Show HN: Pe-builder – Windows XP live CDs, built on Linux

Category: devtools

Tags: windows-pe, live-cd, build-tool, legacy-windows, cross-platform, plugin-system

Score: 7.0/10 (Innovation: 7, Technical: 8, Documentation: 8, Utility: 5)

pe-builder is an open-source, cross-platform tool that builds bootable Windows PE live CDs from Windows XP/Server 2003 installation sources, reviving the idea of the discontinued Bart's PE Builder. It runs on Linux (and other OSes), supports plugins, networking, and even a WIM boot layout, making it a modern and technically impressive utility for enthusiasts.

Target audience: retro-computing enthusiasts, systems administrators, embedded developers, and anyone needing lightweight Windows recovery environments

Repository: https://github.com/nradchenko/pe-builder · Go · Apache-2.0 · 12 stars

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