Windows Preinstallation Environment

Windows Preinstallation Environment
	Windows PE 10.0 (based on Windows 11), showing Windows Command Prompt, Registry Editor and Windows Task Manager
Developer	Microsoft
Source model	Closed source; Source-available (through Shared Source Initiative);
Released to; manufacturing	2002; 22 years ago
Latest release	10.0.26100.1 / May 22, 2024; 4 months ago
Kernel type	Hybrid
License	Freeware
Official website	learn.microsoft.com/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/winpe-intro

Windows Preinstallation Environment (also known as Windows PE and WinPE) is a lightweight version of Windows used for the deployment of PCs, workstations, and servers, or troubleshooting an operating system while it is offline. It is intended to replace MS-DOS boot disks and can be booted via USB flash drive, PXE, iPXE,^[1] CD, DVD, or hard disk. Traditionally used by large corporations and OEMs (to preinstall Windows client operating systems on PCs during manufacturing), it is now widely available free of charge via Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (WADK) (formerly Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK)).