Microsoft Copype is a command-line utility that is part of the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK). Copype is used to create a Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE) source directory, which is necessary for building a WinPE bootable image. WinPE is a minimal Windows operating system used for tasks such as deploying Windows, troubleshooting, and system recovery. Below, you’ll find a list of key features and functions of Microsoft Copype, along with descriptions, prerequisites, and examples.
Features and Functions of Microsoft Copype:
- Create WinPE Source Directory: Copype is primarily used to create a WinPE source directory, which is a folder structure containing the necessary files and drivers to build a custom WinPE image.
Installation Steps:
Microsoft Copype is part of the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK). Here are the steps to install Copype:
- Download the Windows ADK installer from the Microsoft Download Center (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/get-started/adk-install).
- Run the installer and select the “Deployment Tools” component, which includes Copype.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Usage Example – Creating a Windows PE CD:
Here’s how you can use Copype to create a Windows PE CD:
Prerequisites:
- A Windows PC with the Windows ADK installed.
- A blank CD/DVD or a USB drive with sufficient capacity.
Steps:
- Open a Command Prompt window with administrator privileges.
- Navigate to the folder where you want to create the WinPE source directory. For example:bash
cd C:\WinPE
Use Copype to create the WinPE source directory for a specific architecture (x86 or amd64):
For x86 architecture:
copype x86 C:\WinPE\x86
For amd64 architecture (64-bit):
copype amd64 C:\WinPE\amd64
Once the WinPE source directory is created, you can add additional components, drivers, and customizations as needed.
Next, create an ISO image that can be burned to a CD/DVD or copied to a bootable USB drive:
For x86 architecture:
MakeWinPEMedia /ISO C:\WinPE\x86 C:\WinPE\WinPE_x86.iso
For amd64 architecture (64-bit):
MakeWinPEMedia /ISO C:\WinPE\amd64 C:\WinPE\WinPE_amd64.iso- Burn the ISO image to a CD/DVD or create a bootable USB drive using a tool like Rufus or the Windows built-in tool (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/install-windows-from-a-usb-flash-drive).
- Boot a target computer from the WinPE CD/DVD or USB drive to access WinPE and perform tasks such as Windows installation, system recovery, or troubleshooting.
By following these steps, you can create a customized WinPE CD/DVD or USB drive using Microsoft Copype, making it a valuable tool for various deployment and maintenance scenarios.
