ASSEMBLY AND CONFIGURATION OF A WINDOWS PE IMAGE FOR SYSTEM MAINTENANCE

The article examines the problem of creating and configuring a Windows PE image with a set of software tools for system maintenance. The relevance of the topic is determined by the need for an autonomous tool that can be used for diagnostics, recovery, and administration of computer systems without booting the main operating system. Special attention is paid to the practical stages of preparing the working environment, selecting portable programs, adding system files, and configuring components that ensure the launch of the graphical interface. The proposed method is based on editing the official Windows image and integrating the required programs and files into it. The paper describes the use of Windows ADK and DISM tools, mounting and modifying a WIM image, editing the offline registry, configuring startup scripts, and subsequently building a bootable ISO media. The testing of the created image in a virtual machine is considered separately, confirming its operability, stability of the graphical shell, and suitability for emergency maintenance tasks. The practical value of the study lies in the ability to flexibly modify the service environment, exclude unnecessary components, and add only those utilities required for specific operating scenarios. This approach improves the convenience of system maintenance and makes the Windows recovery process more controlled for administration. The developed methodology is applied in nature and allows system administrators to create lightweight, autonomous, and functionally rich service disks tailored to specific tasks.