Hi @ Wilders I am looking for a winpe boot iso similar to Hirens. Very user friendly, free, up to date, good GUI. BUT most importantly with a default keyboard layout for the UK. I have downloaded Strelecs boot disk and couldn't find a way to add or change to UK keyboard, also with Bob.Omb's Modified Win10PE I did find a way to get a UK keyboard but it's a convoluted proces. Any help gratefully received. nb. I suppose you could say I am technically challenged Thanks Terry
Way to pay attention! TerryWood, sorry I don't know of any winpe that defaults to a UK keyboard. All that I know use US.
Terry, Have a look at Active@ Boot Disk. Get the demo. The default keyboard is US but you can change to UK with... wpeutil SetKeyboardLayout 0409:00000809 UK Extended is... wpeutil SetKeyboardLayout 0409:00000452 US is... wpeutil SetKeyboardLayout 0409:00000409 Edit... you can add wpeutil SetKeyboardLayout 0409:00000809 to a Startup script prior to creating a new UFD. A UK keyboard will be the default. Not US.
Hi Brian K Thank you for you comprehensive reply (As usual). Actually I was able to do what you suggested with BobOmb's. That's what I meant when I said it was a bit convoluted in my initial post. I am not sure how to do this "to a Startup script prior to creating a new UFD. A UK keyboard will be the default. Not US." What's a UFD? Finally I downloaded a copy of HirensBoot Disk the new version ie 2018 and I was able to modify the .iso to include the UK extended layout and then put it on a memory stick. I prefer the Bob.Ombs Boot Disk because there is a lot more choice of Apps and ways to do things so if you could explain a bit more about the script I would be grateful Thanks Terry
Terry, Create a New Text Document. Rename "New Text Document.txt" to keyboard.cmd. Accept the warning. Right click keyboard.cmd and click Edit. Paste this in... wpeutil SetKeyboardLayout 0409:00000809 ...click File, Save. You can use the code for UK Extended if you prefer. Download Active@ Boot Disk. Boot Disk 9. Active@ Boot Disk FREEWARE EVALUATION. Double click "BootDiskDemo-Setup 17.exe". Install. I prefer making a UFD but you might prefer an optical disk. During the disk making you will see a tab for Startup Scripts. Select it and browse to your keyboard.cmd. Your UFD/optical disk will have UK keyboard as the default. I rarely use downloaded WinPE media these days. In general, I'm not interested in the apps they contain. I use the WinPE media associated with my imaging apps.
Hi Brian Thanks a lot for sharing. I have used your expertise over the years and you never seem to get fed up. Thank you so much. Tery
Terry, Which UK keyboard did you finally choose? how does the Active@ WinPE compare with the other ones you have used?
Hi Brian I used UK Extended With Hirens. Still to try Active @ Win PE. Rather busy last few days. Will revert when I have tried it. One point I seek clarification on is that you mention Boot Disk 9 and Boot Disk Demo 17 which leaves me unclear as to which version I should use. In addition if it's a demo won't it be crippled in functionality or after time? Thanks Terry
Terry, On the Active@ website there used to be a separate link to BootDiskDemo-Setup.exe. Now it's accessed via Boot Disk 9. Strange. I think the "Demo" refers to a couple of the contained Active@ apps. The boot disk works "forever". Edit... the file is called BootDiskDemo-Setup.exe. I renamed it to BootDiskDemo-Setup 17.exe in my computer.
Hi Brian Finally made the Active@Boot Disk and used the Extended Keyboard code. Thanks to you it's easy with the Script option to get a UK Keyboard Layout. It bewilders me however that the UK is NOT an included layout. You would think we are a third world country wouldn't you. (Don't answer that) It's a nice layout, small in size and fits on a CD. The down side is that there are very few tools at all. What Active@Boot are offering I wouldn't pay for. You are quite right when you say "I use the WinPE media associated with my imaging apps.". There is nothing for me in Active@ Boot Disk. But I learned something from you again about using startup scripts. A valuable lesson for me. Thank you. Terry