How to create a bootable WinPE USB Key

Obtain the following:

1. USB Key
2. Windows Automated Installation Kit
   http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=696DD665-9F76-4177-A811-39C26D3B3B34&displayLang=en

Steps to create the Bootable USB Key:

Important note: This set of commands assumes your USB key is detected as disk 1, you should double check that by doing a list of the disks before cleaning it. If you have multiple hard drives you need USB disk # in command 2.b)

1. Install the Windows Automated Installation Kit on a workstation.
2. On the workstation, with the USB key plugged in, run the following

   a. diskpart
   b. select disk 1
   c. clean
   d. create partition primary
   e. select partition 1
   f. active
   g. format fs=fat32
   h. assign
   i. exit

3. From the Start menu select “Windows PE Tools Command Prompt”
4. In the command window run:  copype.cmd x86 c:winpe_x86
   Note: 64bit version can be created by changing x86 in the above to amd64
5. In the command window run the following:  xcopy c:winpe_x86iso*.* /s /e /f e:
   Note: Change c: to reflect the drive your files on and e: to be your USB key.

Now you have a bootable WinPE USB key.