PE 3.0

Discussion in 'backup, imaging & disk mgmt' started by n8chavez, Oct 26, 2009.

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  1. n8chavez

    n8chavez Registered Member

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    It looks like I might not be finished with this issue after all. Despite checking the scripts settings for ever application provided in the Win7RescuePE application icons and start menu entries are not there, meaning that I have no access to any application other than Avira. That's strange because I made sure that those settings were enabled for most applications and that the scripts was indeed checked and run.

    Any ideas?
     
  2. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    zfactor,

    That happened to me yesterday. I tried it today with the WinBuilder folder in the C: drive root and it worked. But it wasn't worth waiting for. My BartPE CD boots faster. IFW worked OK but no different from when it is on any other WinPE CD. I won't be using WinBuilder again unless the final result is better than today.
     
  3. Sully

    Sully Registered Member

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    When using winbuilder, you have probably figured out by now that there are many PROJECTS that use it. You can download any or all of them.

    When you are configuring a project, you use the DOWNLOAD button, top right. This shows you which projects you can get, and then within each project, the list of available PREPARED scripts. You then check which ones you want to include, or uncheck those you don't think you will need. Then you click download. Winbuilder goes out, fetches the appropriate items, and you are ready to build.

    When building with WinBuilder, it used to be for me that I had to have Winbuilder on the root of c: or it would not work. So running c:\winbuilder_v123\winbuilder.exe would produce results where e:\any directory\winbuilder.exe would not work. The latest version of winbuilder, with both of the projects BARTPE-Core and Win7RescuePE I built working iso files from both the g: and the f: drives.

    Once you have downloaded the items you wish to use in the project, you can then within the projects fine tune your settins. For example, if I have downloaded the Firefox and Opera plugins, I can always uncheck the Firefox one and check to Opera one.

    Some plugins have options on them, like it you create a desktop shortcut or not. In Win7RescuePE there is an option to RunInRam. I haven't been able to find much on this command, and honestly the Boot-Land forums, to me, are absolutely horrible. They changed a few years ago, and I don't frequent them much. The old version was much better.

    Anyway, from what I can gather, when using winPE 3x, when you are creating a boot-cd for PE, things that are RunInRam appear to be loaded into the WIM file that Winbuilder creates. Items not using the RunInRam are simply left in a PROGRAMS directory on the cd. Shortcuts to these items simply point to the PROGRAMS folder, thus take more time to start as the cd contents must be read. Those items that are RunInRam are already in memory and start immediately, and also exist on the X: drive.

    They syntax of a Winbuilder plugin is cyrptic, but not really complex. The plugins themselves are usually in the form of a .script file. This file is a container of sorts, as generally there is some .inf style syntax (more like a hybrid .inf/scripting language). Within the .script file are the compressed files themselves. So when you download a plugin (or make one) you create the lines necessary to describe to WinBuilder what to do with this .script file and its contents, such as what to call it, where to put the extracted files, etc etc.

    I would be happy to assist in more technical nature, but first declare:

    Is this strictly a boot cd/dvd? OR do you intend to boot from hdd with it.

    Are you building your own install .script, and you are not seeing the item in your completed project?

    If it is an available plugin you download, what is it not doing?

    What project is being used? Win7RescuePE? LiveXP?

    Winbuilder is doing what many other METHODS have done, but it puts it into a sort of universal method where you SHOULD be able to write a .script file for one project that also works in another -- at least that was the stated goal.

    WinBuilder creates everything you need in a directory, just like pebuilder did. You can check that directory to see if your files exist, although if you used the RunInRam option it will be packed into the WIM file and you cannot see it by browsing.

    I don't think Winbuilder is the easiest to use, but it is a pretty nifty project once you figure out some details. And it is ripe with options.

    Sul.
     
  4. dcrowe0050

    dcrowe0050 Registered Member

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    Hey Sully I have a question, I have tried to find an answer at Boot-Land but no luck yet. when the pre-config script runs it returns an error; "GetInfoWim returned a 2 Check Sources Directory" I have checked the directory a hundred times and I even uninstalled WAIK and did a clean install, I still get this same frustrating message. Everything is setup fine as far as I can tell, I have double checked and then rechecked to make sure. I am out of ideas. Any Suggestion?
     
  5. Sully

    Sully Registered Member

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    I had that issue as well at first.

    I think it is associated with the WIM from the dvd source. I have already made an .iso of my dvds (I make an .iso of everything lol). I used WinCDEmu to mount the image. Once I did this, it seemed to cure the problem.

    I looked the error up online, and people were having that issue when there was a source or source path problem.

    Once you get past that status code stage 2, and you reach stage 5 (it is displayed at the same spot in the sequence) then those issues should be over. I noticed if I started WB up again after a reboot, and the .iso as not mounted, it always gives that error. Remounting the .iso has always fixed it.

    Sul.
     
  6. dcrowe0050

    dcrowe0050 Registered Member

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    Well i have an upgrade DVD from HP and I thought that it might be something related to it not being the normal Win 7 DVD but from what I read in the logs that was not the problem. The error occurrs at the Pre=Config script when it searches the WAIK install folder.

    So you think it is maybe seeing the wim in the WAIK folder and the WIM in the DVD. I had to copy the contents of the upgrade disk and sort it out because there were a lot of problems at first that I narrowed down to it being the upgrade disk and not the normal install disk. Once I sorted it out it fixed that problem. Now I have this one. This project has been a pain. I will try it and see what happens and thaks for the help.
     
  7. Sully

    Sully Registered Member

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    Yeah, it was a bit confusing for me at first. Coming from bartPE and XP projects using winbuilder and other tools, this win7 stuff is a bit different. However, once I got it down, it is working well. I have made maybe 2 dozen images, playing with writing my own plugin scripts.

    Glad to help if you need more...

    Sul.
     
  8. dcrowe0050

    dcrowe0050 Registered Member

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    Well I tried your suggestion and no luck, but from what I read on their forums something is not right with my copy of WinBuilder so I deleted the Win7RescuePE project and the WinBuilder.ini because I think I can start over with what I know now and not have any problems. So I will let you know.

    What kind of scripts are you working on? I am also working on a regular Win PE img trying to add some custom scripts because I have this crazy idea that it can't be any harder than Winbuilder. Who knows? Also have you tried any of the other WinBuilder projects?

    Nevermind it is the upgrade disk I believe. Because I don't have normal Win7 DVD I cannot create the Win7 RescuePE. It said no modified, cracked, or shrinked install medium other than the normal DVD can be used on that project. This makes no sense to me. But I guess I will try to find a copy before I go at it again.
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2010
  9. n8chavez

    n8chavez Registered Member

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    This is stupid. Whenever I build a Win7RescuePE disc the resulting OS has no applications icons, desktop or start menu. Here's the truly strange thing, the icons are all there as they are supposed to be when use VirtualBox and mount the ISO. They just are not there when I transfer everything to my flash. Oh well, I gutted the apps directory and will just use my flash disk for the apps.
     
  10. Sully

    Sully Registered Member

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    lol, WB can be finicky for sure.

    I kept making cds that worked (or mounted in vmware), but when booting from ram they did not.

    Ends up being due to the WIM. I admit I have very little experience with WIM files, but they are some image file type I believe that is mounted.

    Anywhoo, in Win7RescuePE there is an option to RunInRam. I *think* this means that it is packed into the WIM file, then whether from cd or hdd (or usb) whatever is in the WIM is loaded into the PE into drive x: . If it is not in the WIM, then it works when the CD is used because the media is there. So for example when booting it from hdd, drive X: does not contain the Programs folder, where much of the content lives, so it cannot be ran.

    Sort of confusing at first. Now that I have done it a few dozen times, and hacked apart certain aspects, it is behaving nicely. For me though, it was the easiest solution to get PE to boot to RAM from HDD, since my bartPE method only seems to work from the good old boot.ini.

    BTW, the scripts I am working on are just to convert for instance a bartPE plugin over to WB syntax. Or to create my own little ones for what I want included.

    One nice thing about Win7RescuePE is that I no longer need to keep Partition Magic 8 going. It does not work in 7 anyway, but I can use the win7 disk management tool from PE now, so it works ok enough.

    Sul.
     
  11. dcrowe0050

    dcrowe0050 Registered Member

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    Alright I borrowed a normal setup DVD and now the preconfig script is running as I think it is supposed to and I am getting ready to build. I was wanting to find a couple of extra scripts first. I would like something like WinDiff, or Rootkitty, just some kind of file comparison app. Of course Macrium, and it would be great to have WinDBG if possible. Just thought I would post to see if anyone knows of any of these or if I need to try and make my own.
     
  12. Sully

    Sully Registered Member

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    I have not been able to get a bartPE plugin to convert properly to WB plugins. Not a single one.

    I have just created my own. But it took some time to figure it out. Not only do you have to figure out the WB syntax, but it seems the Win7RescuePE project either adds some extra functions or they are still undocumented in the help file I found on the forums at boot-land.

    I do have a macrium reflect plugin working in WB now, at least in Win7RescuePE. I have a couple others, but they are all pretty simple, no registry entries and the like. Most of it is pretty straight forward once you understand how it is working.

    I can give examples if you are interested. Might require some screenshots though.

    Sul.
     
  13. dcrowe0050

    dcrowe0050 Registered Member

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    I would definitely like to see an example because I really want Macrium, and if I can figure it out from your examples I should be able to create one for WinDiff. If you don't mind to show me an example or two that would be great. Thanks for the help Sully.
     
  14. dcrowe0050

    dcrowe0050 Registered Member

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    I went ahead and completed a build to test and make sure everything was working ok. After reading about all the errors in their forums and failed builds I wasn't very confident but mine worked out great. The only thing wrong was some problems with the PE network and my background image. other than that all the apps work great so now all I need to do is work on implementing some scripts and I will be set.

    Sully I was wondering if you are using the PE Network or not?

    Also wondering if you had an idea about this. Say I wanted to add some drivers to the wim file, since their is no script that I have found and I am to lazy to make my own, I wonder if I can install them to the WIM before even starting the Winbuilder script. If I can install them with the Dism tool it would be much easier, i just dont know if they would work.
     
    Last edited: Feb 9, 2010
  15. Sully

    Sully Registered Member

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    Ok. When it comes to WIM, I have yet to get my feet wet. I will assume that if you can get the WIM in the needed place, being what WB calls the source, perhaps. I think though I will do the below....

    I looked at the driver script, and quickly decided I would put that off for now. Not near as straight-laced as BartPE method was, but I am sure it can be modified.

    Yes, I have used PEnetwork from within Win7RescuePE. It finds both my adapters, blah blah blah, and I am able to use Opera from the PE without problem.

    I am sorry, but I must check before I post this macrium script file. I don't know if it is against policy or not. Have to wait until tommorrow to find out.

    Sul.
     
  16. dcrowe0050

    dcrowe0050 Registered Member

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    With the PE network I am sure there must have been something in the script that srewed it up for me because it would detect my adapters but when I change settings or anything in GUI and click apply it would crash or fail. About the Macrium script I understand completely and I have commercial license. I have a reflect PE dvd but I would love to replace that with the Win7RescuePE because their are a lot of possibilities with it if I can ever get my head above water. If your not comfortable posting the reflect script I understand. But any examples or tips you could give would be great.

    Thanks a lot Sully
     
  17. dcrowe0050

    dcrowe0050 Registered Member

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    Ok I come again with more updates, I have successfully implemented a few AV rescue CD's with Grub4DOS, I have got my background image working correctly, have successfully added scripts for a couple simple sysinternals and Nirsoft tools that are working perfectly, and I am close ( I Think) to getting Macrium script right. The only thing that is wrong is the PENetwork and the Macrium script. I think I understand all of this if maybe you can point me towards which Registry keys I need to include in the script, otherwise I think I have it. For some reason I keep getting this message, "you must identify %LocalProgNam%" but I have identified it in the script. I don't know what I am doing wrong?
     
    Last edited: Feb 10, 2010
  18. Sully

    Sully Registered Member

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    I was gone today or I would have posted this morning.

    Here is a working Macrium Reflect script.

    You make a directory in winbuilder
    \winbuilder\Projects\Win7RescuePE\Apps\HD Tasks\Imaging\ReflectPE
    (this is an arbitrary directory, you can name it or palce it anywhere, just so long as the .script file is modified accordingly.

    And the script, which should be called ReflectPE.scipt, placed within the directory above.
    Code:
    [main]
    Title=ReflectPE
    Description=Macrium Reflect PE .. disc imaging made easy for PE..
    Selected=True
    Level=5
    Version=1
    Locked=False
    Selected=True
    NoWarning=False
    Author=MrWoo
    Download_Level=0
    
    [variables]
    # folder under Program Files where APP will be stored
    %ProgramFolder%=ReflectPE
    # name of the exe file that will be started
    %ProgramEXE%=ReflectPE.exe
    # title of the program (also used for foldername)
    %ProgramTitle%=ReflectPE
    %ScriptFile%="%ScriptDir%\reflectpe.script"
    
    [process]
    Echo,"Processing %ProgramTitle%...using: %ScriptFile%"
    StrFormat,filename,%ScriptDir%,%ScriptFolder%
    RunFromRam,%pCheckBox1%
    Encode,"%ScriptFile%",Folder,"%ScriptDir%\PEExplorer.exe"
    Encode,"%ScriptFile%",Folder,"%ScriptDir%\psmounter.sys"
    Encode,"%ScriptFile%",Folder,"%ScriptDir%\ReflectPE.exe"
    # Add_Shortcut,StartMenu,System Information
    Run,%ScriptFile%,Shortcuts
    unpack
    
    [Shortcuts]
    #Add_Shortcut,[Type],[Folder],[FullFileName],[Title],[Work Folder],[Parameters],[IconFile( .ico .exe)],[StartMode(1, 2, 3, or 4)]
    If,%pCheckBox3%,Equal,True,Add_Shortcut,StartMenu,%pTextBox1%,%PE_Programs%\%ProgramFolder%\%ProgramEXE%,%pTextBox2%
    If,%pCheckBox5%,Equal,True,Add_Shortcut,Desktop,,%PE_Programs%\%ProgramFolder%\%ProgramEXE%,%pTextBox2%
    If,%pCheckBox4%,Equal,True,Add_Shortcut,StartMenu,QuickLaunch,%PE_Programs%\%ProgramFolder%\%ProgramEXE%,%pTextBox2%
    
    [Interface]
    pCheckBox1="Run from ram (boot.wim)",1,3,16,50,183,18,True
    pCheckBox3="Create Startmenu Shortcut",1,3,17,106,185,18,True
    pTextBox1="Start menu folder (blank for none):",1,0,33,146,168,21,"ReflectPE"
    pTextBox2="Name for Shortcut:",1,0,33,188,168,19,"ReflectPE"
    pCheckBox4="Create Quicklaunch Shortcut",1,3,18,257,200,18,False
    pCheckBox5="Create Desktop Shortcut",1,3,18,279,200,18,True
    pBevel2=pBevel2,1,12,8,99,203,209
    pTextLabel2=Options:,1,1,10,22,105,18,8,Bold
    pBevel3=pBevel3,1,12,8,43,203,31
    pBevel4=pBevel4,1,12,-1,12,221,306
    So then all you need to do is start WB, navigate to the HD Tasks\Imaging plugins, focus on this script, then edit the script.

    In the editor, click on the Attacments TAB. Click Add a Folder. Then choose to put within that folder:
    PEExplorer.exe
    psmounter.sys
    ReflectPE.exe

    Save the script. Now the 3 files needed are within the script file, they will be included in the WIM, and the shortcuts will be placed on the desktop and I believe in the start menu somewhere.

    I am pressed for time or I would have looked at some registry values. If you have not solved it, give me some examples and hopefully tommorrow night I can look into it. I have created precious few .scripts that use reg entries.

    I will also see if I bookmarked the syntax webpage on this stuff.

    Sul.
     
  19. dcrowe0050

    dcrowe0050 Registered Member

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    Wow I actually got my Macrium script working but looking at yours I can see it was a lot easier than the way I did it. lol Yeah i got mine working this morning but with a lot more unnecessary junk, I did load some registry keys and went a round about way to get what you got I can see. Can you create an image from this script? Thats the only thing I couldn't get but it is not a big deal anyway. But thanks I have got the hang of things now and have been creating some simple scripts and fooling around with it. Thanks Sully.


    Code:
    [SetupReg.AddReg]
    Echo,"Loading registry hive: [setupreg.hiv]"
    Hive_Load,HKLM
    Echo,"Writing new values on registry hive.."
    reg_add,0x4,"%reg%\Controlset001\Services\Udfs","ErrorControl","1"
    reg_add,0x1,"%reg%\Controlset001\Services\Udfs","Group","File system"
    reg_add,0x4,"%reg%\Controlset001\Services\Udfs","Start","1"
    reg_add,0x4,"%reg%\Controlset001\Services\Udfs","Type","2"
    reg_add,0x1,"%reg%\Controlset001\Services\Udfs\Enum","0","Root\\LEGACY_UDFS\\0000"
    reg_add,0x4,"%reg%\Controlset001\Services\Udfs\Enum","Count","1"
    reg_add,0x4,"%reg%\Controlset001\Services\Udfs\Enum","NextInstance","1"
    reg_add,0x4,"%reg%\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\LEGACY_UDFS","NextInstance","1"
    reg_add,0x1,"%reg%\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\LEGACY_UDFS\0000","Service","Udfs"
    reg_add,0x4,"%reg%\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\LEGACY_UDFS\0000","Legacy","1"
    reg_add,0x4,"%reg%\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\LEGACY_UDFS\0000","ConfigFlags","0"
    reg_add,0x1,"%reg%\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\LEGACY_UDFS\0000","Class","LegacyDriver"
    reg_add,0x1,"%reg%\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\LEGACY_UDFS\0000","ClassGUID","{8ECC055D-047F-11D1-A537-0000F8753ED1}"
    reg_add,0x1,"%reg%\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\LEGACY_UDFS\0000","DeviceDesc","Udfs"
    reg_add,0x1,"%reg%\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\LEGACY_UDFS\0000\Control","ActiveService","Udfs"
    Hive_Unload,HKLM
    That and add the Run %ScriptFile%,[SetupReg.AddReg] under process and that should be close to fully functioning reflect PE

    Edit: These are the Reg keys that I loaded, you might want to look them over because I am not used to this WinBuilder stuff.lol The program worked OK but I didn't add the run in RAM option that you did so that will help for sure. Lot of possibilities with WinBuilder once you get used to it. By the way I cheated to get most of those Reg keys, most of them were what was needed in the BartPE inf plugin
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2010
  20. dcrowe0050

    dcrowe0050 Registered Member

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    You might be able to find more but the only thing that I find wrong with this script, after the files are encoded in it and the registry added to it is the unpack command. I thought that if nothing else was added to it then it automattically unpacked the three files to a directory on the disk or in the wim file. For some reason when it runs this is not the case, and when I boot from the cd the only icon and start menu entry is ReflectPE, and it is a dead entry, it is useless. So I think the command needs to be
    Code:
    unpack,ReflectPE
    Let me know what you think about those registry entries and everything.
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2010
  21. dcrowe0050

    dcrowe0050 Registered Member

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    Ok script is working and the only thing wrong is the same thing that was wrong in my original one, the license is blank. You know the only thing I wish is that this script give us the ability to create images, which is only a luxury I know and not very much in any situation that you need a boot CD. But I prefer to create images off line. I am working right now to see if I can get it down. But if you want that script to be perfect just add the License.rtf file and it will be flawless I think.
     
  22. Sully

    Sully Registered Member

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    Umm, I don't experience that at all. I have used that very script in my W7rPE project, and of course I included the three needed files into it, and it works every time. I have things on the PE desktop like windows explorer, opera, avira, etc, and the Reflect PE. They all operate, as does everything in the start menu.

    Are those registry entries for macrium? My bartPE plugin does not have those.

    Sul.
     
  23. Sully

    Sully Registered Member

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    Yes, the license if blank, I am not sure why. I wonder if it pulls it off the hdd, and 7 is somehow different from XP. I will have to remember tommorrow to use my cd on my xp machine and see if the license is still blank. I did not have the license.rtf file in my plugin directory.

    Are you then finding that the unpack command that I used is not doing things correctly, and that the included parameters you mentioned fix something?

    Sul.
     
  24. dcrowe0050

    dcrowe0050 Registered Member

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    Yeah when I first ran the script just as you had it plus the registry keys I added, I got a warning "unpack can not find file 3 [] in section 1" then I went ahead and created the iso and booted up and I had one start menu entry for Reflect PE and one desktop icon for ReflectPE and both were dead. So I modified it to unpack,ReflectPE and the script created without any errors and everything worked fine when I booted into it. I did have the license.rtf in my plugins so I am going to add it to the script to see if that fixes it but that doesn't really matter. Otherwise macrium works fine, I am in the process of updating with an incremental backup so I can test and make sure it will restore an image like usual. Have you tried this yet?
    For some reason I cannot get my wireless to work with the PENetwork, wired connection works fine.
     
  25. Sully

    Sully Registered Member

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    That is odd. Do you have the correct directory structure in the WB directory? I mean, you need to actually create the ReflectPE directory, and place the properly named ReflectPE.script in that same directory.

    I have restored now perhaps 2 dozen times on my real box. I am booting it from the c: drive (a boot option) and then I restore an image to the c: drive. It works really well so far, pretty much just like it did on XP.

    I am sorry, but I don't have a wireless on this computer to test with. If I did and I had the issue, I would be heading straight to adding drivers. But for now I have other things that I need to do, like finish making win7 become my own ;)

    Sul.
     
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