Own Notwindows with Barts Pe Builder V3

Reports and questions about Windows PE (Preinstalled Environment) keep coming up on the Internet. With this article we would like to briefly explain what it is and describe how to create your own Notwindows with the free Barts PE Builder.

Danger: The article is already several years old. Also note our new version of comfortable emergency windwindows based on Windows PE

Windows statt DOS

In the opinion of Microsoft, the recovery console of Windows XP FF. Long file frames have always been foreign. However, the restoration console for laypersons is not too accessible and cannot simply be expanded by your own tools. Resourceful freaks therefore use Knoppix or an emergency CD such as the Winttal Support CD, which relieves problems with free drivers and extensions, if not eliminated.

Windows PE offers this. This is a limited but still fully running operating system, which does not require writing access and thus also starts on CD-ROMs etc. It includes all the necessary functions to have full access to NTFS media or Active Directory, for example. In addition, Windows PE runs with a graphic surface and can still integrate drivers afterwards because it also supports Plug & Play. Microsoft sees a tool for preparing computers for installation in Windows PE. The fumbling with the unwieldy answer files in the setup (Unattended installation) would be done. For many, Windows PE is unfortunately not legally available. As a so -called OPK (OEM PREFEFERTAGE KIT), it is only assigned to large corporate customers. Only Powerquest uses Windows PE at Drive Image 7 as an emergency system and is therefore available for end customers.

Legal dank Barts PE Builder v3

The small tool Barts Pe Builder is remedied by the Dutchman Bart Lagerweij, with the help of which you can create a bootable, slimmed down Windows CD. The PE Builder was available in version 1.X at short notice, but had to be taken from the website due to copyright injuries.

What does the PE Builder do?

The author also saw an original Windows PE and wondered which files it is based on. He realized that you only need an original Windows XP Home or Pro to create such a not windows, whereby the service pack 1 or 2 must be integrated on the data carrier via slipstream. Instructions on how to do this can be found on Wintotal in the area of ​​articles. In addition, such a notwindows can also be created with Windows 2003 server. Windows 2000 is unsuitable for this, since the corresponding command switch /Motion For the kernel and the system is not on writing-protected data carriers (e.g. CD-ROM).

Barts PE builder in use

After downloading the Barts PE Builder you unpacked the program and start the file Pebuilder.exe.
In the following dialog, you define the path to the installation CD (XP with SP1) or Windows 2003. The lower path is for extensions or your own programs/files that are to be integrated.

Path for the installation CD Click on the picture to enlarge

The following dialogue represents which plugins are already being installed.

Choice of plugins Click on the picture to enlarge

In any case, you should activate «Bootfix (Enabling» Press …) «. This prevents the computer from booting from it when the CD was inserted without request.

If you want to activate further plugins, the files required for this must already be present in the PE-Builder plugin folder. Part of the plugins is already included in the installation file. If more are required, a corresponding warning appears. Then you should download the «Plugins of Nu2.Nu» or «Plugins from Data Rettung-etc.de» in the software archive or look at the missing files under the documentation of the corresponding plugin.

The following plugins do not require any additional downloads (Stand version 3.0.18):

• Nu2menu by Henk de Jong
• Network support by Bart Lagerweij and others
• Bart's Stuff Test V5 by Bart Lagerweij
• Boot Fix (Enabling „Press any key to boot from CD“) by Bart Lagerweij
• Check Disk (chkdsk.exe) by Bart Lagerweij
• Custom by Bart Lagerweij
• Document by Bart Lagerweij
• QSoft Ramdisk by Christiaan Ghijselinck
• Remote Desktop Client by Microsoft
• Startup Group (autorun) by Erwin Veermans
• DOS Support for WinPE by Erwin Veermans
• Keyboard Layout by Boris Mebarek

All other plugins still need a download (usually the program itself such as Irfanview or ad-aware antivirus) or the purchased full version. There are also foreign plugins from other developers.

To, for example, Total Commander To integrate, the following files from the program directory must be pebuilderpluginTotal Commander are copied: cabrk.dll, default.bar, no.bar, sfxhead.sfx, share_nt.exe, totalcmd.exe, totalcmd.hlp, totalcmd.inc, unacev2.dll, unrar.dll, wcmicons.dll, wcmzip32.dll.

For Nero Burning ROM must be from the program directory of Nero All files under the Nero directory in pebuilderpluginNero Burning ROMfiles to be copied. Furthermore, the file must penero.inf edited become. The username, company and serial number must be entered there.

For Ad-Aware Antivirus The following files in the directory must pebuilderpluginadaware are copied: aawhelper.dll, ad-aware.exe, reflist.ref, english.bmp, english.det, english.ini.

If these files are available, the corresponding plugins can be activated.

The output is determined in the following dialog.

Edition as ISO Click on the picture to enlarge

The builder creates the finished data as a directory and also as a directory ISO-File. In any case, you should create the ISO file, which can then be burned onto a CD with every burning program as an ISO image. After clicking on «Next», the program then starts and writes the required files.

Spending window at work Click on the picture to enlarge

ISO-Test

The test CD initially boots like Windows XP. After that, however, there is a separate surface.

The surface of the Bart PE edition Click on the picture to enlarge

The «Go«-Button at the bottom left corresponds to the start button of Windows. A start menu opens here, but in English. At least the keyboard layout can be on» via system-> keyboard layout «gr“To be changed for German.

Start menu like under Windows Click on the picture to enlarge

Already in the basic version there are some programs to work with the Notwindows. For example, the «Remote Desktop Connection» was recorded to control another computer. However, this only works if the network plugin is activated and configured in front of the ISO. A highlight is the full access to NTFS data carriers. The basic version of 2x Explorer was recorded as the file manager. However, more can be integrated manually (see above, for example Total Commander).

Comfortable file manager Click on the picture to enlarge

If all available plugins are integrated, the start menu can reach a considerable size:

All plugins installed Click on the picture to enlarge

There is also a lot of known from the «normal» Windows in the PE environment. In addition to the command line, the task manager can be started, time and date are configured and the panels are checked with Chkdsk. Goodies such as Paint, Wordpad and the calculator are also available on the CD.

Conclusion: expand and get started

Barts PE is the rescue for many stressed users. Since a legal Windows is needed, it is surprising why Microsoft itself does not offer this option. Barts PE is free and easy to use for lay people. However, the PE environment only plays its strengths after upgrading through the many plugins and, above all, network support.

Way with the old DOS disk and into the PE environment. It is only to be hoped that the fan community will continue to write plugins diligently in order to also involve programs such as the Acrobat Reader and Co.

(56 votes, average: 4,60 out of 5)

Loading…