Windows Deployment Platform Components - Other Tools

Windows 7 and the Windows AIK 2.0 also provide various command-line tools that are useful during deployment:

• BCDboot. BCDboot can set up a system partition or repair the boot environment on a system partition quickly. It copies a small set of boot environment files from the installed Windows 7 image to the system partition. It also creates a boot configuration data (BCD) store on the system partition, which includes a new boot entry that enables the Windows image to boot.

• Bootsect. Bootsect.exe updates the master boot code for hard-disk partitions to switch between BOOTMGR and NTLDR. You can use this tool to restore the boot sector on your computer. This tool replaces FixFAT and FixNTFS.

• DiskPart. DiskPart is a text-mode command interpreter in Windows 7. You can use DiskPart to manage disks, partitions, or volumes by using scripts or direct input at a command prompt. In Windows 7, DiskPart can also mount .vhd files. Mounting a .vhd file allows you to service it or make other offline changes.

• Drvload. The Drvload tool adds out-of-box drivers to a booted Windows PE image. It takes one or more driver .inf files as inputs. To add a driver to an offline Windows PE image, use the DISM tool. If the driver .inf file requires a reboot, Windows PE will ignore the request. If the driver .sys file requires a reboot, you cannot add the driver with Drvload.

• Expand. The Expand tool expands one or more compressed update files. Expand.exe supports opening updates for Windows 7 as well as previous versions of Windows. By using Expand, you can open and examine updates for Windows 7 on a Windows XP or Microsoft Windows Server 2003 operating system.

• Lpksetup. You can use Lpksetup to perform unattended or silent-mode language pack operations. Lpksetup runs only on an online Windows 7 operating system.

• Oscdimg. Oscdimg is a command-line tool for creating an image (.iso) file of a customized 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows PE. You can then burn an .iso file to a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM or copy its contents to a bootable UFD.

• Powercfg. You can use the Powercfg tool to control power settings and configure computers to default to Hibernate or Standby modes. In Windows 7, Powercfg provides troubleshooting help for diagnosing energy consumption problems.

• Winpeshl Winpeshl.ini controls whether a custom shell is loaded in Windows PE instead of the default Command Prompt window.

• Wpeinit. Wpeinit is a command-line tool that initializes Windows PE each time it boots. When Windows PE starts, Winpeshl.exe executes Startnet.cmd, which starts Wpeinit.exe. Wpeinit.exe specifically installs Plug and Play (PnP) devices, processes Unattend.xml settings, and loads network resources. Wpeinit replaces the initialization function previously supported using the Factory.exe –winpe command. Wpeinit outputs log messages to C:\Windows\System32\Wpeinit.log.

• Wpeutil. The Windows PE utility (Wpeutil) is a command-line tool that you can use to run various commands in a Windows PE session. For example, you can shut down or reboot Windows PE, enable or disable Windows Firewall, set language settings, and initialize a network.

Source of Information : Windows 7 Resource Kit 2009 Microsoft Press