Windows PE (WinPE), Operating system Win32 with the limited set of the services, constructed on Windows kernel XP Professional and fulfilled{executable} in a protected mode.
It, inherently, operating system Win32
With the limited set of the services, basing on Windows kernel XP Professional and executable
In a protected mode. Can boot both about a compact set of the disk, and from the hard disk.
This system provides access to disks with NTFS, network support, main API - interfaces.
On its basis it is possible to create systems for abnormal restoring the system - example ERD Commander from wininternals
The original disk with OPK tools contains WinPE and propagates only among OEM
But, due to diligence of people, it was clarified, that this system it is possible to collect from install simple Windows XP professional.
The most known (at least to me) became four "designers" for assembly WinPE:
I do not want to describe all possibilities and limitations of this system, and as designers. The information is given simply as introduction, for familiarity. Essence of this page - to give you the developments (and finishings of another's developments) for WinPE .
My plug-ins to PE Builder from Bart`s