Create a Bootable USB drive with VistaPE

USB drives have become a ubiquitous commodity. Many people have one and some carry their USB drive on their keychain. This provides easy access to handy data such as passwords, games, photos, etc.
VistaPE is the preinstall environment for the installation of Windows Vista. When you first boot to a Vista DVD, the GUI screen you see during installation is VistaPE. It was designed for use on DVD's and USB drives. It provides a graphical environment using a small amount of resources. It's very flexible in that you can add components to provide additional features.
Having a VistaPE bootable USB drive has some additional advantages:

- Familiar interface where you can run Windows programs
- Browse the Internet without leaving a trace on the host PC
- Remove undeleteable spyware and viruses
- Flash the BIOS in a clean environment
- Diagnose computer problems

Being able to remove spyware and viruses is an incredible handy ability. You should be able to remove all of those problems since they won't be able to start automatically. I've used mine many times to get rid of nasty viruses on other peoples computers.

Here's how to create a VistaPE USB drive:

What you need:
USB drive (128MB minimum, 1GB+ preferred)
Winbuilder 75 Beta 4
Windows Vista DVD (preferred) or Windows Automated Installation Kit
Computer with Windows XP or Vista

Let's get started!

Step 1 Copy Vista to the HDD

Copy the contents of the Vista install DVD to your HDD. This speeds up the whole process. Alternately, you can use the Windows AIK, though you will have reduced features. I recommend using the Vista DVD files.

If you're using the WAIK, you need to burn the image to a DVD, then install it. You'll use the installed directory (usually C:\Program Files\Windows AIK) as the Vista file location.

Comments

[hotshot1216]

Hey, Is There Anyway You Could Help Me Do This Over TeamViewer?

[budabob07]

I'm getting another error: IF - unrecognized clause: [c:\windows\syswow64]. evaluated string: [If,ExistDir ,"%WindowsDir%\SysWOW64",Set,%SysType%,"amd64"]
I'm on 64 bit windows 7 and am installing from the WAIK. Does anyone know how to make this work?

[budabob07]

I get an error in this part that says: Run-Failed to find section [NotConfigured] in file: [%basedir%\ProjectVistaPE-Core\Base\00-api-main.script]

[Fawkes]

hey um... your link doesnt work, you tutorial has been great, but im still haveing issues with mine, i think it was because im using a 64bit vista, im going to try the AIK soon. once i can download 1gb.....

[Flea]

Sorry about that. It's fixed now. I haven't tried making it with Vista64. I'm not sure if there would be driver issues with it. Good luck.

[blind08620]

the video file was not found

[Davedwin]

On Winbuilder version 076 you have to go to "Source" before changing the paths.

[jaxxster1]

all i can download is upx 2. is that a problem?

[Flea]

Make sure you click the Server button and put a checkbox by VistaPE.net/project. Then click download. It will then download the scripts necessary to start the creation process. I just ran the latest build and was able to download the scripts. UPX is a different, but similar boot project. Looks like it's LiveXP based rather than the newer, more compatible VistaPE environment.

[tlhintoq]

I can get to this point. But my computer isn't old enough to have PS2 ports and VistaPEv.12rc1 doesn't seem to support USB keyboard/mouse. Any suggestions?

[mrcorbano]

How did you get the usb keyboard/mouse to work? vistape boots up, but I can't get either to work

[tlhintoq]

I see I'm not the only one where lack of USB support has been a roadblock. I hope someone knows the answer and would care to share. I've read a fair amount about "injecting drivers" to a PE install, but I just don't have the time to dedicate to becoming a PE expert for my one little need.

[dahjah]

Try using a CD/DVD instead of a USB

[mettaurlover]

i have a Toshiba machine. is this possible on one? mine won't run it properly.

[Shadowfury]

Your hardware is irrelevant. You simply need a Windows XP or higher operating system with USB support.

[mettaurlover]

uh... yeah... my comp doesn't have the proper stuff on it to do the necessary things, and i'm running ubuntu 8.10

[Shadowfury]

Well, there you go. Ubuntu doesn't support Windows software.

[mettaurlover]

try again: WINE is the program that can open windows stuff in ubuntu. only thing is, it's a pain to get to work. and anyway, i don't have a disk for VISTA.

[REA]

WINE can only run certain programs but not all.

[mettaurlover]

true... but for those WINE can't run, i have crossover.

[REA]

that reminds me. i should have partitioned when i installed Ubuntu on my Win98 tower.

[mettaurlover]

win98 is NOT worth it to try to make a partition. in fact, i repaired a tower i have that lost its ability to push 98 around with ubuntu.

[mettaurlover]

"crossover" isn't for going between partitions. it's for installing windows software in linux in a way that works.

[REA]

hmm... im intrigued! tell me more.

[mettaurlover]

you can only really get it without paying by torrent, the main thing i use it for is for MS office, but there's a version for games as well.

[REA]

>you can only really get it without paying by torrent

thats what i like to hear! i dont like paying. do you have a torrent link?

[mettaurlover]

yes, in fact:
games: http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/4472840/CrossOver_Games_7.1.2_Linux_%5BLame_Duck_2008-10-28_Free_Download
pro: http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/4472793/CrossOver_Pro_7_1_0_Linux_%5BLame_Duck_2008-10-28_Free_Download_Da

[REA]

31/1 seed/leach ratio! thats the second best ive ever seen!

[mettaurlover]

I know. It took less time to finish downloading the data than it took to get the .tor file! You do know how to install .sh files, don't you?

[REA]

not the slightest clue! =D

[mettaurlover]

navigate to the directory that the .sh file is in, then type "sudo sh -filename" that should work...

[REA]

now why cant all linux programs be that easy to install? i thought it was going to be a couple command lines like you normally see.

[mettaurlover]

actually, it's a few lines, depending on where you have the file. did you install it?

[Shadowfury]

Yes, but I mean under normal circumstances. And why bother trying to get it to work if you have a decent OS anyway?

[mettaurlover]

cause i have a disk of every OS that's not horribly outdated except for vista...

[Shadowfury]

You could just go buy Vista...?

[mettaurlover]

that, i have on my comp already. but you don't understand my goal: to have a disk of every operating system that i can make one for, even if said OS is disfunctional.

[EaglesNestOne]

You must have one hell of a flashdrive o_0. Use GRUB boot loader once you figure out how to get all of them on there. Just my $0.10 worth. Then make an instructable on how to do it :D. GG, EaglesNestOne

[mettaurlover]

no; i use actual disks to do it: i burn the ISO files onto CDs. i have too many CDs to be useful...

[stratholm]

Just use puppy linux. Created for this kind of thing and it's a complete OS with all the tools you'll ever need. Try it instead of wasting time hacking winslows.