Complete Guide to Add Drivers to WinPE Recovery Media

Create Clean WinPE Files

Install the Windows ADK

• Install the following features from the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK):
  • Deployment Tools: includes the Deployment and Imaging Tools Environment.
  • Windows Preinstallation Environment : includes the files used to install Windows PE.

1. Create three folders called C:\Temp, C:\Drivers and C:\mount. NOTE: The Drive and Directory Names can be changed if you are consistent.

2. Go to Start Menu/Windows Kits and right click on "Deployment and Imaging Tools Environment". Select "Run as administrator".

3. Create a working copy of the Windows PE files. Specify either x86, amd64, or arm. Below is for x86:

NOTE: The Drive and Directory Name can be changed. The directory will be created automatically.

copype x86 C:\WinPE_x86

4. Use this line ONLY if working on your target system, then skip the “Get Your Drivers” section below

dism /Online /Export-Driver /Destination:C:\Drivers

5. Copy the boot.wim file from the “media\sources” folder of C:\WinPE_x86 to C:\Temp.

Get Your Drivers

1. Right Click on Acronis .TIB file and choose Acronis Mount or if this does not work create a VHDX file from your Acronis .TIB file within Acronis using the Dropdown Menu (If your computer has failed all of this can be done on another PC – just use “add backup” option to add any backup to any PC.) then right click on the .VHDX file and choose Mount. I assume below the drive for the windows partition is “K”.

2. Go to Start Menu/Windows Kits and right click on "Deployment and Imaging Tools Environment". Select "Run as administrator".

3. Enter this line in the command window that opened in step 2. All OEM drivers will be exported.

dism /Image:K: /Export-Driver /Destination:C:\Drivers

4. You can now Unmount the TIB or VHDX file using right click on this drive and choosing “eject”.

Add Your Drivers to WinPE

1. Go to Start Menu/Windows Kits and right click on "Deployment and Imaging Tools Environment". Select "Run as administrator". (Unless you have left this command window open in the steps above)

2. Enter these lines (one at a time) in the command window that opened in step 1.

dism /Mount-Wim /WimFile:C:\Temp\boot.wim /Index:1 /MountDir:C:\mount

dism /Add-Driver /Image:C:\mount /Driver:C:\Drivers /ForceUnsigned /Recurse

dism /Unmount-Wim /MountDir:C:\mount /Commit           

(NOTE: Unmount may fail – don’t worry)

3. Copy C:\Temp\boot.wim to the “sources” folder of C:\WinPE_x86 replacing the existing boot.wim.

Create Acronis Recovery Drive

1. Open Acronis. Select Tools, Rescue Media Builder, Advanced, WinPE-based Media

2. Click on “Browse for WinPE Files…” and choose your WinPE_x86 directory.

3. Click “Next” – Your Drivers are already installed.

4. Create your own bespoke Recovery CD, USB etc