Knowledge Base

You need to have Acronis True Image Plug-in for BartPE installed and WinPE distribution file unpacked to build a WinPE ISO

This article applies to:

• Acronis True Image 9.1 Workstation
• Acronis True Image 9.1 Server for Windows
• Acronis True Image 9.1 Enterprise Server
• Acronis True Image Echo Workstation
• Acronis True Image Echo Server for Windows
• Acronis True Image Echo Enterprise Server

Introduction

Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE) is a minimal Windows system based on the Windows XP Professional, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Vista kernels. It can be used for repair purposes should the system become unbootable.

Solution

To create WinPE with Acronis True Image, you will need to:

1. Install Acronis True Image BartPE plug-in. See Installing Acronis True Image plug-in for BartPE in Working with Acronis True Image Plug-In for BartPE.

   Depending on the product version, Acronis WinPE ISO Builder locates Acronis True Image BartPE plug-in using one of the following registry keys:

   • Acronis True Image 9.1 Workstation: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Acronis\TrueImageWorkstation\Settings\BartPE
   • Acronis True Image 9.1 Server for Windows: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Acronis\TrueImageServer\Settings\BartPE
   • Acronis True Image 9.1 Enterprise Server: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Acronis\TrueImageEnterpriseServer\Settings\BartPE
   • Acronis True Image Echo Workstation: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Acronis\TrueImageEchoWorkstation\Settings\BartPE
   • Acronis True Image Echo Server for Windows: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Acronis\TrueImageEchoServer\Settings\BartPE
   • Acronis True Image Echo Enterprise Server: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Acronis\TrueImageEchoEnterpriseServer\Settings\BartPE

   If you move Acronis True Image BartPE plug-in to another folder after installation, change the registry key accordingly. If the above key is missing, Acronis WinPE ISO Builder will not work.

2. Insert your WinPE distribution CD into the media drive of the computer. If you have a distribution copy on the hard disk, copy the path to it. The distribution files must be unpacked and allocated in a separate folder.

   (!) Acronis does not ship WinPE distribution files. You can get it from Windows Automated Installation Kit.

3. Install Windows Automated Installation Kit;

4. Issue the following command:

   "C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\PETools\copype.cmd" x86 C:\WinPE
   

5. Select Start -> Programs -> Acronis -> Acronis True Image -> Acronis WinPE ISO Builder;

6. Specify the C:\WinPE\sources\boot.wim file to build WinPE ISO;

7. Provide a file name;

8. Rename the created file to C:\WinPE\sources\boot.wim;

9. Issue the following command in Windows command prompt:

   "C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\PETools\oscdimg.exe" -n -b"C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\PETools\x86\boot\etfsboot.com" C:\WinPE\ISO C:\test.iso
   

10. Use any third-party tool that will burn ISO image to CD or DVD.

(!) Media based on Win PE 2.0 and including Acronis True Image requires at least 512 MB of RAM to work.

More information

The Acronis Universal Restore add-on to Acronis True Image, if installed, will also be included in the ISO image.

See also Standalone Version of Acronis Backup Software.