To download and install the , you must download the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) and its corresponding WinPE Add-on .
: Many secure environments (military, finance, critical infrastructure) cannot connect to the internet during OS deployment. Admins must download the exact MSI on an online machine and sneakernet it to the secure build server.
– Microsoft Docs → Covers boot files, customizing boot.wim, and WinPE architecture. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/winpe-intro windows pe boot files -onecoreuap--x86-en-us.msi download
– These are not publicly documented for direct download. If you encountered this file in a build environment, it’s likely from an internal Microsoft build (e.g., from a disk image or SDK staging folder).
: This specifies the 32-bit architecture. Notably, Microsoft has phased out x86 WinPE support in newer ADK versions (post-Windows 10, version 2004). To download and install the , you must
: Run the ADK installer first, then the WinPE Add-on installer. The boot files will be located in:
| Document | Link | |----------|------| | Windows PE technical overview | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/winpe-intro | | WinPE: Create bootable media | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/winpe-create-usb-bootable-drive | | WinPE component reference | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/winpe-add-packages | | Windows ADK download | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/get-started/adk-install | | Boot files (bootmgr, BCD, winload) | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/boot-process | – Microsoft Docs → Covers boot files, customizing boot
Modern versions of the Windows 11 ADK (starting from version 22H2) have dropped support for 32-bit (x86) WinPE .