This walkthrough describes how to create a recovery media using Windows® Recovery Environment (Windows RE) and Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE). In the event of a system failure, you can start the computer with this recovery media and attempt to fix the system.

Prerequisites

To complete this walkthrough, you will need the following:

  • A technician computer that provides all the tools and source files necessary to create a Windows RE recovery media. For more information, see Building a Technician Computer.

  • An authorized copy of a Windows 7 product DVD.

  • Blank media; for example, CD-ROM or DVD-ROM.

Step 1: Create a Windows RE Image

If you are using the default Windows RE image, or have already created a custom image, skip to step 2.Otherwise, create a Windows RE image as described in Walkthrough: Create a Windows RE Image.

Step 2: Create a bootable media

In this step, you create a bootable Windows PE media and replace the default boot image with your custom Windows RE image.

  1. Create a bootable Windows PE media as outlined in the following topic:

  2. Follow the walkthrough instructions with one addition: Prior to copying or burning the image to media, replace the Windows PE boot image (ISO\Boot.wim) with your Windows RE image. For example,

    copy C:\winre_x86\winre.wim C:\ISO\sources\boot.wim
    Important:

    You must rename your Windows RE image to Boot.wim, otherwise the image will not boot.

See Also