Building Support Solutions with Windows PE

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Building Support Solutions with Windows PE

• Mark Myers
• Senior Program Manager
• Industry Engagement Engineering

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What Is Windows PE?

• Windows PE is a reduced version of Microsofts
  Windows Operating Systems
• ex. Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and soon
  Windows codenamed Longhorn
• Windows PE is built using a command script to
  compile the correct binaries into a customized
  version of Windows PE
• Replacement to MS-DOS and 16-bit dependencies.
  Please be aware we are ending the availability of
  MS-DOS Licensing as of 12/31/05
• Windows PE will become the base platform for a
  variety of Longhorn features and support solutions

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What Is Windows PE

• There are 3 hardware-specific versions of Windows
  PE available as of Windows Server 2003 SP1
• x86 32-bit
• x86 64-bit
• Itanium
• Windows PE was designed for a variety of
  support-based usage scenarios
• As a base platform for computer manufacturing
  tests, diagnostics, and OS deployments
• As a base platform for computer based recovery
  and support related solutions
• As a base platform for ISV and IHV retail support
  oriented solutions

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Windows Preinstallation Environment
Windows PE
Windows XP Pro/2003
Customizable Boot Environment
Complete OS Solution
NTFS
Full Drivers
Windows PE is a scaled down copy of Windows XP
or Server 2003 It replaces MS-DOS in
deployment and diagnostic scenarios. Forced
reboot Every 24 hours of uptime
Full networking
Full APIs
Mass storage device support
16/32-bit program support
Integrated Development
Programming Frameworks
Application Services
NTFS
Limited Drivers
Media Services
API subset
TCPIP
Web Services
Hardware (x64, x86, Itanium)
File/Print Services
Mass storage device support
Network Access Services
Directory/Security Services
32/64-bit program support
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Why Windows PE is Important

• Reduces both manufacturing and support related
  costs
• Eliminates dependencies on a variety of OS
  centric 3rd party tools (MS-DOS, Windows and
  others) thus reducing or eliminating development
  resources
• Performance increases with regard to
  manufacturing output (factory velocity)
• Provides for a Microsoft supported platform to
  build and ship PCs and deployment tools within
  the industry
• Ensures a faster time to market due to synergy
  between existing 32/64 bit drivers and Windows
  software solutions (porting of Windows apps is
  simple)
• Synergy between factory tools and enterprise
  customer deployment support tools (build it once,
  ship it internal and external)
• Works with non-MS products for OS deployment
• Ex. 3rd party PXE servers, variety of OS type
  deployments supported, etc
• Reduced Longhorn tools transition time and cost
  for OEMs, System Builders, and corporations
• Provides for a variety of 3rd party retail
  opportunities for ISV/IHVs to build and ship
  support or OS deployment solutions

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Longhorn Version of Windows PE

• Feature parity with Windows Server 2003 SP1
  Windows PE feature sets
• WMI support for access to multiple hardware based
  providers and classes
• Windows based driver injection and PnP boot
  support
• Inject in Windows based 32/64-bit device drivers
  within Windows PE for reliable test and
  diagnostic results
• Ability to flash the system BIOS and device ROMs
  within Windows PE
• RAMDISK boot support for Hard Drive (HD), Compact
  Disc (CD), DVD, USB Flash Drive (UFD), and
  Pre-Boot eXecution Environment (PXE)
• Min 256MB required on boot machine
• Read only Ramdisk today
• Sub 30 second boot times possible using either
  network or USB Flash Drive (UFD)
• Internet Connection Firewall support
• Ensures Windows PE safe from viruses, worms, etc
• WinPE Boot support on USB Flash Devices
• Currently an OEM only feature in XP/Server 2003
• Supports sub-30 second boot times on platforms
  supporting USB 2.0 in core BIOS (IBM, Dell, and
  Gateway)
• Formal documentation Application debug and
  Win32/64-bit APIs NOT supported

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Longhorn Version of Windows PE (cont)

• Additional features currently being finalized
• Support for PnP within Windows PE with faster
  driver PnP due to new inf. parsing design
• Ramdisk support for up to 32MB of Read/Write
  scratch space
• File-based Write Filter support for allowing
  writes (registry, drivers, etc.) even when booted
  on read-only media such as CD or DVD
• Implementing a boot manager on EFI just like x86
  32 and x64 based systems (ex. boot.ini)
• Smaller default size (under 100MB) with faster
  boot times based on WIM boot support. Compressed
  Windows PE at 60MB
• New servicing infrastructure on par with Longhorn
  solution (CBS/CSI)
• Additional F6 media supported (CD/DVD, UFD, and
  network shares)

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Partner Solutions Built on Windows PE
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Business Solution DemoEurosoft QA Win32
Boot2TestYour Key to Testing Success!

• Brad Marrs, Chief Technology Officer
• Sharon Richards, President Eurosoft (US)

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How Eurosoft Diagnostics Work with Microsoft WinPE

• Developed internal WinPE build processes to includ
  e drivers, applications, etc. 
• Gained technology knowledge RIS 
• RIS boot WinPE allows total centralization and
  distribution of
• test image   
• Special-case test issues covered     
• Serial Port / Modem / Network / Video / WMI  
• Read all about Eurosoft get your flier at back
  of room 
• Visit www.eurosoft-uk.com/windowspe for
  information  

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Time is money. Reboots Take TimeWinPE Saves
Reboots!  

• UFD is your key to testing success!
• Test image centralization is not a requirement
• Fast with USB 2.0 core in the BIOS
• Eurosoft Boot2Test gives the best of both test
  worlds 
• Initial Boot into Eurosoft Pc-Check Memory Test 
• Quick Reboot (no POST) into WinPE to
  run QAWin32 tests 
• Results linked as series can be centralized in
  PC Builder   
• Read all about Eurosoft get your flier at back
  of room
• Visit www.eurosoft-uk.com/windowspe for
  information

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Business Solution DemoSoftthinks Windows PE
Solutions

• Steven Benton, Director of OEM Sales
• Grant Barry, Field Application Engineer

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Unattended System Deployment in WinPE
Windows 2003 RIS Server
Notebook
Desktop
- PXE Boot on RIS Server
- Transmit Sales Order or Model
- Create Recovery Partition
- Win PE Download and Boot
- Download Software Test Suite to Recovery
Partition
- Disconnect from Server and Deploy Software to
User Partition
- Reboot to Windows, Install S/W run
Manufacturing Test (Seal Image)
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SoftThinks WinPE Tools
Hard Disk Defrag
Antivirus
File Explorer
LAN Internet Access
LAN Email Access
Data Backup
Partitioning Tools
Recovery Partition Creation
System Recovery
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Call to Action

• Migrate all DOS-based test, diagnostic and
  manufacturing toolsets to 32- or 64-bit,
  including 3rd party vendors as soon as possible
• As an OEM or System builder, ensure your BIOS
  supports USB 2.0 booting as a core supported
  scenario
• If your interested in licensing Windows PE,
  please email Licwinpe _at_ microsoft.com

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Community Resources

• Windows Hardware Driver Central (WHDC)
• www.microsoft.com/whdc/default.mspx
• Technical Communities
• www.microsoft.com/communities/products/default.msp
  x
• Non-Microsoft Community Sites
• www.microsoft.com/communities/related/default.mspx
  
• Microsoft Public Newsgroups
• www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups
• Technical Chats and Webcasts
• www.microsoft.com/communities/chats/default.mspx
• www.microsoft.com/webcasts
• Microsoft Blogs
• www.microsoft.com/communities/blogs

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Windows PE Resources

• General questions regarding the OPK Askwdk _at_
  microsoft.com
• Technical Assistance during the Beta Askwinpe _at_
  microsoft.com
• Licensing information for Windows PE Licwinpe _at_
  microsoft.com
• Windows Pre-Installation Environment Users Guide
  (Winpe.chm on the Windows PE CD or within the
  OPK)
• Preinstalling Microsoft Windows XP Using the OEM
  Preinstallation Kit www.microsoft.com/whdc/hwdev/p
  latform/pcdesign/install/OPK.mspx
• Whitepapers are located at http//www.microsoft.c
  om/whdc/system/winpreinst/default.mspx
• Windows PE Overview Whitepaper
• Windows PE Datasheet
• Windows PE Technical Overview