Introducing MustangPEBuilder for True Image Home 2009

MustangPEBuilder is a major improvement in the ease of creating a WinPE based recovery CD for True Image Home 2009. There is no more need to spend hours of time to understand and configure BartPE or VistaPE. MustangPEBuilder is a one-click program the runs from either Windows XP or Vista and builds a WinPE 2.0 CD to boot directly into Acronis True Image Home 2009.

All that is required is that you download and install the free Microsoft Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) from here. You must also have True Image Home 2009 installed on the system you are building from. You will be able to add any drivers not natively supported by Vista.

Once you boot the CD, True Image Home 2009 will start automatically. You will be running the full Windows version of True Image Home 2009. Image mounting will work. You will be able to run tha A43 File Management utility to copy files. You will also be able to easily map network shares that can be used for backup or restore. There is an added bonus. You will also be able to run the Acronis supplied BartPE plugin version of True Image Home 2009 as long as it was installed on your system when you built the CD.

You can purchase MustangPEBuilder from my website.

 

Running OEM version of Windows XP SP2. My i386 directory only contains about 540MB of data, and I do not have any Windows CD. I'm running TI 8.0, which has been good for me, and have done restores successfully several times, but, w/o the 'PE' CD's, have to be outside Windows (Linux?) when restoring with the TI restore CD. I bought TI 11 and DD 10 for $9.99, but have not installed, since TI 8.0 and DD 9.0 work fine for me, just thought a good deal. I'm considering upgrade to TI 12 -2009, for $26 (w/disc) but don't see the great benefit. I only do full image stores, no incrementals.

Is it true I cannot use Mustang PEBuilder w/o a full Windows CD for the necessary files?

My laptop was purchased on EBay, preloaded w/XP SP2, but no more files than noted. I think I tried the BartPE last year and it failed.

Ron

 

Kron,

You will not need any Windows CD to use MustangPEBuilder with True Image Home 2009. The WAIK is the only source needed and that is free.

You would need a valid Windows XP SP2 source to use the BartPE plugins for True Image 11 and Disk Director 10.

 

Thanks for the response Mustang. However,the WAIK link indicates it's for the Vista family of OS'es. I see Windows XP SP2 below it, but XP isn't highlighted like Vista is. Will it work with XP assuming it has the KB926044 patch installed? I'll have to check if I have that patch. I'm always nervous installing more patches from Microsoft.

Kron

 

WAIK will work quite happily with XP machines. I have WAIK installed on my XP machine - the Cd/DVD it makes will be Vista based.

Colin

 

Kron,

Bodgy gave you the correct answer. I use that WAIK on XP machines with no problem.

 

Thanks for the answers and excuse my lack of understanding.

The required patch KB926044 before using WAIK seems to be for Vista OS's. I don't have Vista, so don't think I can apply that patch. The patch fixes something to do with incompatibilities between XP and Vista registry entries.

When you say the (created) CD/DVD is Vista based; do I assume no actual computer running Vista OS is actually needed, just that the content from WAIK is Vista based software (BTW...must it be a DVD possibly because of size?).

In case needed, with TI 2009, wish to have a CD/DVD which I can boot into TI restore function with Windows functionality.

Kron

 

I suggest you read mustangs free guide to creating a VistaPE disk here, mustang also gives a link to MudCrab's guide if you want any further information.

If you search for VistaPE on this forum you should receive numerous hits.

 

I made a TI11 VistaPE disk with Mustang's plugins and wanted to be able to add different drivers features which required the WAIK (I had a Vista DVD for the regular stuff).
I installed the WAIK on my XP SP3 PC with no problem and the PE build picked up the needed files. You don't really run the WAIK, you just install it so the files are available to pickup for the build.

 

Hmmm, so my question was gonna be "why only TI 2009--is that even released yet?" but your program will work with TI11 as well then...

Oops, I see there is a new release. Funny I would have to find out about it here and not from Acronis, where I have at least a half dozen registrations...

 

I'm still toying with ideas of how MustangPEBuilder will evolve. For now it is just for True Image Home 2009 and is intended to be a super easy way to get a WinPE recovery CD like Acronis could have supplied if they wanted to.

I'm not sure if I will build a separate MustangPEBuilder for each product or if I will try to set up modules for each product that will go into a standalone version of MustangPEBuilder. For now let's just wait and see how this version is recieved. It still remains to be seen what Acronis' reaction will be.

I plan to release a BartPE plugin and VistaPE script for TI Home 2009 soon. I have them working. It's just a matter of getting them up on the website.

 

I've added a page to my website providing much more detail about MustangPEBuilder.

 

Noticed you've indicated a bonus feature is ability to include the BartPe from Acronis. Why would I still want/need it? Doesn't the MustangPEBuilder do what it does only better? Am I missing something?

I've read over things on the WAIK link, and indicates a certain patch KB926044 must be applied to use the WAIK. To what? My XP SP2 system (also no Install CD, but realize WAIK obviates need for that)?. I think it's a Vista OS patch.

I've also read over Mudcrab's detailed instruction as well.


Ron

 

Are you just tring to annoy me?

 

Hi, I'm probably just being thick, but how do I expand the .img file that I get from Microsoft (WAIK) to install the thing? I've burned the file to DVD using both Nero and Vista. It just comes over to the disc as an img file, which my system doesn't recognize as a runnable file. Any advice appreciated.

 

Never mind....just figured out that you just have to rename .img to .iso

Damn Microsoft, why couldn't they just say that on the download page?

 

Hi Mustang.

I'm not sure if I have the right place to post this, but I couldn't find a more suitable place. I've purchased your PE Builder script and built an ISO image. When trying to boot from the resulting disc, I get the following error:

Hitting enter at this point will take me to another screen:

On this screen, WINPE is selected. Pressing enter here takes me back to the previous screen. I have tested the ISO image under VirtualBox and booted my desktop computer using a burned disc. Both methods given the same troubles.


I know you will probably need some more information, but I'm not sure what to post... let me know if you need further info.
Otherwise, any idea what the problem is?


Thanks



Note: If this should be posted under another category on this forum, or on another forum entirely, please let me know and I will do so.

 

Hi - I am a novice at all of this and wanted to know what your program provides VS. what TI Home 2009 generates on my CD for me? Isn't the CD supposed to boot up the machine - then give access to all of the mapped drives so that if I need to I can restore or am I all wet?

 

SiM99,

I'm guessing you have the Vista pre SP1 WAIK installed and chose the Run from CD option when you built the CD. This combination would produce that error.

Uninstall the WAIK and install the Vista SP1 WAIK at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=94BB6E34-D890-4932-81A5-5B50C657DE08&displaylang=en.

 

Believe me, Mustang's new version of MustangPEBuilder for True Image Home 2009 is well worth the $9.99 and there is very little creation time involved. If an old man like me says it's easy, it is easy to do.

His program enabled me to create my own iso file and wrote it to blank cd. After booting into my new Mustang CD, I like being able to copy files from one drive to another or run chkdsk or mount an image. If you plan on using TI 2009 in normal uses or a troubleshooting environment, it's a "no brainer".

For most computers, extra drivers are not necessary. If you have extra PCI or onboard controllers, adding these drivers is extremely easy. Adding drivers is as easy as placing pointers (inside the AddDrivers fle) to where the inf and its support files are stored. You can up to five drivers should you have a need. Any user drivers added should be Vista type drivers as VistaPE is a Vista based system. Driver additions cannot contain spaces within the folder name or inf file--use a dash or underscore in its place. VistaPE is usable with an XP system. Sample illustration below.

AddDrivers.ini
[Driver Paths]
driver1=C:\Drivers_\SIL-3512\oem53.inf
driver2=C:\Drivers_\PCI_Multi_IO\oem49.inf
driver3=C:\Drivers_\Hpt_RCM\scsidev.inf
driver4=C:\Drivers_\HPT3xx\oem38.inf
driver5=C:\Drivers_\hp_895c\oem13.inf​

Version 2 of Mustang's program is a new release. It is easier to install and easier to use. My normal TrueImage Rescue CD's have always worked well without any need for this type CD. Mustang's program is not a requirement in order to use TrueImage Home 2009 but it benefits justifies the purchase. I bought it as "security" should I have a need but I am finding I like its other benefits so much, I am using it more than originally planned. The MustangPEBuilder certainly takes less time to create a backup archive than the normal TI Rescue CD since Windows drivers and USB 2.0 is used. All this from a very satisfied Mustang customer. See post #1 above for more info.

Of course, the usual Acronis license rules still apply. Multiple Acronis licenses needed if used on multiple computers.

 

Good guess - I think that was exactly right, it's been a while since I created the image. Thanks for the response, I'm downloading the updated WAIK as I type.

I'm assuming that installing the WAIK SP1 won't have a negative effect on VistaPE/WinBuilder. If it does I may be back with a different question at some point, hehe

Thanks again.

 

hey mustang got a question for you. Can I include BartPE plug-ins or have them converted for your program? (such as for making a disk with many spyware and antivirus tools)

Also second question. I used a driver integrator that I used my vista disk and used the driverpack and made a newer vista disk that includes more drivers or would it be better to include all drivers individually with a clean vista dvd disk.

 

BartPE plugins need to be converted. Everything you need to know to convert them is shown in the Sample Plugin included with MustangPEBuilder. BartPE plugins use an inf format. MustangPEBuilder gives you the following three choices of format:

1. Exe. The plugins can be written in any programming language and compiled to an exe.

2. Au3. You can use AutoIt3 (a free programming language that has a great help file) and leave the plugins in au3 format so they will be open source.

3. Cmd. You can use the Windows command language.

Drivers should be added individually. Driver packs always seem to create problems. I never use them.