Emergency Disk - Download Win PE Components?

[garioch7]

I purchased Hasleo Backup Suite Pro (HBSP) on 2025-10-30.  I created an Emergency Recovery USB on the day of purchase and installation, and I had never updated it since then.  In relation to another topic here, I decided to be less lazy and update my HBSP Emergency Recovery USB today.  It took five minutes.

My apologies for being inexperienced, but I was interested in the option to "Download WinPE Components."  It was not selected by default.  I went to the online help, but it concisely stated that checking that option would stop HBSP from "looking" for WinPE components on my computer ... ?

The inference is that the WinPE components are already on my computer, so why would I want to download a duplicate copy of those files specifically for HBSP?  Since I do full system images, including System Files, this would increase the size of my weekly disk images, would it not?  Or, does HBS use junction files/folders for that option, if selected?

What are the pros and cons of this option?  For now, I did not select that option; and, as I said, it only took five minutes to create a brand new shiny HBSP Emergency Recovery USB drive, that I tested and it worked fine.

Inquiring minds want to know ...  A day without learning one or more new things is a wasted day, IMHO.

Have a great day.

Regards,
Phil

PS: Perhaps the Hasleo Team might consider a pinned topic of common FAQ posts in relation to the Hasleo Backup Suite as a proactive measure ...  ?

[Epictetus]

I purchased Hasleo Backup Suite Pro (HBSP) on 2025-10-30.  I created an Emergency Recovery USB on the day of purchase and installation, and I had never updated it since then.  In relation to another topic here, I decided to be less lazy and update my HBSP Emergency Recovery USB today.  It took five minutes.

My apologies for being inexperienced, but I was interested in the option to "Download WinPE Components."  It was not selected by default.  I went to the online help, but it concisely stated that checking that option would stop HBSP from "looking" for WinPE components on my computer ... ?

The inference is that the WinPE components are already on my computer, so why would I want to download a duplicate copy of those files specifically for HBSP?  Since I do full system images, including System Files, this would increase the size of my weekly disk images, would it not?  Or, does HBS use junction files/folders for that option, if selected?

What are the pros and cons of this option?  For now, I did not select that option; and, as I said, it only took five minutes to create a brand new shiny HBSP Emergency Recovery USB drive, that I tested and it worked fine.

Inquiring minds want to know ...  A day without learning one or more new things is a wasted day, IMHO.

Have a great day.

Regards,
Phil

PS: Perhaps the Hasleo Team might consider a pinned topic of common FAQ posts in relation to the Hasleo Backup Suite as a proactive measure ...  ?

There are a couple of threads which are informative on this issue from a little while ago but I can't remember their titles. Both Froggie and admin were major contributors so those threads will be very educative. I DO remember that ticking the "Download components from MS" is the option that works best for me and and my requirements - but I can't remember why! And yes, the WinPE components ARE on your local machine in the HBS\bin\WINPE folder - but downloading from MS gets you the latest WinPE components (which haven't been changed much in quite a while anyway). But ticking that download from MS option still works best for me for reasons I can't quite remember.

[Froggie]

@garioch7... there are (3) Recovery/BOOT menu options available from HBS.  I'll try and describe them below...


1. By not selecting the Download WinPE components option, HBS will use a file on your System called WinRE.wim to build your Emergency Media/BOOT Menu.  This is a file, built by Windows (and usually located in your Windows Recovery partition) that offers Windows the ability to BOOT your System into a Recovery mode, if necessary, during various problem scenarios.  It contains a full WinPE configuration as well as a bit of extra stuff, including wireless drivers which are not contained in a base WinPE.  Windows recreates the WinRE configuration during certain updates/upgrades when it feels necessary.  Some users are afraid of this as Windows, in the past, has messed up the WinRE configuration causing many issues with the LIVE Windows System.

2. By selecting the  Download WinPE components option, you will receive the basic WinPE configuration via download from Microsoft and it will be used for the Emergency Media/BOOT Menu building process.  The result, using the WinPE base configuration, is smaller than the WinRE configuration.  During the building process,  if adding existing drivers is used, I believe HBS tries to add whatever unique drivers exist on your System to that build (they will need to respond if this is not the case).  Result, the Recovery Media should be fully functional for the System it was built on.

3. A third option exists that I have mentioned in previous posts.  By selecting  Download WinPE components (and Automatic driver injection <set as DEFAULT>), the next screen offers either Microsoft.com or Offline WinPE Package.  If you select  Offline WinPE Package, no Microsoft download will occur, and the HBS Emergency Media build will begin using a local OPE (Offline PE) file, previously downloaded from Hasleo.  This is the method I have always used when creating Recovery Media.  Once the OPE file has been downloaded from Hasleo (contains the latest stable build of WinPE from Microsoft and the user must do this), this option may be used for all recovery media creation.  Hasleo offers the latest stable WinPE build based on Windows 11.  This build is the most driver rich version available from Microsoft (I mention "stable" due to the fact that it most likely won't be the latest issue from Microsoft... many of their issues are bug bitten at the time of issue).  When using this method, no download is required (except the initial OPE download from Hasleo) prior to the building of the recovery media and the building process is much faster due to the lack of a download.  This provides a stable WinPE baseline for all Recovery Media produced from this moment forward.

Yes, since a WinRE build already exists on your computer, the additional OPE download will require additional storage... appx 867kB, but the stability and predictability of that OPE image is way better than an ever changing WinRE.  The OPE may be somewhere on your machine that isn't part of a regular image if you feel you are space limited in some way.

Hope this helps!

[admin]

Thank you to @Froggie for the detailed explanation, very clear.

Here's a brief summary:

• Unchecked (default): Uses the system's built-in WinRE. It's convenient, but compatibility issues may arise due to Windows updates or OEM customizations.
  

• Checked: Downloads a clean WinPE component package from Microsoft. It's smaller in size, has a stable version, and generally offers better compatibility.
  

Both methods have their own use cases. Hasleo leaves this choice to the user. If you encounter situations where an emergency disk created with WinRE fails to boot properly, try checking this option and recreate the disk.

Thanks again to @garioch7 for the question, and to @Epictetus and @Froggie for their answers.

Have a nice day!

Best regards,

[garioch7]

@Froggie,

Thank you for your detailed and knowledgeable explanation.  I will follow your advice in the future.  You are a real asset to the Hasleo Forum with your detailed knowledge of imaging.

The cost in additional size is balanced by the advantages you cited.

I also appreciate the comments by @admin.

Thank you again, and have a great day.

Regards,
Phil

[garioch7]

@Froggie, @admin,

I was so grateful for your advice that I decided this afternoon to immediately rebuild the HBSP Emergency Disk that I created yesterday, and use your option 3.

Now, I no longer get the option to download Win PE component package ... ?  I tried twice.  It tells me the USB needs to be formatted, proceeds, and that is it.  The file dates are changed on my HBSP Emergency Disk, but nowhere do I get the option any longer, that I had yesterday, to download Win PE components.

I even formatted the USB drive myself, with Hasleo shut down, and tried again.  Same result.  Hasleo seems to "remember" that I did not select that option yesterday, so it is no longer presenting it ... ?


@Froggie,

Once the OPE file has been downloaded from Hasleo (contains the latest stable build of WinPE from Microsoft and the user must do this), this option may be used for all recovery media creation.

Sorry for being such an imaging "newbie", but how do I do what "the user must do ... "?  Is selecting the "Download WinPE Components" all I must do ... ?  If so, I would love to, if HBS gave me that option again.

I am reasonably experienced with computers, so I think the detailed answer to my question might benefit HBS other users/customers, who are not experts in the field of imaging ...

It's not that I am a complete computer ignoramus, and NO ONE here suggested I was, but I was also a Bleeping Computer (BC)-certified Malware Removal Instructor before their Malware Removal Study Hall was closed, as well as being currently a BC Malware Removal Team member.

If I am having issues figuring out what you are telling me, then I anticipate that users with equal, or lesser, computer knowledge than me, will also have issues.

With respect, the HBS Help File is far too concise to be informative as to what this option does, and why it is presented as an option.

Thanks again for your assistance.  Have a great day.

Regards,
Phil

[al3x]

Now, I no longer get the option to download Win PE component package ... ?  I tried twice.  It tells me the USB needs to be formatted, proceeds, and that is it.  The file dates are changed on my HBSP Emergency Disk, but nowhere do I get the option any longer, that I had yesterday, to download Win PE components.

The current version still requires you to delete the old created image. Just go here and delete this file:
C:\Program Files\Hasleo\Hasleo Backup Suite\bin\winpe.iso

This will give you the WinPE creation dialog again and you can rebuild that file again.

Btw: The current beta version has an option to delete the current image file directly from the dialog window. So this was already improved.

[garioch7]

@al3x,

Thank you for your feedback.  I will download the latest beta version because this week is the turn of HBS in my imaging program testing cycle.  I try to wait until I am ready to test HBS every three weeks before downloading the most current version, beta or production.

The Hasleo Team are very responsive to user requests in my experience.  I am proud to be associated with such a product, which is dedicated to the best in customer service.

Have a great day.

Regards,
Phil

[Froggie]

...also, any reinstallation of any version (even currently installed) will reset any stored previously configured WinPE/RE info allowing you complete freedom to recreate in whatever manner you wish.