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Creating a WinPE Boot Environment with AIDA64

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A bootable Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE) can be useful for hardware diagnostics, system inventory, troubleshooting, or running AIDA64 on systems where Windows is unavailable or unable to boot properly. This guide explains how to create a custom WinPE image and integrate AIDA64 into it.

Requirements

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

  • A licensed copy of AIDA64 Engineer, AIDA64 Business, or AIDA64 Network Audit in portable (ZIP) format
  • Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) - Link
  • Windows PE Add-on for the ADK - Link
  • A USB flash drive (minimum 2 GB recommended)

Creating the WinPE Image

Install ADK and WinPE Add-on

Install the Windows ADK and the WinPE Add-on. During installation, ensure that Deployment Tools and Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE) components are selected.

Open the Deployment Environment

After installation, open the Start menu, locate Deployment and Imaging Tools Environment, right-click it, and select Run as administrator.

Create the WinPE Working Directory

In the command prompt window, enter:

copype amd64 C:\WinPE_amd64

This creates a directory structure similar to:

C:\WinPE_amd64\
  ├─ Media\
  └─ Mount\
Mount the WinPE Image

Mount the WinPE image using the following command:

Dism /Mount-Image /ImageFile:"C:\WinPE_amd64\media\sources\boot.wim" /index:1 /MountDir:"C:\WinPE_amd64\mount"

After mounting, the WinPE image contents become available under:

C:\WinPE_amd64\mount\
Add AIDA64 to the Image

Extract the ZIP version of AIDA64 to:

C:\WinPE_amd64\mount\Tools\AIDA64\

Run AIDA64, activate it using your product key, then adjust any settings you want to become the default configuration in the WinPE environment.

After completing the configuration, close AIDA64.

Configure AIDA64 to Launch Automatically

Open the following file:

C:\WinPE_amd64\mount\Windows\System32\startnet.cmd

Add the following lines:

wpeinit
start X:\Tools\AIDA64\aida64.exe

Note: The X: drive represents the RAM disk used by WinPE during boot.

Save the Modified Image

Save your changes and unmount the image:

Dism /Unmount-Image /MountDir:"C:\WinPE_amd64\mount" /Commit
Create Bootable Media

Warning: This command formats the selected USB drive and deletes all existing data.
To create a bootable USB flash drive, run:

MakeWinPEMedia /UFD C:\WinPE_amd64 E:

Replace E: with your USB drive letter.

You can now boot from the USB drive and AIDA64 will launch automatically after WinPE starts.

Available in the following products:
AIDA64 Business
AIDA64 Engineer
AIDA64 Network Audit

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