This article explains how to create a bootable Windows Pre-installation Environment (WinPE) for Dell Encryption Enterprise (formerly Dell Data Protection | Enterprise Edition) or Dell Encryption Personal (formerly Dell Data Protection | Personal Edition) using a USB storage device.
Affected Products:
Dell Encryption Enterprise
Dell Data Protection | Enterprise Edition
Dell Encryption Personal
Dell Data Protection | Personal Edition
Dell Data Protection | Server Edition
Affected Operating Systems:
Windows
A bootable WinPE USB requires:
- A Dell Data Security WinPE image.
- A USB storage device.
- A third-party file compression utility.
- Examples of a third-party file compression utility include (but are not limited to):
- 7-Zip.
- Universal Extractor.
- WinRAR.
Note: Dell does not endorse nor support any listed third-party products. The listed clients are meant to be examples of potential products a customer can use. Contact the product’s manufacturer for information about setup, configuration, and management.
Warning: The USB storage device will be erased. Back up any data from the USB storage device before following these steps to avoid data loss.
The process differs depending on whether the targeted endpoint is using UEFI or Legacy BIOS boot mode.
Click the appropriate boot mode for more information.
To create a UEFI bootable WinPE USB:
- Plug the USB storage device into the computer.
- Right-click the Windows Start menu and then click Run.
- In the Run UI, type
cmd
and then press OK.
- Type
diskpart
and then press Enter.
Note: The computer that is listed will differ in your environment.
- Type
list disk
and then press Enter.
- Identify the disk number that is assigned to the USB storage device.
Note:
- In the example, the disk number 1 is assigned to the USB storage device.
- DiskPart results will differ in your environment.
- Type
select disk [NUMBER]
and then press Enter.
Note: [NUMBER] represents the disk number that is assigned to the USB storage device in Step 6.
Warning: Data on the USB storage device must be backed up to another location before completing any further steps to avoid data loss.
- Type
clean
and then press Enter.
- Type
create partition primary
and then press Enter.
- Type
select partition 1
and then press Enter.
- Type
format fs=fat32
quick and then press Enter.
- Type
active
and then press Enter.
- Type
assign letter=[LETTER]
and then press Enter.
Note: [LETTER]
represents an unused drive letter that is assigned to the USB storage device. In the example, the letter F is assigned to the USB storage device. This may differ in your environment.
- From the downloaded WinPE image, use a third-party file compression utility to extract it.
Note:
- UEFI bootable environments and Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) drives require an x64 WinPE image.
- Your third-party file compression utility may differ from the screenshot example.
- Copy the extracted contents to the root of the USB storage device.
To create a legacy bootable WinPE USB:
- Plug the USB storage device into the computer.
- Right-click the Windows Start menu and then click Run.
- In the Run UI, type
cmd
and then press OK.
- Type
diskpart
and then press Enter.
Note: The computer that is listed will differ in your environment.
- Type
list disk
and then press Enter.
- Identify the disk number that is assigned to the USB storage device.
Note:
- In the example, the disk number 1 is assigned to the USB storage device.
- DiskPart results will differ in your environment.
- Type
select disk [NUMBER]
and then press Enter.
Note: [NUMBER] represents the disk number that is assigned to the USB storage device in Step 6.
Warning: Data on the USB storage device must be backed up to another location before completing any further steps to avoid data loss.
- Type
clean
and then press Enter.
- Type
create partition primary
and then press Enter.
- Type
select partition 1
and then press Enter.
- Type
format fs=ntfs quick
and then press Enter.
- Type
active
and then press Enter.
- Type
assign letter=[LETTER]
and then press Enter.
Note: [LETTER]
represents an unused drive letter that is assigned to the USB storage device. In the example, the letter F is assigned to the USB storage device. This may differ in your environment.
- From the downloaded WinPE image, use a third-party file compression utility to extract it.
Note:
- Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) drives require an x64 WinPE image.
- Your third-party file compression utility may differ from the screenshot example.
- Copy the extracted contents to the root of the USB storage device.
To contact support, reference Dell Data Security International Support Phone Numbers.
Go to TechDirect to generate a technical support request online.
For additional insights and resources, join the Dell Security Community Forum.