PE exists as a 'lightweight' Windows environment and is basically what you are using as you install Windows from DVD/USB/ISO.
Under the bonnet there are also command line tools included in Windows such as DISM and WinImage and good old DiskPart that can be used to edit and dump a copy of the Windows OS (as a .wim file) onto a SSD/HDD and then boot it and let it auto-configure to the hardware.
Comments
PE exists as a 'lightweight' Windows environment and is basically what you are using as you install Windows from DVD/USB/ISO.
Under the bonnet there are also command line tools included in Windows such as DISM and WinImage and good old DiskPart that can be used to edit and dump a copy of the Windows OS (as a .wim file) onto a SSD/HDD and then boot it and let it auto-configure to the hardware.