Unix-Like Bootloader to Boot Windows PE (Windows 11) EFI-Based Computers
Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) is a minimal operating system designed to prepare a computer for installation of Windows. It can also be used for troubleshooting and repairing Windows installations. In this article, we will discuss how to use a Unix-like bootloader to boot Windows PE on EFI-based computers.
What is a Bootloader?
A bootloader is a program that loads an operating system or a mini operating system like Windows PE. It is stored in the boot sector of a hard drive or on a separate boot partition. A bootloader can be configured to boot multiple operating systems, making it a useful tool for dual-booting or multi-booting systems.
Unix-Like Bootloaders
Unix-like bootloaders include GRUB, rEFInd, and Systemd-boot. These bootloaders are commonly used on Linux and BSD systems, but they can also be used to boot Windows PE on EFI-based computers.
Booting Windows PE with a Unix-Like Bootloader
To boot Windows PE with a Unix-like bootloader, you will need to create a bootable USB drive or CD/DVD with Windows PE. You can then add an entry for Windows PE to your Unix-like bootloader configuration file.
Creating a Bootable USB Drive or CD/DVD with Windows PE
To create a bootable USB drive or CD/DVD with Windows PE, you can use the copype.cmd script included with the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK). The following command will create a bootable USB drive with Windows PE:
copype.cmd Replace
Adding an Entry for Windows PE to the Bootloader Configuration File
Once you have created a bootable USB drive or CD/DVD with Windows PE, you can add an entry for Windows PE to your Unix-like bootloader configuration file. The exact steps to do this will depend on the bootloader you are using.
GRUB
To add an entry for Windows PE to the GRUB configuration file, you can use the following template:
menuentry "Windows PE" {
set root=(hd,)
chainloader +1
} Replace hd with the device and partition where your Windows PE image is located. For example, if your Windows PE image is located on the first partition of the first hard drive, you would use hd0,1.
rEFInd
To add an entry for Windows PE to the rEFInd configuration file, you can use the following template:
menuentry "Windows PE" {
icon \EFI\refind\icons\os_windows.png
load
} Replace \EFI\Microsoft\Boot\bootmgfw.efi.
Systemd-boot
To add an entry for Windows PE to the Systemd-boot configuration file, you can use the following template:
label windowspe
menuentry "Windows PE" {
linux
initrd
} Replace \EFI\Microsoft\Boot\bootmgfw.efi.
In this article, we have discussed how to use a Unix-like bootloader to boot Windows PE on EFI-based computers. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can create a bootable USB drive or CD/DVD with Windows PE and add an entry for Windows PE to your Unix-like bootloader configuration file. This can be a useful tool for troubleshooting and repairing Windows installations.
References
- Microsoft Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK)
- GRUB Bootloader
- rEFInd Bootloader
- Systemd-boot Bootloader