How to customize Windows PE by using the source files that are included with the Microsoft SMS 2003 Operating System Deployment (OSD) Feature Pack

You may have to customize Microsoft Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) for the image capture process or for the image installation process for an operating environment. To do this, you must first obtain the Windows PE source files. This article discusses how to obtain Windows PE source files by using the Windows PE image that is included with the Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 Operating System Deployment (OSD) Feature Pack. This articles also discusses how to customize the Windows PE image.

How to obtain Windows PE source files

Method 1: Load the image capture ISO file by using Microsoft Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel

For more information, see the Readme.txt file for Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel. This file is included in the Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel download.

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Download the Microsoft Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel package now. (http://download.microsoft.com/download/7/b/6/7b6abd84-7841-4978-96f5-bd58df02efa2/winxpvirtualcdcontrolpanel_21.exe)

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Method 2: Burn the image capture ISO image to a CD

How to customize the Windows PE image

1. Create a bootable CD that contains the Image Capture Wizard by running the Create Image Capture CD Wizard. Or, mount the operating system image capture CD .iso file by using Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel.
   
   To mount the .iso file by using Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel, follow these steps.
   
   Note For more information about how to create OSD packages, see the OSD_FP_Guide.doc file. This file is included in the OSD Feature Pack.
   1. Run the VCdControlTool.exe program.
   2. In Virtual CDRom Control Panel, click Driver Control.
   3. In Virtual CR-Rom Driver Control, click Install Driver.
   4. Locate the %systemroot%\System32\Driver folder, click VCdRom.sys, and then click Open.
   5. In Virtual CR-Rom Driver Control, click Start, and then click OK.
   6. In Virtual CDRom Control Panel, click Add Drive, and then click Mount.
   7. Select the .ISO image that you want to mount, and then click Open.
   8. In Select Mount Options, click Ok.
2. Copy all the files and folders from the CD or from the mounted drive to a local folder, such as C:\Winpe.
3. Delete the following files from the local folder that you used in step 2:
   • Autorun.inf
   • Osdrun.exe
   • Osdwinlogon.dll
   • Unicows.dll
4. Customize Windows PE as required. Make sure that the changes are compatible with the OSD Feature Pack as described in the "Customizing the Windows Pre-installation Environment" section of The OSD Feature Pack Guide.
5. In the SMS Administrator console, right-click Image Packages, point to All Tasks, and then click Update Windows PE.
6. In the Welcome to the Update Windows PE Wizard dialog box, click Next.
7. Click Browse, click the local folder that you used in step 2, click Open, and then click Next.
   
   Note The original image is not overwritten. This image is named OSDWinPE.wim.0 and is available if you require it for a restore operation.