Greetings All,

I hope that your day is well.

Let me first say that I REALLY think that Win7PE SE is awesome!!!

Recently, I have been experimenting with Win7PE SE as I am new to it and have created my first iso that I can boot into a VirtualBox VM.

I like how it lays out the RAMDisk (B:), Boot (X:) with system files, and the actual programs located on the (Y:) drive, but as you can imagine, I am now interested in having a similar setup on a HD partitioned with the same drives so that I can add programs and drivers and not lose my changes on reboot.

Can someone please tell me how this might be accomplished as I am sure that this question has been asked, but I could not locate any information on how to achieve this.

Cheers,
Lonnie

Thanks, but that really did not answer the question as I am building a proof-of-concept system and need to have the iso installed onto a HDD and eventually into a VM but will be customizing the Win7PE SE build once I have figured out how to get the HD install going.

This is a just one small step in the project and is meant to be used as your question relates "Q: Can I use these projects as "undamageable" windows kind  ?"

Thanks anyway as I know that there will be licensing issues to address as well, but that as not the question that I had for the forum.

Cheers,
Lonnie

It sounds like the "poor man's install" and "persistent memory" of some linux live-cd versions, and it cannot be accomplished.

as I am new to it and have created my first iso that I can boot into a VirtualBox VM.

After creating first iso, this happens more frequently these days. (once in couple of weeks) 
 It should be easy to boot SE from hd, copy/extract files and create manager etc. !
  but it has no sense, since booting from .iso/.wim is more logical for PE usage...


@LonnieTC

As written on FAQ http://theoven.org/index.php?topic=834.0
which I believe you overall read quickly !

General Advice:
On Projects: Take a look at all plugins that provide lots of options, sometimes links also exists that gives more info,
 Although you will figure out some of them easly, some not easly, you will get the big picture 
  After that make a quick read of FAQ http://theoven.org/index.php?topic=834.0

So you already notice there is
\WriteMedia\"Copy to USB-Device"
\WriteMedia\"Copy to USB-Device BCD BootMGR"
plugins to play with for your goals.

and you already notice plugins
Apps\Portable\...
Apps\System Tools\Portable Finder CMD
that may fit your side goals,



If these doesn't fit your goals,
 with Answers to FAQ "Q: Can I use these projects as "undamageable" windows kind  ?" doesn't fit ! ,
  Than remember, these are contribution projects, as written on FAQ

if you like new features to be added, and not exists, try to add such feature and contribute to projects.

There are many new concepts that need to be understood about this project and until those concepts are somewhat understood, it is best to experiment more on your own..
I would suggest the first thing you need to do - since this project is run on your host OS System - is Make a complete PC System Backup or PC Recovery Image of the Host System..
Experiment with many different builds, PE to Ram, OS to Ram and adding different plugin options.. Taking notice to the size of the ISO, the amount of allocated memory space used and the size of the programs files..

PE to Ram, OS to Ram and RamDisk are options that use system memory - once the OS is loaded into the reserved system memory X:, that memory acts like a hard disk or partition..
You can run and install programs to the ramdisk, but none of the programs, files or anything will be saved to disk once the ramdisk is removed from memory..

When using the X: / Y: options - the system OS is loaded into memory and the program files are left on the USB Flash Drive - Thus reducing the amount of the reserved system memory used, by not loading all the programs files into the reserved memory..

Some programs are portable and do not require anything more then a shortcut in the ramdisk OS - some programs require OS system files to be added to the ramdisk OS
That is what these plugins do..  The plugin writes the needed OS files into the ramdisk OS and keeps the programs files on the USB, so all the needed files are present, but not loaded into memory

Choosing Everything to Ram - loads the System OS and all the program files into the reserved system memory - there is a size limitation as to the amount of the reserved memory and may not be always feasible..
So in closing anything that is being run using a ramdisk has to be pre-written to the OS in order to be saved.. Anything not pre-written to OS will not be saved..

There is another option that has been explored and that is using a VHD containing an OS that is written to USB.. A much better option for what the OP is suggesting at.. (Recent Topics > Windows to usb / WinNTsetup)

There is also a third option that has not been explored yet, it is an option included with Win8.1 and that is wimboot..  Which may allow the wim to be loaded into ramdisk and allow for the OS and program(s) pointer files to be written to USB..

Just my Thoughts..
Happy Testing!!
Kyhi

You have some good ideas and I will have to explore a bit more to really get a good feel for things in Win7PE SE.

Actually getting everything into a VHD on a USB is exactly what I am wanting to do at this initial point, but just have not yet found a good way to do it.
Thanks,
Lonnie