Creating WinPE-based rescue media

To create a WinPE-based rescue media, you need to purchase and install True Image 2013 Plus Pack.

Acronis Plug-in for WinPE can be added to WinPE distributions based on any of the following kernels:

• Windows Vista (PE 2.0) (also suitable for Windows XP SP2 with KB926044 or later)
• Windows Vista SP1 (PE 2.1) (also suitable for Windows XP SP2 with KB926044 or later)
• Windows 7 (PE 3.0)
• Windows 8 (PE 4.0)

Installing Windows AIK and ADK

To be able to create or modify PE 2.x and 3.0 images, you must have Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) installed. To create PE 4.0, you should install Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK).

To install Windows AIK:

1. Depending on your operating system, download and install one of these packs:

   AIK for Windows Vista and Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or later (PE 2.0):

   http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/details.aspx?familyid=C7D4BC6D-15F3-4284-9123-679830D629F2&displaylang=en

   AIK for Windows Vista SP1 (PE 2.1):

   http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=94bb6e34-d890-4932-81a5-5b50c657de08&DisplayLang=en

   AIK for Windows 7 (PE 3.0):

   http://www.microsoft.com/DOWNLOADS/details.aspx?familyid=696DD665-9F76-4177-A811-39C26D3B3B34&displaylang=en

2. [optional] Burn the Windows AIK to DVD or copy to a flash drive.
3. Install the Microsoft .NET Framework v.2.0 from this kit (NETFXx86 or NETFXx64, depending on your hardware).
4. Install Microsoft Core XML (MSXML) 6.0 Parser from this kit.
5. Install Windows AIK from this kit.

It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the help documentation supplied with Windows AIK or Windows ADK. A good starting point is the "Create an image" section of "Getting Started for IT Professionals" white paper. To access the document, select Microsoft Windows AIK -> Documentation -> Getting Started for IT Professionals from the Start menu.

For more information on customizing Windows PE, see the Windows Preinstallation Environment User’s Guide (Winpe.chm).

To install Windows ADK:

1. Download ADK setup file for Windows 8 (PE 4.0): http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30652
2. Run the setup file and follow the wizard's steps.
3. On the last step, select Windows PE and Deployment Tools to be installed, and click the Install button.

Integrating True Image 2013 with WinPE 2.x, 3.0 or 4.0 ISO

Acronis WinPE ISO Builder provides three methods of integrating True Image 2013 with WinPE 2.x, WinPE 3.0 and WinPE 4.0:

• Creating the PE 2, PE 3 or PE 4 ISO with the plug-in from scratch.
• Adding the Acronis Plug-in to the existing PE 2, PE 3 or PE 4 ISO. This comes in handy when you have to add the plug-in to the previously configured PE 2, PE 3 or PE 4 ISO that is already in use.
• Adding the Acronis Plug-in to a WIM file for any future purpose (manual ISO building, adding other tools to the image and so on).

To be able to perform any of the above operations, True Image 2013 Plus Pack and Windows AIK or Windows ADK must be installed on your PC (see details earlier in this section).

Acronis WinPE ISO Builder supports only x86 WinPE 2.x, WinPE 3.0 and WinPE 4.0. This WinPE distribution can also work on x64 hardware.

A PE image based on Win PE 2.x or 3.0 requires at least 256MB RAM to work, for Win PE 4.0 this requirement is 512 MB.