🧱 Windows ADK + WinPE Add-on (Deployment Tools for Windows 11 25H2)

Category: System Recovery & Imaging

Author: jmarket (PCHF Founder)

Verified by: PCHF Staff • October 2025

Overview

The Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) and its companion Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE) Add-on provide the essential framework for customizing, deploying, and maintaining Windows 11 images.
These tools replace the earlier Windows Automated Installation Kit and include utilities such as Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DIS M), Windows System Image Manager (WSIM), and the Deployment and Imaging Tools Environment.

The ADK is widely used by administrators and system integrators to capture, modify, and automate installations of Windows across multiple devices, ensuring consistent and reliable deployments.

Components

• Deployment Tools: Provides DISM, WSIM, and other core imaging utilities.


• WinPE Add-on: A lightweight bootable environment used for recovery and deployment tasks.


• User State Migration Tool (USMT): Transfers user data and settings between Windows versions during migration.


• Windows Performance Toolkit (WPT): Captures and analyzes performance traces for diagnostics.

Requirements

• Host Operating System: Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit)


• Administrator rights for installation


• Approximately 3 GB of free disk space


• Internet connection for component downloads

Installation

1. Download both the Windows ADK and the WinPE Add-on for Windows 11 25H2 from Microsoft’s official site.


2. Run adksetup.exe and choose “Install the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit to this computer.”


3. Select the required components:
   
   – Deployment Tools
   
   – Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE)
   
   – User State Migration Tool (optional)


4. After the ADK completes, run adkwinpesetup.exe to install the WinPE Add-on.


5. Access the toolkit through:
   
   Start → Windows Kits → Deployment and Imaging Tools Environment

Verifying Installation

Open the Deployment and Imaging Tools Environment with administrative rights and execute:

Dism /?

A full help output confirms a successful installation.
You can also verify the presence of copype.cmd in
C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Windows Preinstallation Environment.

Creating a Bootable WinPE Image

1. Open the Deployment and Imaging Tools Environment as Administrator.


2. Execute the following commands:

copype amd64 C:\WinPE_amd64

MakeWinPEMedia /UFD C:\WinPE_amd64 E:

Replace E: with the letter assigned to your USB drive.
The process creates a bootable WinPE USB for imaging and recovery.

Integration with MDT and DISM

When used together with the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT), the ADK and WinPE provide a complete solution for building and deploying customized Windows images.
Administrators can automate installations, inject updates or drivers, and configure unattended setup files to streamline large-scale deployments.

Troubleshooting

• Error 0x80070005: Run the installer with administrative privileges.


• Missing DISM module: Reinstall the Deployment Tools component.


• Mount errors: Ensure the mount directory exists and that you have write access.

Best Practices

• Use ADK and WinPE versions that correspond exactly to your Windows build.


• Maintain separate work directories for each processor architecture.


• Keep a dedicated reference PC or virtual machine for capturing clean images.


• Update to the latest ADK release to ensure command compatibility and bug fixes.

Downloads

Download Windows ADK for Windows 11 (25H2)

Download WinPE Add-on for ADK

Related Articles

• DISM — Complete Guide for Windows 11 25H2


• Windows Deployment Image Workflow (MDT + ADK)


• Windows Image Repair Sequence (SFC + DISM)

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