WinPE?

[Fred Claus]

I just had a thought. I've been working on trying to create my own winPE but it's a struggle. I found an old video from Britec09 about how to use WinBuild and wonder something. I think Hirens is a form of a WinPE is it not? If so can I use WinBuild to add some apps to the Hirens WinPE instead of making my own from scratch?

 

[GTP]

Be aware that Hiren's uses a lot of software that isn't licensed for "technician use".
Gandalfs PE is a much better option.
Also, Fabs (Fabs Auto Backup) has a nice PE too.
I've used it quite a bit.

Have a look at some past threads here and here

 

[Fred Claus]

Thanks. I'm looking at the Gandalfs PE one right now but I can't find the July 2020 version. All I have is the Thanksgiving 2019 version. Reading up on how to make a WinPE with Fabs now.

 

[Fred Claus]

OK I messed something up. I downloaded the Gandalf PE, and it errored out when I tried to boot from it. I ran the Fabs WinPE per their instructions and that just booted to a black screen. Not sure what I'm doing wrong. Could it have something to do with the Ventoy tool? I created the ISO's and just added them to drive.

 

[Diggs]

Heh - I've run FABs backup from Gandalf's PE boot a few times in the past.

 

[sapphirescales]

WindowsPE sucks. Use this instead:

[Official] Best Free Windows To Go Creator Wizard Helps Create Portable Windows 11/10/8/7!

As a Windows To Go Creator Wizard alternative, WinToUSB (also called Windows To USB) allows you to install & run Windows on USB drive or Thunderbolt drive or clone currently running Windows to USB drive or Thunderbolt drive, with it you can easily create a portable Windows 11/10/8/7 on an...

www.easyuefi.com

Put it on a good external SSD like the Samsung P5/P7 and you've got a FULLY FUNCTIONAL portable Windows install. Adding programs is as easy as installing them on a regular install of Windows. Everything is saved when you shut down. This software basically allows you to use unsupported hardware to run Windows to Go. Windows to Go is officially supported by Microsoft:

Windows To Go feature overview (Windows 10) - Windows 10

Windows To Go is a feature in Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Education that lets you create a workspace that can be booted from a USB-connected drive.

docs.microsoft.com

Using this software you can use any flash drive to run Windows to Go, but I highly recommend using a high speed external SSD to run it as it is a lot more bloated than WindowsPE. But it's not slow at all on an external SSD any more than a normal install of Windows is slow on an SSD.

Be aware that you can't update this version of Windows so if you want to go to a newer build you need to start from scratch. But I'm still on 1709 and I've never had a problem.

 

[britechguy]

From the second of the above 2 referenced pages:

Important

Windows To Go is removed in Windows 10, version 2004 and later operating systems. The feature does not support feature updates and therefore does not enable you to stay current. It also requires a specific type of USB that is no longer supported by many OEMs.

 

[Porthos]

Just get this.

Download Sergei Strelec's WinPE - MajorGeeks

WinPE creates a bootable DVD or thumb drive for computer maintenance, partitioning, backup and restore, diagnostics, data recovery, and more. Backups include Acronis, Nortons Ghost, Disk2vhd, Macrium and more. Drive utilities include MiniTool, Macrorit, Defraggler, Auslogics Disk Defrag...

www.majorgeeks.com

 

[sapphirescales]

From the second of the above 2 referenced pages:

Important

Windows To Go is removed in Windows 10, version 2004 and later operating systems. The feature does not support feature updates and therefore does not enable you to stay current. It also requires a specific type of USB that is no longer supported by many OEMs.

You're not using this to browse internet porn sites or log into your bank. You're using this to backup data, run diagnostics, etc. You won't even connect it to the internet. Eventually the older builds of Windows 10 won't be supported by some software you might want to use, but that's likely 5+ years in the future. And it doesn't require specific USBs. That requirement is removed by the software I linked to.

If you REALLY feel the need to upgrade to 20H2, you can use this software created by the same company to do it:

Upgrade Windows To Go from lower version of Windows to higher version of Windows

Windows To Go Upgrader is the best software which can help you upgrade Windows To Go USB drive from Windows 10/8 to Windows 11/10, now you can use it to upgrade Windows 11 To Go to Windows 11 24H2.

www.easyuefi.com

Just because Microsoft has dropped support for something doesn't mean another company can't take over. Leave it to Microsoft to abandon something decent like Windows to Go and keep garbage like Cortana/Edge/their stupid store, etc. If I have the time I might make a new Windows to Go USB with 20H2, but I honestly don't see the benefit. 1709 will run everything I need for the foreseeable future.

 

[Fred Claus]

So what's the difference between Sergei's and Gandalfs? I don't mind paying for something but I tend to make bad choices (or at least I think I do) so I don't like to buy something without knowing more about it or seeing a demo of it. Has anyone done a full review of the Gandalf one? I'd like to see it if I have to spend 20.00 to get it.

 

[GTP]

I use Gandalf's PE lots. I can run WRT from it where I have access to all of my tools/scrips/programs.
It works perfectly and I rarely use the inbuilt software that comes with the PE.

I just download the .iso to my IODD and boot it from there.

So easy its silly.

 

[NviGate Systems]

I built mine using http://win81se.cwcodes.net/, supports SecureBoot. I did this because my initial builds with the then available Win10 PE was spotty. That might have changed, it was a while ago (2017) but I did allot of manual changes and hacks, so things probably have changed.

It's worth it to roll your own if you want full control.

 

[Dave 1973]

I've used Sergei Strelec's for several years with good luck. I put it on a stick with Rufus. I like it because
it has almost any tool you might need, is updated 2 or 3 times a year and is free.
It comes with a Win 10 or Win 8 boot option on it's start menu. I usually use the Win 8
option because it loads faster and is more responsive.

 

[Fred Claus]

I use Gandalf's PE lots. I can run WRT from it where I have access to all of my tools/scrips/programs.
It works perfectly and I rarely use the inbuilt software that comes with the PE.

I just download the .iso to my IODD and boot it from there.

So easy its silly.

I'm leaning toward Gandalf, but I can't seem to find much information about it before I purchase the current version. Those of you that purchase say version five, do you get upgraded to version six or do you have to repurchase it?

 

[GTP]

I have the Redstone version. Not sure what version number it is because I dont really care. I dont use any of the inbuilt stuff I use it for the environment only.
I run all my tools from my IODD in that booted up environment.
Like WRT with all my tools includeing Fabs and about 200 other scripts tools and programs.

I'm not fussed about whether its the latest version or not.

 

[Markverhyden]

With Gandalf what you buy is what you get from what I have seen. No upgrades, etc included.

 

[Larry Sabo]

I also use Gandalf Redstone version and it never lets me down, except that it won't shut down or restart the PC. That leaves me feeling a little queasy for fear a drive cache buffer will get truncated when I force a shut-down. Hasn't been a problem so far.

 

[Diggs]

it won't shut down

Same here! What's with that?

(Redstone is version 3)

 

[Larry Sabo]

Same here! What's with that?

No idea. Anyone use the "paid" version and not have that problem?

 

[Markverhyden]

No idea. Anyone use the "paid" version and not have that problem?

With mine I've had occasional issues where the desktop will disappear if I don't use it right away or even not show up. Don't remember having any issues with it shutting though. My version was from the beginning of the year.