Jon said:
Hello, I had a few questions about Windows PE.
1) Is Windows PE 2.0 going to be backward compatable? Could I use
Windows PE 2.0 on a Windows XP machine?
2) Does Windows PE support FAT/FAT32 file systems?
3) How can I go about getting Windows PE? I was reading that it came
with Windows XP, but I cannot find it anywhere on my CDs.
A search on Microsoft's site for Windows PE should give you some answers:
http://search.microsoft.com/results.aspx?mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&q=Windows+PE
1) Windows PE 2.0 is the "Vista" version of Windows PE...
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/deploy/winpe.mspx
You may want to key in on this section:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/deploy/winpe.mspx#E5G
Titled, "Windows PE 2.0 Compared to Earlier Versions of Windows PE"
I cannot say it cannot be used to launch Windows XP installations - yet -
because I know earlier versions/revisions/hacks of Windows PE have been used
for more than it was likely initially intended.
2) It will likely support it in as far as Windows XP/Windows 2003/Windows
Vista *(the latter for Windows PE 2.0) would support it. In other words -
it can only create/format partitions in FAT32 up to a certain size. Beyond
that it will require you to make NTFS partitions. It can read/write to
FAT32 partitions just fine.
3) One of the most comprehensive sites (with links to other topics about
Windows PE) that the search brings up is this:
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/sa/benefits/winpe.mspx
A link from there:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/winpreinst/WindowsPE_over.mspx
Clearly describes (without pointing it out as such) how you get Windows PE:
"... All Enterprise Agreement and Software Assurance customers will receive
Windows PE as part of their license agreements ..."
and later describes more qualifications...
"... Previously-released versions of Windows PE have been available for
license only to OEMs and corporations. Beginning with the interim versions
of the Windows PE platform, Microsoft has created a new licensing option
that also allows ISVs, IHVs, and ODMs to license any release of Windows PE
...."
And gives you someplace to contact for more information...
"... For additional information about the Windows PE Tools Agreement and
licensing options, send mail to: (e-mail address removed) ..."
You may want to consider alternatives/parallels to Windows PE..
Like BartPE.
