Building Support Solutions with Windows PE

Mark MyersSenior Program ManagerIndustry Engagement & Engineering

What Is Windows PE?What Is Windows PE?

Windows PE is a reduced version of Microsoft’s Windows Operating Systems

ex. Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and soon Windows codenamed “Longhorn”

Windows PE is built using a command script to compile the correct binaries into a customized version of Windows PE

Replacement to MS-DOS and 16-bit dependencies. Please be aware we are ending the availability of MS-DOS Licensing as of 12/31/05

Windows PE will become the base platform for a variety of Longhorn features and support solutions

What Is Windows PEWhat Is Windows PE

There are 3 hardware-specific versions of Windows PE available as of Windows Server 2003 SP1:

x86 32-bit

x86 64-bit

Itanium

Windows PE was designed for a variety of support-based usage scenarios

As a base platform for computer manufacturing tests, diagnostics, and OS deployments

As a base platform for computer based recovery and support related solutions

As a base platform for ISV and IHV retail support oriented solutions

Kerberos

Distributed File Service STS

.NET Framework

MSMQ Transaction Service

ASP.NET

Smart Card

Windows Media Services

IIS

Active DirectoryPKIVPN RAS

WMI32/64-bit program support

Mass storage device support

Hardware (x64, x86, Itanium)

API subset

NTFS

TCPIP

Limited Drivers

Customizable Boot Environment

Directory/Security Services

Network Access Services

File/Print Services

Web Services

Media Services

Application Services

Programming Frameworks

Integrated Development

16/32-bit program support

Mass storage device support

Full networking

NTFS

Full APIs

Full Drivers

Complete OS Solution

Windows PEWindows PEWindows XP Pro/2003Windows XP Pro/2003

Windows Preinstallation EnvironmentWindows Preinstallation Environment

Windows PE is a scaled down copy of Windows XP or

Server 2003 It replaces

MS-DOS in deployment anddiagnostic scenarios.

Forced rebootEvery 24 hours of uptime

Why Windows PE is ImportantWhy Windows PE is Important

Reduces both manufacturing and support related costsEliminates dependencies on a variety of OS centric 3rd party tools (MS-DOS, Windows and others) thus reducing or eliminating development resources Performance increases with regard to manufacturing output (factory velocity)Provides for a Microsoft supported platform to build and ship PC’s and deployment tools within the industryEnsures a faster time to market due to synergy between existing 32/64 bit drivers and Windows software solutions (porting of Windows apps is simple)

Synergy between factory tools and enterprise customer deployment support tools (build it once, ship it internal and external)Works with non-MS products for OS deployment

Ex. 3rd party PXE servers, variety of OS type deployments supported, etc

Reduced Longhorn tools transition time and cost for OEM’s, System Builders, and corporationsProvides for a variety of 3rd party retail opportunities for ISV/IHVs to build and ship support or OS deployment solutions

Longhorn Version of Windows PELonghorn Version of Windows PE

Feature parity with Windows Server 2003 SP1 Windows PE feature sets

WMI support for access to multiple hardware based providers and classes

Windows based driver injection and PnP boot supportInject in Windows based 32/64-bit device drivers within Windows PE for reliable test and diagnostic results

Ability to flash the system BIOS and device ROM’s within Windows PE

RAMDISK boot support for Hard Drive (HD), Compact Disc (CD), DVD, USB Flash Drive (UFD), and Pre-Boot eXecution Environment (PXE)

Min 256MB required on boot machine

Read only Ramdisk today

Sub 30 second boot times possible using either network or USB Flash Drive (UFD)

Internet Connection Firewall supportEnsures Windows PE safe from viruses, worms, etc

WinPE Boot support on USB Flash Devices Currently an OEM only feature in XP/Server 2003

Supports sub-30 second boot times on platforms supporting USB 2.0 in core BIOS (IBM, Dell, and Gateway)

Formal documentation; Application debug and Win32/64-bit APIs NOT supported

Longhorn Version of Windows PE (con’t)Longhorn Version of Windows PE (con’t)

Additional features currently being finalized:Support for PnP within Windows PE with faster driver PnP due to new inf. parsing designRamdisk support for up to 32MB of Read/Write scratch spaceFile-based Write Filter support for allowing writes (registry, drivers, etc.) even when booted on read-only media such as CD or DVDImplementing a boot manager on EFI just like x86 32 and x64 based systems (ex. boot.ini)Smaller default size (under 100MB) with faster boot times based on WIM boot support. Compressed Windows PE at 60MBNew servicing infrastructure on par with Longhorn solution (CBS/CSI)Additional F6 media supported (CD/DVD, UFD, and network shares)

Partner Solutions Built on Windows PE

Brad Marrs, Chief Technology OfficerSharon Richards, President Eurosoft (US)

Business Solution DemoEurosoft QA+ Win32: Boot2TestYour Key to Testing Success!

How Eurosoft Diagnostics Work with How Eurosoft Diagnostics Work with Microsoft WinPEMicrosoft WinPE

Developed internal WinPE build processes to include drivers, applications, etc. 

Gained technology knowledge: RIS RIS boot WinPE allows total centralization and distribution of

test image   

Special-case test issues covered:      Serial Port / Modem / Network / Video / WMI  

Read all about Eurosoft: get your flier at back of room 

Visit www.eurosoft-uk.com/windowspe for information  

Time is money. Reboots Take TimeTime is money. Reboots Take TimeWinPE Saves Reboots!  WinPE Saves Reboots!  

UFD is your key to testing success!Test image centralization is not a requirementFast with USB 2.0 core in the BIOS

Eurosoft Boot2Test gives the best of both test worlds Initial Boot into Eurosoft Pc-Check Memory Test Quick Reboot (no POST) into WinPE to run QA+Win32 tests Results linked as series: can be centralized in PC Builder   

Read all about Eurosoft: get your flier at back of roomVisit www.eurosoft-uk.com/windowspe for information

Steven Benton, Director of OEM Sales Grant Barry, Field Application Engineer

Business Solution DemoSoftthinks Windows PE Solutions

Unattended System Deployment in Unattended System Deployment in WinPEWinPE

Windows 2003 RIS Server

Notebook Desktop

- PXE Boot on RIS Server

- Win PE Download and Boot

- Transmit Sales Order # or Model #- Create Recovery Partition

- Download Software & Test Suite to Recovery Partition

- Disconnect from Server and Deploy Software to User Partition

- Reboot to Windows, Install S/W & run Manufacturing Test (Seal Image)

Hard Disk DefragHard Disk Defrag

SoftThinks WinPE ToolsSoftThinks WinPE Tools

AntivirusAntivirusFile ExplorerFile ExplorerLAN Internet AccessLAN Internet AccessLAN Email AccessLAN Email AccessData BackupData BackupNotebook

Server

Thumb Drive

2nd HDD

USB HDD

Firewire

CD/DVD

Partitioning ToolsPartitioning ToolsRecovery Partition CreationRecovery Partition CreationSystem RecoverySystem Recovery

Call to ActionCall to Action

Migrate all DOS-based test, diagnostic and manufacturing toolsets to 32- or 64-bit, including 3rd party vendors as soon as possible

As an OEM or System builder, ensure your BIOS supports USB 2.0 booting as a core supported scenario

If your interested in licensing Windows PE, please email Licwinpe @ microsoft.com

Community ResourcesCommunity Resources

Windows Hardware & Driver Central (WHDC)www.microsoft.com/whdc/default.mspx

Technical Communitieswww.microsoft.com/communities/products/default.mspx

Non-Microsoft Community Siteswww.microsoft.com/communities/related/default.mspx

Microsoft Public Newsgroupswww.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups

Technical Chats and Webcastswww.microsoft.com/communities/chats/default.mspx

www.microsoft.com/webcasts

Microsoft Blogswww.microsoft.com/communities/blogs

Windows PE ResourcesWindows PE Resources

General questions regarding the OPK: Askwdk @ microsoft.com

Technical Assistance during the Beta: Askwinpe @ microsoft.com

Licensing information for Windows PE: Licwinpe @ microsoft.com

Windows Pre-Installation Environment User’s Guide (Winpe.chm on the Windows PE CD or within the OPK)

Preinstalling Microsoft Windows XP Using the OEM Preinstallation Kit www.microsoft.com/whdc/hwdev/platform/pcdesign/install/OPK.mspx

Whitepapers are located at: http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/winpreinst/default.mspx

Windows PE Overview Whitepaper

Windows PE Datasheet

Windows PE Technical Overview