BUILD YOUR OWN CUSTOM

RECOVERY DISC

Start by visiting win10se.cwcodes.net/ Compressed and clicking the link under the ‘Package’ column to save the recovery builder tool in ZIP format to your hard drive. Once done, right-click the ZIP file, and choose ‘Extract All’, then open the ‘Win10PE_SE_<date>’ folder (the <date> corresponds to the latest build number) and double-click ‘BuilderSE.exe’ to get started. The WinBuilder main screen reveals all the basic steps that you need to follow.

One of those steps involves giving the builder access to Windows 10 installation media — sadly, your recovery drive (or a disc created using the Media Creation Tool) doesn’t count. Instead, click the ‘Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool’ link in WinBuilder to access a tool that downloads the Windows 10 ISO. Once downloaded, launch the app, select ‘Windows 10’, then choose the ‘Windows 10 Home/Pro’ link from the drop-down menu, before clicking ‘Confirm’. Choose your language, click ‘Confirm’ again, then pick the 64-bit or 32-bit download, based on which version you currently have (press Windows-Pause/Break to find out if you’re not sure), to download the ISO file.

Next, double-click the ISO file to allow Windows to mount it as a virtual CD/DVD drive (it’ll be visible in File Explorer). Now return to Win10PESE, and click the ‘Source’ button. Click the folder button under ‘Source Directory’ to select the virtual disc drive.

In the program’s left-hand pane, you’ll see a number of collapsible folders that, when opened, reveal additional settings. If you’re in a hurry, you can skip all of these to generate a basic, but usable, ISO file — just click the play button, sit back and wait for the disc to be created.

Once complete, look inside the ‘ Win10PE_SE_<date>\ISO’ folder for the ISO file you can subsequently burn to disc, by right-clicking the file and choosing ‘Burn disc image’.