BartPE

BartPE (Bart's Preinstalled Environment) is a Live CD version of the Microsoft Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 operating systems.

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.

A user can create his or her own installation of BartPE using the installation disk of the operating system in question and the program PE Builder, programmed by Bart Lagerweij. PE Builder is available on the BartPE homepage (see link below).

BartPE vs. Windows Preinstallation Environment

BartPE is similar to Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE) but they differ in several aspects:

• BartPE is not endorsed or supported by Microsoft. WinPE is an official Microsoft product.
• The tools needed to make a BartPE installation are freeware. WinPE 1.x is available only to Microsoft OEM partners and Microsoft Software Assurance customers. However, Windows PE 2.x is available to everyone through the Microsoft BDD 2007.
• BartPE allows unlimited custom plugins. WinPE has a limited range of plugin options.
• BartPE uses an XML based 'Start Menu' called nu2menu which calls up basic functions, Windows PE relies on console commands within a GUI

See Also

• WinBuilder

External links

• BartPE official homepage
• BartPE Plugin Repository
• BOINCpe Live-CD for BOINC
• Ultimate Boot CD for Windows