1/ First follow the steps to create a WinPE bootable usb: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd744530(WS.10).aspx (install Windows AIK ).
2/ Make sure you do step 2 (imageX).
Note : You have to mount WinPEimage then include imagex in windows/system32 folder then commit and unmount (important step!) :
Where e: is the letter for the USB stick
ImageX for 64bit systems is located in the ‘amd64’ folder, so we will open it. Next, we will use ImageX command with /mountrw switch. /mountrw will make our mount readable and writable. We will also choose our winpe.wim file, boot the first installation in it (option 1), and choose our output folder (c:\winpe). The final command looks like this: imagex /mountrw e:\usb_stick_folder\winpe.wim 1 c:\winpe.
Mounting Process
The content from the e:\usb_stick_folder\ folder was mounted to the c:\winpe folder. When the mount is complete we can browse to the c:\wpem folder and see the content of the image.
Winpe Folder
Now we have to copy ImageX from the ‘C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\amd64‘ folder to our ‘c:\winpe’ folder.
ImageX Copied
Now we can unmount the image and commit changes. Remember that we can also copy other data, tools, drivers or anything else that we want to have available once we boot up with that WinPE image. To unmount the image let’s go to the command prompt and run the following command: imagex /unmount /commit c:\winpe.
Try to boot the usb stick and if successful you should be able to use imageX command.
use diskpart to recreate the partitions S and C (do not erase Q (lenovo_recovery) !!!). the partition specs such as size, type, label, letter, active, are found in file 'recovery.ini' hidden on Q (print it out or use another computer). example of diskpart usage:
diskpart
list disk
select disk 0
list partition
select partition 1
delete partition
select partition 2
delete partition
create partition primary size=1199
select partition 1
active
format fs=ntfs label="SYSTEM_DRV" quick
assign letter=s
create partition primary
select partition 2
format fs=ntfs label="Windows7_OS" quick
assign letter=c
exit
--
(the above is only an example, see your 'recovery.ini' in (recovery partition) file for correct settings.)
to recover S and C from wim files with imagex use these two commands:
imagex.exe /apply /verify Q:\factoryrecovery\Sdrivebackup.wim 1 S:\
imagex.exe /apply /verify Q:\factoryrecovery\Cdrivebackup.swm 1 C:\ /ref Q:\factoryrecovery\Cdrivebackup*.swm
/ref give the possibility to copy a split image (split image = multiple .swm files!)
Now reboot into a windows dvd or windows repair disk. Repair startup (should be automatic). reboot into windows and that 's it !
I tested it sucessfully on 2016 August on a Lenovo T430s laptop.
Addendum (recovery.ini sample) :
DO NOT ERASE LENOVO RECOVERY PARTITION
[partition1]
size=13999
type=07
label=Lenovo_Recovery
volume=Q
fs=NTFS
active=0
backuptype=COPY
state=1
recfromsp=0
imagename=
install=
installsplit=
[partition2]
size=1499
type=07
label=SYSTEM_DRV
volume=S
fs=NTFS
active=1
backuptype=WIM
state=1
recfromsp=0
imagename=Sdrivebackup.wim
install=recimagex.exe /apply /verify Q:\factoryrecovery\Sdrivebackup.wim 1 S:\
installsplit=recimagex.exe /apply /verify Q:\factoryrecovery\Sdrivebackup.swm 1 S:\ /ref Q:\factoryrecovery\Sdrivebackup*.swm
[partition3]
size=
type=07
label=Windows7_OS
volume=C
fs=NTFS
active=0
backuptype=WIM
state=1
recfromsp=0
imagename=Cdrivebackup.wim
install=recimagex.exe /apply /verify Q:\factoryrecovery\Cdrivebackup.wim 1 C:\
installsplit=recimagex.exe /apply /verify Q:\factoryrecovery\Cdrivebackup.swm 1 C:\ /ref Q:\factoryrecovery\Cdrivebackup*.swm
