Copyright: PE Builder - Copyright (c) 2002-2003 Bart Lagerweij. All rights reserved.


PE Builder Help Index

Introduction:

•	What is PE Builder?

•	What is Windows PE?

•	Support

•	License/Copyright

•	Release Notes

Dialog:

•	Source Dialog

•	Network Dialog

•	Options Dialog

•	Plugin Dialog

•	Output Dialog

•	Build Dialog


What is PE Builder?

Bart's PE Builder helps you build a bootable CD-Rom simular to microsoft's Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE)

PE Builder (pebuilder.exe) runs on Windows 2000/XP/2003. It does not run on Windows NT4/ME/9x.

PE Builder is written by Bart Lagerweij.

To contact Bart, look on this webpage: http://www.nu2.nu/contact/bart/


What is Windows PE?

Microsoft Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE) is a minimal operating system based on the Windows XP kernel. It will give you a complete Win32 environment with network support, a graphical user interface (800x600) and FAT/NTFS/CDFS filesystem support. Very handy for burnin testing systems with no OS, rescuing files to a network share, virus scan and so on.

Windows PE will replace any Dos bootdisk (even masterpieces like modboot and Bart's Network Bootdisk) in no time!


Support

You can run PE Builder in “verbose” mode by starting pebuilder.exe with the “-v” parameter or enable the “verbose” checkbox in the output dialog.

If you have any problems or questions about PE Builder here is where you can get more information:

•	Make sure you have the latest version, goto http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/ and check.

•	Read this manual (helpfile) carryfully, the answer to your problem maybe in it.

•	Read the PE Builder webpage, http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder.
Take special notice of the FAQ section, http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder#faq

•	Enter the CD forum, http://www.nu2.nu/forum/. Read/search the “Windows PE” forum and if you problem is not listed, become a “member” so you can post a question in the “Windows PE” forum.

•	If your problem/question is still not solved/answered you can contact the author
Please keep in mind, that the PE Builder program is put together in my “spare” time.
That time is very limited as I also work 40 hours a week.
To contact the author, read here: http://www.nu2.nu/contact/bart/

Please do not contact Microsoft for support on the Windows PE that has been “build” by Bart’s PE Builder!


Software License/Copyright

PE Builder

Copyright (c) 2002-2003 Bart Lagerweij. All rights reserved.

Please note that this license is only for the builder "PE Builder".

This license has no relation with Microsoft Windows, Windows PE or other Microsoft files!

LICENSE

1. By using and/or opening any packaging enclosing this software, expanding any compressed file containing this software or by utilizing this software, you agree to be bound by the terms of this license agreement.

2. The software, documentation and any other materials accompanying this License whether on disk, in read only memory, on any other media or in any other form (collectively the "Software") are licensed, not sold, to you by Bart Lagerweij, as well as his respective members, agents, directors, officers, servants and representatives, if any, (collectively "Licensor") for use only under the terms of this License, and Licensor reserves all rights not expressly granted to you. The rights granted herein are limited to Licensor's intellectual property rights in the Software and do not include any other patents or intellectual property rights. You own the media on which the Software is recorded but Licensor retains ownership of the Software itself. The rights granted under the terms of this License include any software upgrades that replace and/or supplement the original Software product, unless such upgrade contains a separate license.

3. Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of the Software to use, copy, publish and distribute the Software, subject to the conditions of this License.

4. This license must be included with all copies of the Software, and may not be modified from its original format as created by the Licensor. The Software may not be distributed subject to any other license.

5. This License is effective until terminated. Your rights under this License will terminate automatically without notice from Licensor or if you fail to comply with any term(s) of this License. Upon the termination of this License, you shall cease all use of the Software and destroy all copies of it, whether full or partial.

6. Selling or charging a fee for the Software is prohibited, although a fee may be charged for the act of transferring a copy and/or for the distribution media, but not for the Software itself.

7. The Software, in whole or in part, may not be incorporated with or into any other software product without written permission from Licensor.

8. You expressly acknowledge and agree that use of the software is at your sole risk and that the entire risk as to satisfactory quality, performance, accuracy and effort is with you. Licensor does not warrant against interference with your enjoyment of the software, that the functions contained in the software will meet your requirements, that the operation of the software will be uninterrupted or error-free, or that defects in the software will be corrected. Should the software prove defective, you assume the entire cost of all necessary servicing, repair or correction.

9. THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS," WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. No oral or written advice given by Licensor or by an authorized representative of Licensor shall create a warranty.

10. TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE LICENSOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO PERSONAL INJURY, OR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF DATA, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE, HOWEVER CAUSED, REGARDLESS OF THE THEORY OF LIABILITY (CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) AND EVEN IF LICENSOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

11. THIS SOFTWARE IS NOT INTENDED FOR USE IN ANY APPLICATION IN WHICH THE FAILURE OF THE SOFTWARE COULD LEAD TO DEATH, PERSONAL INJURY OR SEVERE PHYSICAL OR ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE.

12. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, LIABILITY OR LIMITATIONS ON APPLICABLE STATUTORY RIGHTS OF A CONSUMER, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSIONS AND LIMITATIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. IF SUCH EXCLUSIONS FROM LIABILITY APPLY TO YOU, DO NOT USE THIS SOFTWARE.

13. In no event shall Licensor's total liability to you for all damages exceed the amount of $50.00. The foregoing limitations will apply even if the above stated remedy fails in its essential purpose.

14. This License constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the use of the Software licensed hereunder and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous understandings regarding such subject matter. No amendment to or modification of this License will be binding unless in writing and signed by Licensor. Any translation of this License is done for local requirements and in the event of a dispute between the English and any non-English versions, the English version of this License shall govern.

15. This License will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Netherlands, as applied to agreements entered into and to be performed entirely within the Netherlands between Dutch residents. This License shall not be governed by the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, the application of which is expressly excluded.

16. If for any reason a court of competent jurisdiction finds any provision, or portion thereof, to be unenforceable, the remainder of this License shall continue in full force and effect.

U.S. GOVERNMENT RESTRICTED RIGHTS

The Software and documentation are provided with RESTRICTED RIGHTS. Use, duplication, or disclosure by the Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in subparagraph (c)(1)(ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software clause at DFARS 252.227-7013 or subparagraphs (c)(1) and (2) of the Commercial Computer Software- Restricted Rights at 48 CFR 52.227-19, as applicable.


Release Notes

Release notes and known limitations:

Diskpart.exe does not work in (Window PE) when build from Server 2003. It returns error “the disk management services could not complete the operation” There is no solution yet...

The language and keyboard support is somewhat limited. The only keyboard layout currently supported is US keyboard layout.

PE Builder has been tested and known to work using the installation files from the following versions of Windows:

•	Windows XP Home Edition (Service Pack 1) - English

•	Windows XP Professional (Service Pack 1) - English

•	Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition - English

•	Windows XP Professional (Service Pack 1) - Dutch

•	Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition - Dutch


Source Dialog

Path to Windows installation files:

Drive letter to CD or local/remote path containing one of the following versions of Windows.

•	Windows XP Home Edition (Service Pack 1)

•	Windows XP Professional (Service Pack 1)

•	Windows Server 2003, Web Edition

•	Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition

•	Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition

For example, if you use MSDN Windows server 2003 English CD-Rom, you must enter “<cdrom>:\English\Win2003\Standard” as the path to your Windows files…

(where “<cdrom>” is the driveletter of your CD-Rom drive)

Path to your already installed Windows:

Select the local or remote path to an already installed Windows system. You must point to the system’s “windir” on most systems that is “c:\windows”.

For example, if you use Windows server 2003 and you have already installed a file server called “nu2server”, for which you have the correct (admin) access to over the network you can enter “\\nu2server\admin$” or “\\nu2server\c$\windows”.

Be sure that the system you point to has the same language as your installation source files.

Add files/folders this (custom) directory:

Select a local or remote path containing any folders and files you want to add/include in the ISO image file.

NOTE: to use this, you must also enable “Create ISO Image” in the “Output” dialog.


Network Dialog

Enable Network Support:

Use this checkbox to enable or disable Network support. When you enable network support, you will have to provide PE Builder with 2 files, “netcfg.exe” and “factory.exe”. These files can also be called “x86netcfg.exe” and “x86factory.exe”.

To enable network support PE Builder requires 2 files, factory.exe and netcfg.exe.

These files are not included with PE Builder!

The 2 files can also be called x86netcfg.exe and x86factory.exe.

Please use factory.exe version 5.2.3790.0 or higher (previous versions had bugs).

You can get factory.exe from:

•	Windows Server 2003 Installation CD-Rom, extract it from \support\tools\deploy.cab.

•	Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit Tools
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=9d467a69-57ff-4ae7-96ee-b18c4790cffd&displaylang=en
Note! This kit is 12MB! Extract it from rktools.msi\Cabs.winrk.cab\deploy.cab (nested cabinet files!).

You can get the latest netcfg.exe version from:

•	Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) 1.2.

Some older version netcfg.exe can be found from:

•	Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK).

•	ERD Commander 2002.

•	Avast! BART CD Final Beta
http://www.avast.com/i_idt_227.html

•	http://web.firstone.it/aggiornamenti/Microsoft/WinXp/OPK_XP/NETCFG.EXE (v5.0.2600.0).
Did not test this file myself, but it looks OK.

When you put the 2 files in the same directory as pebuilder.exe,

PE Builder will autodetect them.

Maybe more/updated information on factory.exe and netcfg.exe can be found on the PE Builder homepage, http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

Location to netcfg.exe:

Select the local or remote path to “netcfg.exe” or “x86netcfg.exe”.

Location to factory.exe:

Select the local or remote path to “factory.exe” or “x86factory.exe”.

When you put the files in the same directory as pebuilder.exe, PE Builder will automatically put in the correct path.


Options Dialog

Enable “Press any key to boot from CD” timeout option:

When enabled you must hit a key within the timeout to boot from the CD-Rom. When no key is pressed system will boot from next bootable device.

[This screen will contain more options in future…]


Output Dialog

Output directory:

Select a local or remote path to where you want to “store” the files PE Builder copies for you. This location must have enough free space to hold these files.

Create ISO Image:

When enabled PE Builder will create the ISO image for you. Unless you are a bootable CD expert I would advice you to enable this option! Or if you want to burn it yourself, your burning application must have ISO-9660:1999 (version 2) filesystem support and also store all filenames in uppercase.

Just below the checkbox you enter the location you want the ISO image file saved.


Build Dialog

This window shows all messages generated by the builder. Building can take a few minutes, depending on how fast your system is.

The messages are also saved (at the end) to pebuilder.log

When you are tracing errors, you can search the pebuilder.log file for “error:” to find them.


Plugin

In this dialog you can enable and disable all available plugins.

Just select the plugin and hit the “Enable/Disable” button.