> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://www.osdeploy.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://www.osdeploy.com/inside-winpe/winpe-problems.md). # WinPE Problems So you now have a WinPE Boot Image with PowerShell installed, everything works perfectly, as long as you stay contained working only with what's already installed and enabled in WinPE. The problem starts when you want to step out of the box and try to do something as basic as installing a PowerShell Module from the PowerShell Gallery. ## PackageManagement is not installed In the example below, this process fails because default ADK WinPE does not include PackageManagement.
## PowerShell ExecutionPolicy is Restricted Now let's say by some magic that you were able to get PackageManagement installed in your WinPE Boot Image, your next issue is that WinPE's default Execution Policy is Restricted. This is an easy fix, and there should be no issues setting this policy to Bypass.
## Environment Variables Now that the Execution Policy is resolved, another roadblock. The cause of the errors in the screenshot below are caused by `$env:LOCALAPPDATA`
Environment Variables can be displayed with the following PowerShell commnd ```powershell Get-ChildItem env: ``` After running this command, its clear that a few Environment Variables and their values don't exist
``` APPDATA = X:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Roaming HOMEDRIVE = X: HOMEPATH = \windows\system32\config\systemprofile LOCALAPPDATA = X:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local ``` Easy enough to fix
## PowerShellGet is not up to date The next problem with a simple Install-Module is because there are no PSRepositories, which is because PowerShellGet is version 1.0.0.1 and needs to be updated
## Register PSRepository Importing the PowerShellGet Module isn't enough, PSGallery needs to be registered
Making sure that we are using the new PowerShellGet version as the PackageProvider
## PSGallery InstallationPolicy Trusted Finally, the last piece of the puzzle is to set the Installation Policy to Trusted to make sure we can script this solution ```powershell Set-PSRepository -Name PSGallery -InstallationPolicy Trusted ```
## PowerShell Profile While this issue didn't prevent us from installing a module from PowerShell Gallery, its important to note that the PowerShell Profile for Current User is broken.
Typically, this would be the following path ``` $HOME\Documents\WindowsPowerShell\Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1 ``` This can easily be resolved by setting these variables.
## User Shell Folders The root cause of the PowerShell Profile issue is that some of the User Shell Folders do not exist, so you should make sure these paths exist and create them in your WinPE if they do not ``` $env:UserProfile\AppData\Local $env:UserProfile\AppData\Roaming $env:UserProfile\Desktop $env:UserProfile\Documents\WindowsPowerShell ``` --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://www.osdeploy.com/inside-winpe/winpe-problems.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.