Choose Your Windows PE Options
5/10/2007
You must use the Windows PE Toolkit or OEM Preinstall Kit (OPK) before actually burning the CD. When creating the .iso file, which is the image file of the entire CD, you must use the Oscdimg tool and ETFSboot.com. These are only available in the Windows PE toolkit or the OPK. Oscdimg.exe creates the .iso file, and ETFSboot.com creates the CD boot sector. If you use other software to create the .iso image, the CD will not boot. Once you have created the .iso file you can burn the CD with any software that burns an ISO-9660 compliant image.
Windows PE is available in the following two forms:
- Self-contained version
Windows PE is supplied on either Windows XP Embedded CD-ROM Disc 1 or a separate Windows PE disc. In this form, it can be used as a boot disc to perform many development tasks. You can also include it on a recovery CD, deployment disc, or field upgrade disc, along with SDI, to enable installation and deployment of the SDI image.
To use this version in your CD-ROM or deployment, copy the entire I386 folder (the folder and folder name) from Windows XP Embedded CD-ROM Disc 1. - Customizable version
You may also create your own customized version of Windows PE with a separately licensed Windows PE toolkit, or with the Windows PE tools included in the OPK.
To create a customizable version, follow the instructions in the Windows PE Help provided with the Windows PE toolkit and the OPK.
You can obtain the Windows PE toolkit from your Microsoft Windows Embedded distributor. For more information, see this Microsoft Web site.
In either form, there are specific licensing restrictions governing the use of and redistribution of Windows PE. For more information, see the appropriate license that accompanies your version.
The following table shows how you may incorporate Windows PE with your Windows XP Embedded distribution.
| Distribution method | Description |
|---|---|
Recovery CD |
Includes Windows PE and SDI as the recovery image. Typically ships with the device to be used in the field on the physical device to reinstall the factory image. |
Field upgrade CD |
Includes Windows PE and SDI as an image that can be used to upgrade an embedded device that has been running Windows NT Embedded, or a non-Microsoft operating system. Requires a signed 2004 version of the Field Upgrade Additional Rights Agreement (indirect) or Version 2 Field Upgrade Schedule (direct). You can ship this CD separate from the device, so that it can be deployed in the field. |
Deployment CD or RIS server |
Includes Windows PE and SDI for in-factory deployment. You can use these together to deploy your initial installation to an embedded device by using a deployment disc, or by using a RIS server. For more information, see Deploy an SDI Image from a Network. You can ship this CD separate from the device, so that it can be deployed in the field. |
See Also
Tasks
Assemble Recovery Disc Components
Create an SDI File on Your Development Computer
Concepts
How to Create a Device Recovery CD by Using Windows PE and SDI