How to build a Windows PE [Vista] CD/DVD that contains Ghost32.exe and then join a client machine to a Ghost Cast Server session to create or restore an image file.

Article:TECH109718  |  Created: 2007-01-06  |  Updated: 2013-10-22  |  Article URL
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Technical Solution



It's been explained to you that imaging operations on server operating systems and computers that use a hardware RAID array must occur from a 32-bit Windows PE environment where the network interface card (NIC) drivers and mass storage controller drivers are included in that environment. You need to know how to build this Windows PE disk so that you can complete your imaging with the Ghost Cast Server.


The default 16-bit DOS environment that is used on regular Ghost Boot Disks does not correctly interpret hardware RAID arrays or server operating systems.


Symantec Technical Support for Windows PE is limited to the use and troubleshooting of Ghost. Support is not offered for configuring or troubleshooting Windows PE operations outside
the functionality of Ghost. The information below is provided "as is" and questions about Windows PE or the process used to create a Windows PE disk should be directed to Microsoft.

1. Download the Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) located at the following URL:

2. Once you have WAIK download, burn the image file to DVD using 3rd party burning software or extract the contents of the image file to a folder.

3. The following components should be installed on a Windows XPSP2, Windows 2003 SP1, or Windows Vista computer. These components are all available on the WAIK DVD burned in step 2.
a. .NET Framework Setup
b. MSXML 6.0 Setup
c. Windows AIK Setup (install last).

4. Click Start > All Programs > Microsoft Windows AIK > Windows PE Tools Command Prompt

5. Type the following commands at the command prompt:

a. copype.cmd x86 c:\winpe_x86
b. imagex /mountrw c:\winpe_x86\winpe.wim 1 c:\winpe_x86\mount

Next, you'll want to copy ghost32.exe, NIC drivers, and Mass Storage Controller Drivers to the PE disk. The NIC drivers and Mass Storage Controller drivers need to be Vista drivers.

c . copy "C:\Program Files\Symantec\Ghost\Ghost32.exe" c:\winpe_x86\mount\windows
d. copy "[NIC driver location]" c:\winpe_x86\mount\windows (Vista Drivers only)
e. copy "[Mass Storage Driver Location]" c:\winpe_x86\mount\windows (Vista Drivers only)
f. peimg /prep c:\winpe_x86\mount\windows
Type Yes to continue
g. imagex /unmount c:\winpe_x86\mount /commit
h. copy c:\winpe_x86\winpe.wim c:\winpe_x86\ISO\sources\boot.wim
Type Yes to overwrite
j. Burn the ISO located at c:\winpe_x86 to CD/DVD.

6. Boot your client machine with the new PE disk you built
7. When the PE environment is fully loaded, you'll see a command prompt. At the command prompt, type ghost32.exe and press [enter]
8. At this point, Ghost will open and you can perform imaging as you normally would:

a. Click GhostCast
b. Select Unicast/Multicast/Directed Broadcast
c. Type the name of the GhostCast Session to join
d. Click OK
e. Select the source/destination drive and Click OK
f. If you're creating an image, choose the level of compression to use. If you're restoring an image, you won't see compression options.
g. Click Yes when asked, "Proceed with Image File Creation?"

Note: To automate the opening of Ghost32.exe when you boot into the Windows PE environment, modify the startnet.cmd file prior to taking step 5E. You can find the startnet.bat file in c:\winpe_x86\mount\windows\system32\startnet.cmd. Underneath the winpeinit entry, enter the following command line and resave the file:


Walkthrough: Create a Custom Windows PE Image

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