Make a Windows LIVE CD using Bart PE : Use Windows without installing it !!!

So today we are going to look at a technology which is fast gripping the world.
As you might have guessed..yes we are going to discuss about LIVE CDs

A.INTRODUCTION TO LIVE CDS

So what does LIVE Cds actually mean? Well it is a very simple yet a powerful concept.
Simply put...say you use an Operating system (XP,Vista,Linux...) however you have to install these OS on your hard disk before using them..And suppose you don't like them you will have to format the disk...
Now LIVE CDs come into the picture as they let you enjoy the features of an operating system but you do not need to install any files !!!! Yes... just boot from a LIVE CD and within 3 minutes your Operating System is up and running...and when you are tired of it..just eject the CD.

The concept is that LIVE CDs load all the necessary information into the RAM. An analogous example... LIVE CDs are like 'TEST DRIVES' ..you drive the car for some time and walk out the next moment without buying it.... however our OSes are like buying a car...you have to pay for it before driving.

LIVE CDs give you a complete Win32 environment with network support, a graphical user interface (800x600) and FAT/NTFS/CDFS filesystem support. Very handy for burn-in testing systems with no OS, rescuing files to a network share, virus scan and so on.But they are no ways a replacement for a full fledged OS.

B.REQUIREMENTS TO BUILD

1. The files from your Windows Installation CD-Rom.
   Supported Windows versions are:
   • Windows XP Home Edition (must be slip streamed with Service Pack 1 or higher)
   • Windows XP Professional (must be slip streamed with Service Pack 1 or higher)
   • Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
   • Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
   • Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
2. Download the latest version of Bart's PE builder from here.
   
3. CD/DVD writer if you want to create a bootable CD/DVD.

C.GETTING STARTED

This will help you create your very first BartPE CD. It assumes that you are using Windows XP.

1. Make sure that your system has about 500MB of free disk space!
2. Download the latest PE Builder version (self-installing package) and install it.
3. Start PE Builder (pebuilder.exe). When you start PE Builder for the first time it will ask if you agree with the license agreement.
4. Now PE Builder will ask to search for windows installation files. If you don't have your windows XP setup/installation files on your system you must insert the original Microsoft Windows XP installation/setup CD at this point.
   The files you have at c:\windows are not installation files. They are your already installed files!
   Click "yes" to start searching. PE Builder will now search all fixed- and CD-Rom drives for Windows installation files. This will take some time. When more than one valid location is found, a dialog will appear where you can select which location you want to use.
5. At the main PE Builder dialog, select the "Burn to CD/DVD" option. When you are using an erasable medium, make sure that the "AutoErase RW" option is enabled. The "burn using" option should be set to "StarBurn". Select your CD writer device from the Device list.
6. Hit the "build" button. PE Builder will now ask you to create a BartPE directory, answer with "yes".
7. The license for your Microsoft Windows XP product is shown. Read it and agree to it to continue.
8. PE Builder will now start building BartPE. This will take a few minutes.
   You will see a lot of files getting copied and/or decompressed, the ISO image build and the data recorded to your CD/DVD writer.
   If the data verify was correct and there where no errors reported you can boot the CD/DVD!

D.SCREENSHOTS

THE PE BUILDER SCREEN

McAfee VIRUS SCAN GUI IN THE LIVE CD

E.SUPPORT

If you have any problems or questions about PE Builder here is where you can get more information:

• Make sure you have the latest version, goto http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/ and check.
• Take special notice of the FAQ page.
• Browse the CD forum. Read/search the "Windows PE" and "PE Builder" forum and if you problem is not listed, become a "member" so you can post a question in the "PE Builder" forum.
• If your problem/question is still not solved/answered you can contact the author. Please keep in mind, that the PE Builder program is put together in my "spare" time. That time is very limited as I also work 40 hours a week. If you have build problem, please include a "verbose" logfile. Please zip it before sending.
  

Please do not contact Microsoft for support on the preinstallation environment that has been created by PE Builder!
Microsoft does not provide support for PE Builder or for the preinstallation environment created by PE Builder.

BartPE allows a user to boot Windows XP/Windows Server 2003 from a CD-ROM regardless of the condition of the installed operating systems on the internal hard drive. This means that the user can, for instance, recover data from a failed operating system installation, or reset a lost administrator password.The next time you don't need to reinstall the system or call the 'RECOVERY GUY' who taxes you a 4 figure amount !!!


So have fun making your own customized Windows LIVE CD.

Next post will be 'How to make an Automated Windows Installation CD' so that you don't need to be at the desk and when you come back after a tea break....Windows is up and running !!!