BartPE bootable CD is an useful tool that comes with a complete Win32 environment. This can be used to rescue unbootable systems, recover files & settings and do much more. Bart’s PE Builder helps you build a BartPE bootable live Windows CD/DVD from the original Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 Setup CD.
Creating the BartPE bootable CD
1. Download the latest version of PE Builder self-installing package from Bart’s site and run it. It extracts all the files to a folder (e.g. C:\pebuilder3110a) and creates a desktop shortcut to launch the PE Builder.
2. Insert your Windows XP/2003 CD into the drive.
3. Double-click the PE Builder desktop shortcut.
3. PE Builder will ask to search for windows installation files. Click Yes to have PE Builder search for the source files, or you may opt to type the path manually. You may also use a network location which contains the source files. For retail Windows XP CDs, the source path is <driveletter:>\i386.
Note that the source Windows XP CD should include Service Pack 1 (SP1) or higher. If you have a pre-SP1 CD, then you must slipstream (integrate) SP1, SP2 or SP3 with it. To integrate a Service Pack, click the Source menu in PE Builder, and select Slipstream. Before that download the complete installation package of the Service Pack you wish to integrate. See How to obtain the latest Windows XP service pack for Service Pack download links.
To Enable/Disable or add third-party Plugins (optional), click the Plugins button. Comprehensive list of third-party Plugins are available at BootCd.US Website.
4. After configuring the source and output paths, select the optical drive from the list of devices and then click the Build button.
CD Burn Errors
If you receive errors (e.g. CStarBurn_ScsiTransportSPTI::ExecuteCDB) when using the built-in CD burning tools StarBurn or CD-Record, then choose the Create ISO image option to write to an ISO file. You can then burn the ISO image to CD using the CD burning software that came with your system. If you don’t have one, you may download the free ISO Recorder PowerToy to write the ISO image to CD.
Starting BartPE
To start the BartPE boot environment, insert the BartPE bootable CD in the drive and start the computer. If the system does not boot from the CD, enter BIOS Setup and set CD drive as the first boot device. From the BartPE’s start menu ("Go" button), you can launch the Run Command, file manager, Command Prompt and other system tools. Also, you can launch the Registry Editor by running Regedit.exe from the System32 folder of BartPE boot CD, using the Command Prompt. (Illustration: How to edit the registry offline using BartPE boot CD.)
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It’s amazing. There are so many things that can go wrong during this process and none of them are addressed. For example:
I am getting a bunch of errors relating to “cannot copy file because it is in use by another program.”
People who read and use these types of posts should be informed on the entire procedure, including errors that can be encountered.
You’ve added the “If you receive errors (e.g. CStarBurn_ScsiTransportSPTI::ExecuteCDB) when using the built-in CD burning tools StarBurn or CD-Record, then choose the Create ISO image option to write to an ISO file.” However, when doing this BartPE tries to delete filed created with the previous build.
It cannot because those files are “being used by another program”. I closed all programs to no avail. Finally I had to reboot my machine to resolve this issue.
Do not assume that your readers will know what to do when encountering errors with this procedure! If they are reading this post then they need information.
PROVIDE IT!!
I did as yor instructions said, and it always comes up upon booting with an error ” megaSR.sys” missing and won’t go any farther. The file is in the I386 directory (megasr.sy_). What can I do to fix this problem. The windows version is XP Pcorporate SP3. Thanks
Dear Christopher,
you may copy the cd to your computer first then search the directory source where you put it when you using the PE builder….
I only have one optical drive, I can’t have the blank CD and the Windows disk in at the same time.
I mean, I didn’t change any from the ‘Plugins’….(typing error)
Why my BartPE boot disc Doesn’t have ‘Load Hive’ option at File Option.
I did tried used the method here and I did change any from ‘Plugins’ Optional but when I boot from the disc, the Load Hive was not functional.
Any idea?
#1, they this program:
PE2USB.CMD
Copyright (c) 2005 Bart Lagerweij. All rights reserved.
This program is free software. Use and/or distribute it under the
terms of this license (see below)
PE2USB.CMD is created for use with PE Builder
More information about PE Builder:
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/
For successful installing BartPE to a USB flash disk you need:
1) A USB flash disk with a capacity of 256MB or more
2) Server 2003 SP1 (or a release candidate). You can download this from
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=02734CEA-7A4B-4D95-B220-8E1708C3ED46
This file is large, about 350MB!!!
Unpack the files from the service pack (this is not installing) with:
sr1sp.exe -x, lets assume you extract it to c:\server2003sp1
(the file “sr1sp.exe” can be called different)
Copy the file c:\server2003sp1\i386\setupldr.bin to the \srsp1 folder
Expand the file c:\server2003sp1\i386\ramdisk.sy_ to the \srsp1 folder
expand -r c:\server2003sp1\i386\ramdisk.sy_ \srsp1
You can now remove the c:\server2003sp1 folder, not needed anymore…
3) Build BartPE using pebuilder as normal, you must set the output folder to
“BartPE”, you do not need to generate an ISO image for now.
4) Run “pe2usb -f ” to format and install the files to your UFD.
Formatting is only needed the first time, so next time you can run
“pe2usb ” (without -f) to update the BartPE files.
For successful booting BartPE from a USB flash disk you need:
1) A PC that is capable of booting from a USB flash disk with 256MB memory
or more.
Can I booot with BartPE from my flash disk (usb disk). There is no cd drive in my notebook. any sugestion?
Hi there, when searching for the installation files, it says 1 source found, but when i press ok, the source box just remains on “c:\”
any ideas how to fix that? thanks
[...] utilities. 2.1-In case u find it hard to create a BARTPE try following the links like this or this. U can also get some pre made images in underground sites which I cant mention [...]