zereOS Knowledge Base

zereOS is pronounced /ˈsɪər.i.əs/ — just like the English word "serious". The name is an intentional statement: we are the serious partner for everything Windows Embedded and IoT. We believe that dependability, depth of expertise, and long-term commitment matter in this space — and that is exactly what the name reflects.

zereOS GmbH is a specialist in Microsoft Windows Embedded and IoT technologies. We provide software licensing for OEM and volume customers, develop purpose-built tools for device imaging, image creation and OS servicing, deliver technical trainings and workshops, and act as a trusted channel partner and technical advisor throughout the product lifecycle. Our goal is to reduce the complexity of embedded Windows deployments — so your engineering team can focus on building great products.

Contact us to receive your license and installation media. The toolkit ships on a USB device. Insert the device, open File Explorer, navigate to it, and launch the desired tool. Each tool has its own wizard interface guiding you through the process. Please refer to the included manual for detailed instructions.

This is typically caused by a missing Windows component. Ensure the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) is installed on your development machine. Run DISMUI as Administrator and verify that the correct Windows Embedded source media is available.

Ensure you are using the correct installation media that matches the WOC version. Verify that you have a valid product key and that the target hardware meets the minimum requirements. Contact our support team with details about your hardware and the error message for further assistance.

Check that the output directory has sufficient free disk space and that the current user has write permissions to the target folder. Run the Deployment Tool as Administrator. If the issue persists, try using a different output path (e.g., the root of a local drive) and check your antivirus software — it may be blocking file creation.

Windows PE components from the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) must be installed. Media Creator will attempt to install the ADK prerequisites automatically — ensure you have internet access or that the ADK is already available locally. Also run the tool as Administrator.

This is usually a permissions issue. Right-click the executable and select "Run as Administrator". The EULA acceptance requires elevated privileges to write the acceptance state to the registry.

All required fields on the current step must be filled in before the Next button becomes active. Check that you have selected a source image, specified a valid output path, and completed all mandatory fields. Hover over the grayed-out button — a tooltip may indicate which field is missing.

Insert the USB device you received with your purchase, open File Explorer, navigate to the USB device directory, and launch "Embedded Configuration Manager.exe". On the first page you will see all available features for your current Windows installation. Toggle the switch next to a feature to enable it and click "Apply". A reboot is required for certain settings to take effect. Please read the included manual carefully before making changes.

Ensure the full path to the shell application is correct and enclosed in quotes if it contains spaces. Starting parameters should be entered in the separate parameters field, not appended to the executable path. Verify that the application itself supports the parameter you are trying to pass. If the issue persists, contact our support team with the exact configuration you are trying to set.

zOFT is provided as a pre-optimized Windows Embedded image. Contact us to receive the appropriate zOFT image for your target hardware and Windows version. You install this image on your device instead of a standard Windows installation. The footprint reduction is already applied — you do not need to run additional optimization tools.

Yes — contact us for trial or demo options. We can arrange a product demonstration and provide evaluation materials so you can verify that zOFT meets your project requirements before purchasing.

Please contact us for pricing and licensing information. Pricing depends on the quantity and deployment model. We offer flexible licensing for both small projects and large-scale industrial deployments.

Always compare uncompressed sizes. The advertised footprint of 3.2 GB (64-bit) and 2.0 GB (32-bit) refers to the installed, running system. If you are measuring the image file on disk, the size may differ depending on the compression format used. Boot the installed system and check the disk usage from within Windows.

Yes. zOFT removes only components that are not required for embedded operation. All Windows Embedded lockdown features remain available, including all features supported by the zereOS Embedded Configuration Manager (Assigned Access, Keyboard Filter, Shell Launcher, UWF, etc.).

zOFT images support standard Windows Update mechanisms. For IoT Enterprise deployments, we recommend managing updates through WSUS or Windows Update for Business to maintain control over which updates are applied. Contact us for specific guidance on your update management strategy.

Some Windows features that were removed during the zOFT optimization process are no longer available through the standard "Turn Windows Features on or off" dialog. This is expected behavior — zOFT removes features that are not needed for embedded operation. If you require a specific feature that has been removed, contact our support team to discuss your requirements.