Windows XP Preinstallation CD

[earthling30]

Hello all. Based on these forums suggestions on where to buy parts from, I just made my first purchase from NewEgg and I rec'd the package today, wow, what service. I ordered some hardware plus an OEM Windows XP SP1a. When I opened the box it also had a XP Preinstallation CD in it as well. What is it for? I've bought OEM Windows before (i.e. XP without service pack, ME) and they didn't come with it plus I didn't have any trouble installing them either. I've also seen this type of CD listed for most Win OS's in Price Watch. I'm not at home at the moment so I don't have the booklet with me. I just thought that I'd ask from some people that could possibly know. Thanks in Advance!

BTW NewEgg ROCKS

Edit: I've done some research and this is what I came up with. Is it true?

 

[CTho9305]

It's like a rescue boot disk, except it gets you into a GUI environment.

Make your own: http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

 

[Sianath]

LOL, if someone higher on the management food chain discovers that some guy accidently included a WinPE disk with the OEM product they shipped you, they're gonna be fighting hard to defend their job.

WinPE was created for use in a preinstallation environment. (read: factory). It has been something that VL customer's can obtain (based on their licensing), but outside of the VL channel, it is not available.

 

[CQuinn]

It might not be a WinPE disk.

The Windows Preinstallation kit is a set of tools and whitepapers that OEMs use to
build "custom" Windows installs for the PCs they sell.

Its what companies like Dell or HP use to create the recovery CDs that reinstall the
OS with all the packaged apps and drivers already included.

 

[Sianath]

Yes CQuinn... WinPE is what we include with the OPK.

 

[nutxo]

Ive seen the disk sold for like 7 dollars at a few sites.

 

[lowpost]

It might be useful for creating single purpose OS'es. Such as making windows machine that does nothing but run Photoshop, Painter, ACDsee... etc.


Except that Bart's PE will time out and reboot on you... it's gonna take some hacking for me to get any use out of it.

 

[corkyg]

Its most important use is as a prep for XP. It will analyze your system and tell you what is good and what is bad - and where you have to get new drivers, etc. Upgrades work fine if you pay a lot of attention to system preparation beforehand - most users don't know how to do that, so their usual action is a clean install.