5] |
3.0[9] | Built fromWindows 7 code base. It is included inWAIK 2.0.[5] |
3.1[10] | Built fromWindows 7 SP1 code base. It is included in a WAIK supplementary update provided by Microsoft. |
4.0[11] | Built fromWindows 8 code base. It is included inWADK for Windows 8. |
5.0[12][13] | Built fromWindows 8.1 code base. It is included in Windows ADK for Windows 8.1. |
5.1[14][13] | It is an update for version 5.0 that is applied manually.[15] |
10.0.10240.16384 | Built fromWindows 10 code base. It is included in Windows ADK for Windows 10.[16][17] |
10.0.10586.0 | Built from Windows 10, version 1511 code base. It is included in Windows ADK for Windows 10, version 1511.[18] |
10.0.14393.0 | Built from Windows 10, version 1607 code base. It is included in Windows ADK for Windows 10, version 1607.[19] |
10.0.15063.0 | Built from Windows 10, version 1703 code base. |
10.0.16299.15 | Built from Windows 10, version 1709 code base. First version supporting ARM32 and ARM64 architecture. |
10.0.17134.1 | Built from Windows 10, version 1803 code base. |
10.0.17763.0 | Built from Windows 10, version 1809 code base. |
10.0.18362.1 | Built from Windows 10, version 1903 code base. |
10.0.19041.1 | Built from Windows 10, version 2004 code base. |
10.0.20348.1 | Built from Windows Server 2022 code base. |
10.0.22000.1 | Built fromWindows 11 code base. Last version supporting x86 and ARM32 architecture. |
10.0.22621.1[20] | Built from Windows 11, version 22H2 code base. |
10.0.25398.1[21] | Built from Windows Server, version 23H2 code base. |
10.0.26100.1[22] | Built from Windows 11, version 24H2 code base. |
Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) is a set of tools based on Windows PE to help diagnose and recover from serious errors which may be preventing Windows from booting successfully. Windows RE is installed alongsideWindows Vista and later, and may be booted from hard disks, optical media (such as an operating system installation disc) andPXE (e.g.Windows Deployment Services).[23] A copy of Windows RE is included in the installation media of the aforementioned operating systems. It is a successor to theRecovery Console.
Windows RE features include:
startrep.exe
memtest.exe
instead of loading the operating system.memtest.exe
cannot be run inside Windows.sfc /scannow
) against an offline Windows installation and repair missing or corrupt files. Tools likerobocopy
,diskpart
andDISM
can be used to perform various system tasks like recovering or backing up files, managing partitions, and fix servicing-related issues respectively.[25] In order to use the command prompt, the user must sign into an administrator account.Starting withWindows Server 2012/Windows 8, the following additional options are added:
Windows 10 adds the following:
Volumes encrypted withBitlocker can be mounted if a recovery key is available.
Windows Recovery Environment can also be installed to a hard drive partition by OEMs,[28] and customized with additional tools such as a separatesystem recovery tool for restoring the computer back to its original state.[29] As ofWindows Vista SP1, users can create their own bootable CD containing the recovery environment.
Developer(s) | Microsoft |
---|---|
Operating system | Microsoft Windows |
Type | Command |
Website | docs |
Windows includes theREAgentC
command which is used to configure a Windows REboot image and a push-button reset recovery image. It allows administration of recovery options and various customizations. TheREAgentC
tool can either be used on an offline Windows image or on a running Windows system.[30] The command requiresadministrator privileges.[31]
Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset (DaRT), sold as a part of Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack, is yet another toolset based on Windows PE that performs diagnostic and recovery on an offline copy of Windows. It canmanage files, editWindows Registry, uninstall previously installed Windowsupdates,scan system for malware andrestore deleted files.There is currently noWindows 11 version of Microsoft DaRT. It is currently unknown if there will be a DaRT11, or that DaRT will just stay onWindows 10.
Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) 2.0 is a minimal Win32 operating system with limited services, built on the Windows Vista kernel.
Windows® Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) 3.0 is a minimal Win32® operating system with limited services, built on the Windows® 7 kernel.
(WinPE) Windows PE 5.0 (WinPE) is a small operating system used to install, deploy, and repair Windows 8, Windows Server 2012 R2, and other Windows operating systems.
WinPE for Windows 8.1: Windows PE 5.1