[GoodNPlenty]

The Windows 8 Developer Preview provides some interesting insite into the next version of WinPE. The system32 directory file versions are 6.2.8102.0 dated 8/23/2011. If you use VMWare Workstation to test you will need version 8 which was released today.


http://msdn.microsof...s/apps/br229516

[Tripredacus]

So perhaps the original info saying that there will be no 32bit release is true, since the Developer Tools are only available in 64bit. I'll check this out, but this topic is more News than Win PE.

[cluberti]

As long as Intel atom machines exist in numbers (and they still do) that are 32bit only, there will be a potential for a 32bit Windows 8 release. I'd say it'll be the last, but Vista was supposed to be the last, then Win7...... At least OEMs are now preloading 64bit Win7 on all new hardware that supports it, which should get the 64bit installed base to grow (I believe it already has, quite a bit).

[arwidmark]

I think you guys will like this blog post...

Windows 8 Preview - Howto - Creating a WinPE boot image with .NET Framework and PowerShell
http://www.deploymen...PowerShell.aspx

/ Johan

[Tripredacus]

I read that if you install this, you can't uninstall it. So be careful if you install it on your regular computer. Use a VM or such!

[arwidmark]

I could uninstall ADK fine on one of my test macines, but yes I'm using VM's for test

Thanks for the heads up though, I haven't done any extensive search for installation leftovers.

/ Johan

[Tripredacus]

cluberti, on 14 September 2011 - 11:34 AM, said:

As long as Intel atom machines exist in numbers (and they still do) that are 32bit only, there will be a potential for a 32bit Windows 8 release. I'd say it'll be the last, but Vista was supposed to be the last, then Win7...... At least OEMs are now preloading 64bit Win7 on all new hardware that supports it, which should get the 64bit installed base to grow (I believe it already has, quite a bit).

Oh btw, most Atom CPUs nowadays support 64bit. As a testament to this, I haven't had to use a 32bit WinPE on teh WDS in so long, Its been disabled for over a year now to save menu space.

Regarding the "uninstallability" it is referenced on this download page:
http://msdn.microsof...s/apps/br229516

[arwidmark]

The MSDN article talks about uninstalling the OS preview, not the Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK). ADK is not publicly available, only for MSDN subscribers (and TAP customers).

/ Johan

[jaclaz]

arwidmark, on 14 September 2011 - 12:25 PM, said:

I think you guys will like this blog post...

Windows 8 Preview - Howto - Creating a WinPE boot image with .NET Framework and PowerShell
http://www.deploymen...PowerShell.aspx

/ Johan

This is a clear sign that I am too old for this.

IMHO there should be a WARNING sign before accessing that page.

Having in the same screenshot:

Quote

Windows Preinstallation Environment
Size: 1.6 Gb
A minimal operating system ....

(bolding is mine)

Is a far too strong shock for my aging heart......



jaclaz

[cluberti]

Tripredacus, on 14 September 2011 - 01:41 PM, said:

Oh btw, most Atom CPUs nowadays support 64bit.

Yes, but a whole raft of older 1st-gen Atoms are still 32bit only, and run Windows 7 (and will run Windows 8) just fine. As long as machines like this exist, and MS wants to support them, there'll be a 32bit variant (at least in Win7, there was the "starter" SKU that was 32bit only, not sure if that'll translate to Win8 for developing countries again or not and only time will tell).

[IcemanND]

Glad to see the finally added .NET framework and Powershell support to WinPE

[Tripredacus]

jaclaz, on 14 September 2011 - 03:46 PM, said:

Having in the same screenshot:

Quote

Windows Preinstallation Environment
Size: 1.6 Gb
A minimal operating system ....

(bolding is mine)

Is a far too strong shock for my aging heart......



jaclaz

Yes but that is the initial size. I haven't tried it yet, but further along you'll see the final size is about 500MB or something. That is still a lot bigger than the current PE sizes I deal with, which is less than 300MB for a 64bit WinPE.

But in a related note, Windows 7 Embedded's minimal image size using the Digital Signage method is 1.6GB too.

[cluberti]

Powershell (and thus .NET) support is pretty big, and requires a good deal of the OS to be in WinPE that wasn't there originally. 500MB really isn't that large in 2012, though, when it finally RTMs.

[h3mp]

The ADK has tools to make WinPE as x86 or x64.. and my .net4 apps are running from 32-bit WinPE woohoo