Hello! Windows PE or Windows Preinstallation Environment is a light version of Windows with a specific function. Indeed, Microsoft implements this version to help install, deploy, deploy, repair and maintain in the best conditions of use the complete editions of desktop Windows. Additionally, it also works for Windows Server. Let me clarify that Windows PE is a fully functional and operational version. However, it cannot be used as a day-to-day client system. In fact, to avoid such uses, Windows PE automatically stops shell execution and restarts after 72 hours of continuous use. Additionally, this period cannot be extended or customized. So without further ado, let’s see 5 Windows PE rescue environments for repair and maintenance.
Windows PE is a classic rescue disk
On the other hand, most rescue disks use a Linux environment (Live CD or Live USB). Even those that work on Microsoft systems. However, this version is created from Windows. In addition, it is very complete. It supports all Windows applications, drivers, network tools, partitions, administrators, Hyper-V virtualizer and others. Additionally, we will be able to add free and open-source tools for maintenance and troubleshooting and security solutions against malware.
5 Windows PE environments
There are ways to create such disks and customize them to the user’s liking. However, there are developers who do the work for us. In effect, we only have to download an image and burn it to an optical or USB medium. From there we can use it to recover, restore, maintain or analyze our PC for errors. Some of the best ones are:
Hiren’s BootCD PE
One of the legendary all-in-one rescue discs. Indeed, it is packed with tools to help the user fix operating system bugs and remove malware. It also allows for password recovery, account management and much more. Recall that the original Hiren BootCD was a Linux environment. However, it stopped receiving updates years ago and in 2018 it was revitalized as a Windows PE rescue disk. It has a lot of free and open-source tools within a familiar Windows environment.
Bob.Omb’s Modified Win10PEx64
Another modified Windows PE environment with a long list of tools for analysis and recovery. It also includes programs against infections with Malwarebytes Antimalware or for data recovery with EaseUS Data Recovery. In addition to the classic functions of others on the list, it also includes differentiating elements. Indeed, it includes some ransomware decrypts. These tools scan the system for this type of malware and remove it. In addition, they also allow you to restore files as long as they are available. Remember that many types of ransomware have not been decrypted.
Gandalf’s Windows 10PE x64
Without any doubt, the most complete of these environments. Not in vain, it adds about 200 tools. Of course, in this accumulation of programs, there is a bit of everything. In fact, we will get hardware and software diagnostics, backup programs, anti-malware applications, network analysis and much more. It also stands out for its updates, every few months.
Kyhi’s Recovery Drive.
This tool is one of the most powerful tools against Windows failures, disk and partition repair, backup and recovery. However, it also has antivirus, administration tools and many others. The developer stopped updating it, but older versions can still be used.
Sergei Streclec’s WinPE
Another highlight of the list that includes numerous Windows maintenance and recovery applications. However, the special touch is provided by the organization of the items. Indeed, all the tools are organized into practical categories that help you find what you need.
Paragon Backup & Recovery Community Edition
The main function of this tool is to create system backups. In this sense, it offers multiple options to facilitate this task. However, it also works as Windows PE. Remember that this is the free version. However, it is sufficient for domestic needs. In it, we will find everything we need to analyze our disk, solve problems and recover data that has been deleted. Besides being able to create our own portable Windows, we can also use this complete backup software to keep our data safe. Finally, the interface is very user-friendly for creating this type of media.
AOMEI PE Builder
AOMEI PE Builder is a tool designed to create bootable CDs, DVDs or USB flash drives with a portable version of Windows. Totally ideal for system recovery when all else fails and it is impossible to access it by normal means. As you can see, it allows you to create a Windows PE from a base ISO. For this particular, using any Windows PE distribution you already have, or you can also create one from scratch using its base system. You can add several tools, including those of computer maintenance of the brand. This free program is available for download here.
Windows PE customized on demand.
The above solutions work very well. They certainly have almost everything you need and make it easy to create these rescue disks without any knowledge beyond managing an ISO. The issue is that they do not allow customization of the applications to be included in the media. If you want to create a solution tailored to your needs, you can do it from scratch.
For these cases, it is best to use Win10XPE. We are talking about a complete Windows PE environment developed by the renowned customizer ChrisR. The project provides a good basis for building such environments using Windows 10. In addition, a second, lighter Win10PESE variant with the minimum necessary applications is available.
It supports both 32-bit and 64-bit architectures and has a wide range of core Windows functions. In addition, we can add a wide variety of custom applications. If you want to create it yourself, you also need a Windows 10 ISO image that you can download from the official site.
Very well, in this way we have seen the 5 Windows PE rescue environments for repair and maintenance. This way you won’t get stuck in case your main system fails. See you soon.
