Hiren's BootCD PE - Free Download (2026)

Name: Hiren’s BootCD PE
Availability: InStock
Author: Hiren

Hiren’s BootCD PE

Hiren's BootCD PE is a bootable rescue environment based on Windows PE that you run from a USB drive when your computer will not start normally. It bundles dozens of diagnostic, repair, and recovery tools into a single ISO image. Free for non commercial use. Windows PE based, so it boots on virtually any PC with USB boot support.

What it does

You download the ISO, write it to a USB drive with Rufus or similar, and boot from it. Instead of loading your installed Windows, it loads a minimal Windows PE environment with a desktop, file manager, and a curated collection of utilities. You get partition managers (AOMEI Partition Assistant, MiniTool Partition Wizard), data recovery tools (R-Studio, PhotoRec), disk cloning (Macrium Reflect), antivirus scanners (ESET, Malwarebytes), and hardware diagnostics.

The most common use is resetting a forgotten Windows password. Tools like Lazesoft Password Recovery and NT Password Edit let you clear or change the local account password without reinstalling the OS. Another frequent scenario is recovering files from a system that will not boot - you can browse the drive, copy files to an external disk, and rescue your data before attempting repairs.

Advantages

All in one rescue toolkit - no need to download individual tools separately
Boots independently from the installed OS, so it works even when Windows is completely broken
Password reset takes under five minutes
Free for personal and non commercial use

Drawbacks

Large ISO (over 3 GB), so you need at least a 4 GB USB drive
Some included tools have limited functionality compared to their full paid versions
Requires changing BIOS/UEFI boot order, which can intimidate less experienced users
Not licensed for commercial or IT shop use without permission

Who it is for

I keep a Hiren's USB drive in my desk drawer at all times. When someone brings me a laptop that will not boot, or they forgot their password, or they need files pulled off a dying drive, this is the first thing I reach for. It is not a tool you use daily, but when you need it, nothing else comes close to having everything in one place. Every PC technician and power user should have one ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hiren's BootCD PE free?

Hiren's BootCD PE is free for personal and non commercial use. The included tools are a mix of freeware and trial versions. Commercial use or use in an IT repair shop may require licenses for the individual bundled tools.

How do I make a Hiren's BootCD PE USB drive?

Download the ISO file from the official site, then write it to a USB drive using Rufus. In Rufus, select the ISO, choose your USB drive, leave settings at default, and click Start. Boot your PC from the USB drive by pressing the boot menu key (usually F12, F8, or Esc) during startup.

Can Hiren's BootCD PE reset Windows passwords?

Yes. The included tools Lazesoft Password Recovery and NT Password Edit can reset or remove local Windows account passwords. This works for local accounts only, not for Microsoft accounts linked to an email address.

Features & How-To Guide

#	Feature	How to use
1	Data recovery from damaged system	Boot from USB › PE › Run R-Studio or PhotoRec › Choose disk › Scan › Select found files › Recover › Save on different media.
2	Windows password reset	Boot from USB › PE › Run Lazesoft Password Recovery or NT Password Edit › Choose account › Reset Password › Restart from disk.
3	Bootable USB with Hiren's	Download ISO from hirensbootcd.org › Run Rufus › Choose ISO › Partition scheme MBR › START.
4	Disk partition management	Boot from USB › PE › Run AOMEI Partition Assistant › Right-click on partition › Resize/Move/Delete/Format/Merge.
5	Hard drive diagnostics	Boot from USB › PE › Run CrystalDiskInfo › Check S.M.A.R.T. › Or run HD Tune › Error Scan › Scanning bad sectors.
6	Cloning disk to another disk	Boot from USB › PE › Run Macrium Reflect › Clone this disk › Choose source and destination disk › Start.
7	Offline antivirus scanning	Boot from USB › PE › Run ESET Online Scanner or Malwarebytes › Full Scan › Remove found threats without running infected system.
8	System backup creation	Boot from USB › PE › Run Macrium Reflect › Image this disk › Choose system partition › Save image on external disk.
9	Offline registry editing	Boot from USB › PE › Run Registry Editor PE › File › Load Hive › Point to registry file from disk (C:\Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM) › Edit keys.
10	RAM memory checking	Boot from USB › PE › Run MemTest86 or Windows Memory Diagnostic › Test runs through several passes › Errors indicate faulty RAM stick.