KACE Product Support

KBE Manipulator

**This tool is being deprecated, starting with version 7.0, the SDA Media Manager now has all the same functionality as KBEM.  The link has been removed and this page will be archived.

KBE Manipulator lets you do, just what it says, manipulate your KBE.

Summary: This tool can be used to build custom Kace Boot Environments based on WinPE 3/4/5/10.


Applies to:
Kace K2000 imaging environments with no DHCP solution
Kace K2000 imaging environments where DHCP cannot be configured to work with Kace 2000 Deployment Center
Building in ADSI or ODBC drivers to the KBE
Using Dell Client Customization Tool Kit (DCCTK) or Command | Configure to customize Dell hardware
Adding .net or powershell to KBE
Adding portable apps to KBE
Add custom DOS commands to startnet.cmd
Uploading custom .WIM or .ISO boot environments to Kace K2000.


Requirements:
Supported Operating Systems: Windows 7/8/8.1/10, x86 or x64 architecture
Windows AIK for Windows 7 must be installed  for WinPE 3
Windows ADK 8.0 for WinPE 4
Windows ADK 8.1 for WinPE 5
Windows ADK 10 for WinPE 10

K2000 Media Manager version 3.6 or higher must be installed
Kace K2000 Deployment Appliance Version 3.6 or higher
Dell CCTK or Command | Configure must be installed if using that option.

If running version 3.7.0.x, just run the application instead and it will tell you there is an update to download.

*Make sure when saving this file from IE that it includes the .exe extension, if not just add it.

Video Tutorial: KBE Manipulator Training Video [Note that these videos show a version earlier than 3.7.0.0]

Back to the K2000 Deployment Workbench Page.

4.0.0.1 [08/14/2017]
-Added commanline switches to dhcptest to timeout after 3 tries.

4.0.0.0 [08/02/2017]
-Rebranded to Quest (ESMCS-326)
-Added remove_drives script to remove drive letters from KBE that are not relevant (like empty card slots). (ESMCS-337)
-fixed an issue where the wrong IP was reported in the Summary if the K2 IP was changed after selecting a static KBE (ESMCS-347)
-Allow Media Manager and ADK paths to be saved as preferences (ESMCS-349)
-Update registry settings to Quest (ESMCS-333)
-Add dhcptest to kbem as a backup if kgetdhcp doesn't get the information (ESMCS-327)
-Allow for TimeZone to be set for KBE and sync the time to the k2 (ESMCS-346)
-make driver_feed_advisor recognize 4.1sp1 datafile (ESMCS-345)
-If ip address is changed after static ip address is configured, new ip address is not set (ESMCS-347)
-Change Background option does not show in summary (ESMCS-336)
-Reword Driver Feed Advisor option in settings (ESMCS-341)
-Update KBEM documentation with new screenshots and rebrand (ESMCS-330)
-Account for scenario where user has to rerun startnet.cmd by attempting to map 3x (ESMCS-353)

3.7.1.26 [07/22/16]
-fixed an issue where a first run of kbem or a change of k2 ip address would not record correct IP for static k2 kbe's (ESMCS-269)

3.7.1.25 [07/13/16]
-fixed an issue where .net was not getting injected with PE 10 (ESMCS-260)
-fixed an issue where powershell was not getting injected with PE 10 (ESMCS-260)
3.7.1.23 [05/13/16]

-fixed an issue where kbem was still forgetting the commandline parameters in startnet.cmd. (ESMCS-248)
-fixed an issue in Driver Feed Advisor in which if it could not download drvstr.cfg it would give incorrect path (ESMCS-249)
-fixed an issue where the custom dos command was on the same line as the driverfeed advisor text. (ESMCS-245)
-moved the update installer location to avoid third party host (ESMCS-250)
-fixed an issue where drivers were not injected if peinst was already mounted (ESMCS-251)

3.7.1.8 [02/03/16]
-fixed as issue where selecting to upload a pre-made 64bit .wim would register as 32bit on the K2000. (ESMCS-84)
-fixed an issue with 64bit CCTK and CommandConfigure calling drivers from the wrong directory. (ESMCS-85)
-fixed an issue in which if a machine could not access the WAN to check for updates, KBEM wouldn't run. (ESMCS-179)
-fixed Windows 10 from not properly reading KBEM settings in registry. (ESMCS-181)
-fixed issue where if peinst was already mapped it wasn't being detected. (ESMCS-180)
-fixed issue with device static IP scenarios and RSA static not reporting correct IP. (ESMCS-182)
-fixed issue where enhanced storage was not selectable in PE10 and added PE10 conditions to powershell and .net (ESMCS-183)

3.7.1.2 [08/19/15]
-fixed an issue where device ip dialog wouldn't save options.
-added device ip information to be remembered if saved and then user returns to dialog (not between sessions)
-changed kbe_advisor to save information to a new file and not overwrite kbe_info.

3.7.1.1 [07/21/15]
-fixed issue where x64 KBE was not being built if Summary screen was used.

3.7.1.0 [06/13/15]
-removed some deprecated functions; Media Manager, BuildPE.bat
-cleaned up variables
-changed all references of workstation to device (matches K1000 and K2000).
-automatically checks for active internet connection, and quits if not.
-pings the K2000 server to make sure it is reachable, if not option to quit, try again or continue anyway.
-moved server and device IP settings to the Edit menu
-added support for ADK 10
-added ability to use custom background
-added ability to show a summary screen prior to building the KBE to review the options chosen.
-moved DHCP and device settings to customize menu.
-moved custom DOS command to Edit menu
-allowed saving of custom DOS commands between sessions **Warning, commands are saved in plain text.

3.7.0.6 [04/05/15]
-updated startnet.ini file to correlate with current K2000 file
-removed addition call to get %KBOX_IP%
-resolved issue of not being able to cancel browse button for portable apps as reported on http://www.itninja.com/question/kbe-manipulator-bug
-added enhancement to have browse button disabled when portable apps was not checked.
-moved portable apps to x:\Applications as some would not run from program files.
-revamped check_updates.au3 include file for next release where the changes in this file will be shown per version.

3.7.0.5 [03/06/15]
-resolved an issue where UEFI VM iso was not being created
-resolved an issue where a custom .wim was not being used for the kbe.

3.7.0.4 [02/12/15]
-resolved an issue with Command Configure not being copied to 64bit KBE (thanks Suzanne Emberton)

3.7.0.3 [02/04/15]
-fixed an issue with uploading 64bit kbe from 32bit workstation

3.7.0.2 [01/21/15]
-fixed issue with choosing custom .iso
-fixed issue with choosing custom .wim

3.7.0.1 [01/09/15]
-added labels to the the progress gui
-added kbe_info data to the top of the driver reports so that it can be seen in the UI
-added WinPE-DismCmdlets when adding Powershell
-added WinPE-SecureBootCmdlets when adding Powershell
-added WinPE-StorageWMI when adding Powershell
-updated kbe_advisor to version 3.7.0.1 to include:
-added kgetdhcp 67 to kbe_advisor
-added if server was K2000 or RSA

3.7.0.0 [01/07/15]
-Requires 3.6 Media Manager or higher.
-Added support for 3.7 Media Manager.
-KBEM will now write settings to the registry, unless run as a portable app, in which it would use the k2_prefs.ini file.
-Check for updates is now included in the main application and will be checked prior to the showing of the main GUI.
-Default KBE name is now customized with the current date and architecture chosen, this name can be modified.
-Added support for Command Configure (DCCTK replacement).
-Moved most options into menu items instead of buttons.
-Choose to upload a custom .wim or .iso from the GUI File menu.
-“Add features” is now under the main GUI Edit menu.
-Features chosen will be saved from one session to another.
-Added the ability to inject a folder of portable applications.
-Added the ability to not launch ultravnc.
-Added the ability to not run deploy.hta (this could allow users to launch something automatically without the deployment screen).
-Added ability to include .Net in KBE for WinPE4 and WinPE5.
-Added ability to include Powershell in KBE (requires .net) for WinPE4 and WinPE5.
-Added ability to include EnhancedStorage for WinPE4 and WinPE5.
-Ability to add multiple lines of code for injection into startnet, instead of one line at a time.
-Startnet.cmd now echos that the KBE was built with KBE Manipulator along with version, date and time.
-A log file including KBEM version, Media Manager version, features chosen, and other helpful information is now injected into the KBE and can be found at x:\windows\temp\kbe_info.txt in the kbe.
-Added a kbe_info.exe in system32, so if user opens Recovery | Command Prompt and types ‘kbe_info’ it will open the file at x:\windows\temp\kbe_info.txt.
-A log file is stored on the workstation at %temp%\kbem.log
-Added the ability to build a specific UEFI VM .iso file as an option.
-added checks where as if preferences previously saved can no longer be used, or directories are missing the options are changed.
-A valid WAIK/ADK directory must be chosen; \Windows AIK, \Windows Kits\8.0 or \Windows Kits\8.1
-Added version 3.7.0.0 of kbe_advisor which includes kbe_info.txt and other information relevant to that KBE session, such as ipconfig, pinging appliance, net use, tracert, 3rd party driver report, etc.  Open Recovery | Command Prompt and type ‘kbe_advisor’  Add /log to copy the file to petemp.  If you added cctk or Command | Configure then add /bios for a full report on the bios settings of that workstation.
**Special thanks to Steve Mal for all your testing!!

3.6.0.5 [12/01/14]
-modified build_winpe4.bat to add the correct version of imagex.exe

3.6.0.4 [11/17/14]
-changed static ipaddress to be "Ethernet" for ADK 8/8.1
-changed build process back to original, and added as an option in 3.7 kbem.

3.6.0.3 [10/08/14]
-resolved issue with 3.7 Media Manager.

3.6.0.2 [10/01/14]
-changed the closing of the iso to different commands so that downloaded iso could boot to UEFI VMs.

3.6.0.1 [09/05/14]
-fixed an issue with the fallback IP address not being set in the startnet.cmd file

3.6.0.0 [01/15/14]
-added support for 3.6
-added support for winpe 5
-added support to choose between multiple winpe versions if they exist
-fixed winpe3 issue of almost empty startnet.cmd file
-fixed issue with DCCTK and winpe4/5

3.5.0.1 [09/??/2013] Planned
-change gui interaction so that user add features and then returns to the original ui

3.5.0.0 [09/03/2013]

-support for 3.5 SP1 and winpe4. Note, to use winpe 4 with KBE Manipulator you must not have WAIK installed.

3.4.9.0 [03/28/2013]
-resolved issue with MM 3.5 where password field name was changed.

3.4.8.0 [02/07/2013]
-fixed issue with scratch space size if it wasn't select under the "add features" menu

3.4.7.0 [01/28/2013]

-Changed name of tabs to Server IP and Workstation IP now that there was more room from GUI changes
-made the DCCTK checkbox, visable, but disabled unless installed
-Add version number of add to “About” menu
3.4.6.0 [01/27/2013]
-resolved bug where using tabs to add features wouldn't work properly
-Changed GUI to where additional features are accessed via "Add Features" button

3.4.5.0 [10/10/2012]
-made kbem look for 3.4 Media Manager Path

3.4.0.6 [05/18/2012]
-problem with 64 japanese install, as the wrong $arch variable was used.

3.4.0.5 [05/17/2012]
-resolved issue with 64bit KBEs trying to load CCTK, Dell uses x86_64 as a path (don't ask me why).
-changed 64bit CCTK destination to be x:\CCTK\AMD64. In this way cctk preinstall tasks can use %processor_architecture%*

3.4.0.4 [05/09/2012]
-resolved issue where symbol in password,  AutoIT was ìprocessingî symbol

3.4.0.3 [04/19/2012]
-changed static ip address assignment to be direct variable assignment instead of reading it back in from file
-added md "x:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile\desktop" in case Cubic Explorer was used as portable app
-disabled the Japanese support for now, still testing

3.4.0.2 [04/15/2012]
-added new path for media manager \Program Files\Dell\Media Manager (starting 3.4L10N)
-added the ability to modify scratch space on kbe
-no public release

3.4.0.1 [04/01/2012]
-Included Japanese language font and Japanese Packages
-no public release

version 3.4.0.0 [02/14/2012] - 1st public release