Win7PE Based Recovery Partition

I've been working on this project for several months. A Recovery Partition Based on Win7Pe using imagex,
fully automated with just a few clicks of the mouse. All of this done with script, HTA, VBS and CMD.
I know there are limitations with imagex, it's supposed to only work on a systempreped Windows OS.
I've tested it on win7 and xp with very good results. I installed updates, drivers and programs needed,
with and without running systemprep, with no problems.

I'm new to scripting and put all this together from online research. I used a minimal PE builld, all files extracted to
a hidden partition, NO wim file. Had to add IE for the HTA code and I think it was C+ for the VBS code.

If there is enough interest in this project I'll share but before I do I'd like someone to check my scripts for errors.
Anyhow here's a couple of screen shots, what do you think.



I've also fully automated the hard drive partitioning and installing the recovery files from my USB drive.
One project at a time though.

attach your plugins as "Beta" in anyway  ,
these days everybody very busy and someone can be interested in time 

ps:
\Apps\System Tools\"Portable Finder CMD"
may take an interest of you
 it is a nice prepared search-find-"do whatever" batch that may take interest of yours.

Thanks Lancelot, I've seen your name associated with PE for a long time and I appreciate any advice you may give.
It's' really only one plugin that contains a bunch of HTA, VBS and CMD script that go to root of systemdrive.
I still have a couple questions. My plugin would also contain imagex and I'm worried about that legally.
Also is there a way I could share my WinBuilder settings without going into a long tutorial. I,m a two finger typer
"Hunt n Pecker" and it would take me forever. Minimal build but I know I had to include IE, C+ and maybe netframework.     
There was also alot of tweaks to the main config, explorer shell etc.. to make it boot no wim no iso
all files extracted to root of system drive. Is there an info or config file somewhere in the winbuilder
system that might contain all these settings.

Thanks again
trashy

no need to contain imagex,
Win7PE SE already download imagex to tools folder so you can get it during build with a filecopy line,
here are lines to test:

DirMake,C:\1
FileCopy,%Tools%\%SourceArch%\imagex.exe,C:\1

modify the way that fits your plugin

if such plugin to be used with Gena, we have plugin/tool at
\Utils\"GetWaikTools"
that quickly downloads imagex etc. which can be used by your plugin....

I do not think this is the case here besides extra info won't hurt 

*
You can save your settings with
\Utils\"ScriptManager"
test to see how it work ;)

besides I strickly advice you to give an intro like:
Brief list of settings I use:
-
-
-
and here is ScriptManager file I made with these settings: atttached ;)

*+
also an additional guide to get "drive" bootable with extracted Pe would help the audiance... 
(I guess by adding things to normal windows boot menu ;))

**+
in fact an overall step by step guide would be helpful to the audiance to reproduce easly 


**
personal comment:
 personally I use D:\Gena.iso & D:\Win7PESE_x86.iso bootup with grub4dos (added to C: Boot Menu) to restore image of my C: (win)
  will use "Portable Finder CMD" to automatize in future ;) (backup image at D: )
   using bootup with extracted pe like you did always made me a bit feel unsafe since files are open ready to be infected by somethings.....
    still advantageous with faster bootup (no ram need  ) but as I wrote I feel safer everything inside .iso ;)

Your method of "Recovery Partition" I feel a hidden partition,
 that has Win7PE SE (not "In Ram" but "Normal") which boots up via boot menu of os (via grub4dos or maybe direct... whatever),
  after boot automating "restore image" with imagex, sound to me a verrrry good idea 
    I know this would help many none-tech pc users restore easly and happly after (frequently  ) system crashes badly..

***
ps:
on your tutorial - guide,
 if you advice and show how to move profile to
   D:\Users\<BlaBla>
     life would be even easier to anyone who restore, having all personal files at desktop 
       I know this can be done with a single batch having D: available ;) , with "run batch" and "restart "
          this is sadly not used widely, but besides I advice my friends to keep all personals at desktop where I had made this setting, which is very helpful when they restore each some months....




Sorry for loooong reply, I hope above helps on your preparations

Thank you very much for your reply.
I,ve worked construction most of my life and I,m not much of a tech myself. Don't know how I got assigned the job among my circle of friends and family. Most people want to get online play games, facebook etc... and don't want know anything else. Some of them can mess thing up in a hurry, that's why I've been using some kind of a Recovery Partition for quit awhile. I started with BartPE then to LiveXP then Win7PE I've never looked at Gena. I know Xp is on it's way out the door, Microsoft will end support May of next year. I love Xp and have just recently started using Win7, Vista sucks.

I use grub it's easy to edit, hide partitions, set passwords etc... much more versatile than windows bootmgr.
As for imagex I thought about filecopy from a local WAIK instal but I knew there had to be a better solution.
Booting to wim, every machine is different. I ran ino a couple of HP machines that absolutely hated wim files,
they would take 5 or 10 minutes to boot.

I do everything from USB. My grub menu is Win7PE, Install Windows 7, Install Vista, Windows Defender (offline antivirus) MacriumReflect and so on.          I have another Usb for my LiveXP tools and I have always used a non wim setup due to boot times and the strange behaviour of some machines. I know this leaves files exposed to Viruses much less prying eyes but what can you do. I've leeched alot from the different PE forums over the years
and decided it was time to give back.

Give me a while to absorb this new info and I'll modify my plugin and work up a short tuitorial.
Thanks again for your advice

Just took a look at the script manager, haven't tested yet, but that,s exactly what I needed.
I'm writing and testing most of my script from inside a running win7PE environment. Then I use
the plugin to import those script files into winbuilder. Until I get a better understanding of scripting
it makes it easier for me to test and modify the individual scripts.

I'm starting a step by step guide, should be ready to post in a day or 2.

thanks
trashy

Downloaded latest Win7Pe complete, haven't updated in almost a year, and imported my project settings
with scriptmngr. Ran a test build and everything worked perfect. I added this command to my plugin
"FileCopy,%Tools%\%SourceArch%\imagex.exe,%TargetDir% ". Works fine but I noticed it looks like
it copied imagex from WAIK_2 not WAIK_3, is there a reason for this. Also if x64 build will it copy x64
imagex. If so then should work for x64 Windows restore also.

Copied files to recovery partition and created a backup image. Passed the test for me
but every machine's different. All I need to do now is make a guide for hard drive
partitioning format and file copy and I'll be ready to post for testing.

In %Tools% folder, there is imagex6.0.exe (Waik 2 or Vista waik) and imagex6.1.exe (Waik 3 for Win7).  Version 6.0 is far faster to mount/unmount Wim files but only works with Win7 SP0.
One or the other is used by copying it in imagex.exe when building, following your Win7 source (SP0/SP1) or the checkbox "Always use WIMMount Driver" in image configuration.

According to what you want, you can use

Code: [Select]

FileCopy,%Tools%\%SourceArch%\imagex6.1.exe,%target_sys%\\imagex.exe (or 6.0)

For info, it is the same thing for wimgapi.dll.

if you have many test, building to do it is better to use "Extract Wim Folders" in Utils folder (-> setting in image configuration), it is safer and faster.