[jaclaz]

As a side note, a possible replacement for pstart has been found/proposed by ericgl:
http://reboot.pro/to...drive/?p=166886
available in both 32 and 64 bit.

jaclaz

[steve6375]

I seem to be having problems with Win8PESE.ini now. I thought that all that was required was to put the path to the ISO in this file and put it in the root of the USB drive - however, this does not seem to work and I get the yellow warning triangle on the Desktop UNLESS I actually build the ISO with the path set in Finals - Create ISO as well.??

[ChrisR]

steve6375, on 31 January 2013 - 02:54 PM, said:

I seem to be having problems with Win8PESE.ini now. I thought that all that was required was to put the path to the ISO in this file and put it in the root of the USB drive - however, this does not seem to work and I get the yellow warning triangle on the Desktop UNLESS I actually build the ISO with the path set in Finals - Create ISO as well.??

Oups I better understand your concerns. Thank you for having insisted on MountPEmedia
There has been a missed on CDDrive_X_Y.script during the recent synchronization between Win7PESE and WIN8PESE.

This shall be corrected (MountPEmedia sought the Win7PESE.ini file instead of Win8...)

CdDrive - X: - Y: v16 is on server
to put on .\Projects\Win8PESE\Build folder or "Update Win8PE SE (Exact and Secure)"

This post has been edited by ChrisR: 31 January 2013 - 04:22 PM

[ChrisR]

jaclaz, on 31 January 2013 - 02:19 PM, said:

As a side note, a possible replacement for pstart has been found/proposed by ericgl:
available in both 32 and 64 bit.

Yep, TBlauncher from Terabyte Unlimited available in both architecture. An alternative to the very good Pstart, I have not tested.
However no problem here for 32 bits Pstart in Win8(7)PESE with the great JFX's Wow64 plugin. It provides support for running 32bit programs in a 64bit environment.

[ChrisR]

steve6375, on 31 January 2013 - 12:25 PM, said:

I am making an ISO, but booting via grub4dos from a USB stick containing just the ISO. How would I include apps so that PStart will list them.
I tried adding the exe to the Pstart script form and I can get the app to appear on the Desktop and in the Start Menu and it runs from there - however, the PStart,xml is not compiled with the app in it and so the entry is not listed in the Pstart form when launched.

I see what you mean with the correction of CDDrive_X_Y.script, it should already be better.
PStart is one of the first plugin I've written. It would need a refresh for the ISO Boot.

Currently, It is not intended for the ISO boot but it works well with both CopyToUSB plugin in Write media folder.
With the folder ISO\WIM directly copied on USB key, disk.
[Boot]
[efi] (x64]
[Programs]
[Sources]
|-- boot.wim
BOOTMGR
CdUsb.y
menu.lst (title Win8PESE | chainloader /BOOTMGR)

In this case PStart.xml can be created with relative links before building in Source folder (button) or after, in programs folder if writable media.


For ISO Boot, I write it in my todo, A small PStartLauncher should do the trick.
With a research of PStart.exe at the root (or path: root - .\pstart - .\programs) of a ready drive.
Wimb does a trick like this I believe in MakePE3.
ps: too bad that he does not make an evolution for Win7 SP1,but I understand that he may prefer W7 VHD compact.


Edit: I have an old program cdusb.exe (it search for CdUsb.Y file for remount the USB/CD drive on Y:). With some small editing and an improvement of PStart plugin, it should do the trick.
I look next week if I have some time.

This post has been edited by ChrisR: 31 January 2013 - 07:05 PM

[steve6375]

Thanks for looking at these issues - I am writing a Tutorial here, but found these issues and so I will wait until they are fixed. Please feel free to comment on the Tutorial if you get time.

[ChrisR]

Did you have time to try the ISO boot with the CDDrive_X_Y.script corrected.
I would look at your tutorial, but it's late here now zzzz::::::

Here a batch that I use _mksiofs_ISOBoot.cmd for testing easily the ISO Boot in VMware by changing the ISO folder.
::Set ISODir=
Set ISODir=ISODir
::Set ISODir=IMAGE\WINPE

MakeNewISO_for_ISOBootTest.7z

To put in ISO folder next to the ISO and Win8PESE.ini.
Feel free to modify it or to improve it for me

[steve6375]

ChrisR, on 31 January 2013 - 07:14 PM, said:

Did you have time to try the ISO boot with the CDDrive_X_Y.script corrected.
I would look at your tutorial, but it's late here now zzzz::::::

Here a batch that I use _mksiofs_ISOBoot.cmd for testing easily the ISO Boot in VMware by changing the ISO folder.
::Set ISODir=
Set ISODir=ISODir
::Set ISODir=IMAGE\WINPE

MakeNewISO_for_ISOBootTest.7z

To put in ISO folder next to the ISO and Win8PESE.ini.
Feel free to modify it or to improve it for me

Will try tomorrow - zzzzzz too!

[Lancelot_Real]

steve6375, on 31 January 2013 - 07:05 PM, said:

Thanks for looking at these issues - I am writing a Tutorial here, but found these issues and so I will wait until they are fixed. Please feel free to comment on the Tutorial if you get time.

Nice Tutorial, some comments:
-
You forgot to give Home Page to Win8PE SE http://theoven.org/i....php?board=29.0 , and it will be nice you underline end users open topics for their related problems on Win8PE SE section.
current msfn page is mainly an announcement with simple (short) ask/report add/fix events for msfn users
It will also be easier and tidier you open a topic at http://theoven.org/i....php?board=29.0 like a topic name "steve6375 Win8PESE tutorial" so we can feedback more
-
Following your tutorial gave me an idea to add a feature to "Update Win8PE SE (Exact and Secure)" that will result less time for first usage to whom following your tutorial. But in time...


Maybe later more on a "steve6375 Win8PESE tutorial" topic, things goes more specialized than current topic lighter goals.


**
Portable Launchers does not take my attention, I had used them but found not flexible enough to me, personal taste,
aside I like them and find useful since provides something ready to use to end users,
besides Flexibility always does take my attention
We have
"Portable Finder CMD"
http://theoven.org/index.php?topic=370
that gives maximum flexibility with some simple .cmd knowledge
I just added %PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE% tip

[Lancelot_Real]

ludo, on 31 January 2013 - 08:26 AM, said:

Hello ChrisR, Kullenen_Ask, JFX, Lancelot_Real and other member of this forum,

Welcome back ludo,

We like to see you on The Baker Team

[ChrisR]

steve6375, on 31 January 2013 - 05:48 AM, said:

Why doesn't it check the source Win8 files first?

The verification of windows 8 RTM was added at the beginning of building, with:
A first control on the version of install.wim (/Info) in image configuration plugin.
An additional check, a little later, has been added in Pre-Config script (Install.wim mounted) on the version of several files frequently modified by Windows update.

The modified scripts are on the server.

[steve6375]

ChrisR, on 31 January 2013 - 07:14 PM, said:

Did you have time to try the ISO boot with the CDDrive_X_Y.script corrected.

I ran Update and it works now! thanks.

[ChrisR]

Good

I just read your tutorial, very well , I will make you few returns, in my next post.

PS: You do not have another little tutorial to write first, before publishing.
I don't know, How to make a bootable Windows 7 USB drive for the UEFI...
Like that, "Boot from Win8PE_SE ISO file" is the tutorial n° 100 and I win bottle of champagne or a USB key

This post has been edited by ChrisR: 01 February 2013 - 06:59 AM

[ChrisR]

A little feedback on your tuto

Indeed, the main page of the project would be good. Win8PE SE HomePage

No problem with Yahoouk, I am grateful for his Multi 7PEs (-> JFX's Multi7PE SE -> Win7PE_SE), but he has not really participated in Win8PE here;).

You could add a few words about GetWaiktools, it allows the user to have a building "Out of the Box".
Without the need to download windows ADK and being legal, ie without sharing the required files. It downloads the wim tools Once in only 6Mb.

In Modifying the build, you can add a little thing on the driver integration, good to know, I believe.
Driver integration for windows 8 under windows XP, was a pleasure, thanks Bill for the XP support!

A useful trick to get a faster and more reliable building is to use Once, the Extract Wim Folders script, for the next build..
It Extracts boot.wim and install.wim to folders, there is no need then to mount, Unmount the 2 wim files at each build (2, 5 mn or more).

For those who want to go further.
In addition to portable apps with Pstart or others, it is possible and easy to share Apps scripts with other projects, like with Gena which has more than 100 apps script compatible.

 Share script.png (238.25K)
Number of downloads: 10


Up to you, for these additions, it is already very good
I will put your link on the first post of Win8PESE Homepage and here. If you allow me.

This post has been edited by ChrisR: 01 February 2013 - 08:12 AM

[steve6375]

Tutorial is now 100. No problem with you adding links to it. I will investigate adding of extra scripts soon and include it. Any more comments welcome!
Thanks
Steve

[ChrisR]

steve6375, on 03 February 2013 - 03:01 PM, said:

Tutorial is now 100.

It was a wink, but it is well, thanks

Otherwise, In point 3.2 ... change VMWare Emulation setting to NAT rather than Auto
it is no longer needed with the latest VMware Emulation script, Nat was defined as default If auto is selected now.

And for PStart, following your feedback, I improved the script with a new option "Run from ISOboot", It uses here a Launcher to search PStart.exe.
With this option PStart exe, xml and portable applications are on the outside of the ISO and you can easily add more apps on a USB key, disk (writable).
The others options remain available for the non-ISO boot.

Thank you for this good tuto,
Chris

This post has been edited by ChrisR: 05 February 2013 - 05:47 AM

[steve6375]

Thanks for the changes. I noticed that NAT was now fixed.

Something I don't quite understand still about pstart.
If I add to the pstart folder in the build directory e.g. Projects\Win8PESE\Apps\Portable\Pstart\fred, and add a new folder and exe - when I click on the script small blue arrow, the script runs and it causes the files Pstart.exe and PStart.xml to appear in the Projects\Win8PESE\Apps\Portable\Pstart folder. But the xml only contains Explorer++ even though it has a new timestamp (so appears to be generated by the script).
I was sort of expecting the script to look at all exe's under Projects\Win8PESE\Apps\Portable\Pstart and create an xml for them so that when the ISO runs, it lists all exe's???
Even if I delete the Explorer++ folder completely from Projects\Win8PESE\Apps\Portable\Pstart , the pstart.xml is still generated and still contains an entry for Explorer++??
(I don't really understand the Pstart script so I am not sure if this is possible or if this is how it is supposed to work???).

I will check out the external Pstart folder new feature - nice!

This post has been edited by steve6375: 05 February 2013 - 06:19 AM

[ChrisR]

Automatically generated PStart.xml from the exe in subfolders, yes, it would be a good option indeed.
Currently, this is not done, pstart.xml is only extracted (if not already present in source folder) from the script with only explorer++ entry inside, as example. It is unfortunately not generated.
The xml configuration must be done manually before or after build, if writable media, as for StartMenu shortcuts (entered on the interface) before build.

I have other subject but I keep it as a good additional option when I will have some timeee.

[Atari800XL]

ChrisR, JFX, and everybody else: Thank you very much for WinPESE8!!! I've used WinPESE7 for a while now, I use it almost every day (as a basis for JFX's brilliant WinNTSetup). These tools are just so amazingly great, I can't begin to express my respect for all your work. You're the BEST!!!
I made a very basic WinPESE8, to which I add a simple script to have an autorun Autohotkey (because I like to use the keyboard as much as possible, not the mouse, when I use WinPESE on systems I need to repair/ setup), The autohotkey.ini file then has a simple "autorun"/ "runonce" part on top, where I mount my (existing) Portable.iso, which holds my favorite aps (TCCLE, Semware Editor, WinNTSetup, etc. etc.). I was actually very surprised to see that I could use my existing (WinPESE7) Portable.iso with WinPESE8 with hardly any modification! I only needed a few extra dll's, eg. msvbvm60.dll for XYPlorer (free GiveAwayOfTheDay version 11.90) and the less-obvious asycfilt.dll (XYPlorer as well).

It was actually a lot of fun finding out about the new things in WinPESE8, I can hardly believe everything's working so good already! Last time I checked (december 2012) there was nothing, last week I checked again and the whole project is as good as complete!!!

At least for me, there's hardly anything to wish for, only thing I would like is a way to get rid of the last two desktop icons ("Computer" and "Trash"). I use BGInfo as a way to display system info straight on the desktop at boot, along with a "cheat-sheet" with Autohotkey keyboard shortcuts, so those desktop icons are not very useful to me. But as I said, those are just tiny little things, totally unimportant to the working of the system itself.

Thank you guys, you are brilliant!!!!!!!!!!

[Atari800XL]

I would like to particularly thank you for the fact that WinPESE8 even builds on XP (great job on the beautiful GetWAIKTools utility!!), and the resultant ISO even runs on my old HP nc6320 (512mb). Now I know that's the absolute minimum, but still, it works! And it's fast, too (it boots 20% faster than WinPESE7 on my testsystem).

I have been playing with a standard WinPE4 for a little while, but I did miss the standard Explorer shell (just for the shell, because I use XYPlorer as a filemanager) and also missed the Diskmanagement GUI. Great to see they're back in WinPESE8!

I was just thinking about this: It must be close to 25 years ago when I had my MSDOS floppy with a 200kb full "emergency boot" (with Q- The Quick Editor, 4Dos, etc). Now, 25 years later, we have a USB thumbdrive with a 200mb WinPESE8 "emergency boot"

This post has been edited by Atari800XL: 09 February 2013 - 01:05 AM