How to Fix Deployment Workbench crashing when opening WinPE tab Properties

The MDT Workbench enables you to manage deployments graphically. Using the Workbench, you can edit the deployment process, add drivers and updates, define task sequences, and create deployment shares. The bad news: opening the properties of the WinPE tab causes Deployment Workbench to crash. The solution is given in this article.

Deployment Workbench from Microsoft

An error was encountered in a snap-in and it will be unloaded by MMC.

Please notify Microsoft about this problem, then exit and restart MMC.

Discard the add-in and continue.

When opening the WinPE tab properties, Deployment Workbench shouldn't crash anymore

Here is one of the solutions for Deployment 

Workbench crashing while opening the WinPE tab Properties.

Create an x86 directory.

Install the previous version of Windows PE.

Delete all Profile files

Repair MDT Workbench Deployment

Let us elaborate on them in detail.

Create an x86 directory

When it gives you an error notice saying it has detected an error, select "Unload the snap-in and continue running" and click OK. If you want to know what the problem is about, it's that it can't find that file which is specified in it; to fix it, copy the location of the file.

The newest editions of MDT Workbench do not contain the x86 subdirectory, which is what MDT Workbench will be looking for, first and foremost. So, to hack around this we can simply copy the 64-bit folder and rename it to x86. Trick the workbench into thinking it can find the right place.

Open File Explorer to get started. Head inside the folder that you've copied earlier. Since there is no x86 folder, you'll need to make a copy of the 64-bit  and rename it as x86.

The properties of the WinPE tab will be opened now. However, since we have selected files with 64-bit architecture, click the General tab in the MDT Deployment Share Properties. De-select the x84 check box under the Platforms Supported section and click OK to save your changes. And the final step of completion is at Verify the problem is resolved.

2. Download the Windows PE - Primary Edition setup file and go via the installation process.

Although the workaround described above will enable you to view WinPE properties, this is no longer supported within Deployment Workbench and as such can no longer be leveraged on x86 systems. Instead, you must enable the functionality by downloading an add-in. To do this, follow the steps below.

Open the Microsoft Learning site.

Click the button to download the Windows PE add-on for the ADK, version 2004. Make sure you search for it.

After that, on your computer, uninstall the latest Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit Windows Preinstallation Environment Add-ons via Settings > Apps > Installed apps.

Once you have downloaded the addon, install it.

Finally, boot WindowsPE from the page of Deployment toolkit; it is compatible with 32-bit architecture and boots seamlessly.

3. Delete the Profile folders 

Since the old profile files remain intact, our changes to the Deployment Workbench might not be in effect. If you want to make such changes, we recommend deleting those files. For that, follow the directions given below.

Go to Start and then search for Deployment Workbench.

Click File > Options.

Now click Delete Files.

If prompted if you are sure you want to do this, click on the "Yes" button.

Let it delete the files within a few seconds. Once done, restart your PC to check if it resolved the problem.

4. MDT Deployment Workbench Repair

Apart from deleting profile files, you can even test the changes by running the repair agent in the Deployment Workbench once the changes are made as above or repair the tool in advance just by following the steps to use it.

Windows 11 

Open the Settings application.

Click on the Apps > Installed apps.

Scroll down and click on "Deployment Workbench" with the three dots beside it and click Modify.

Windows 10 Home

Bring up the Settings menu. Click Apps > Apps & features.

Once you've located the "Deployment Workbench" tool, click it to bring up its window. Click Update/Edit afterward. When you are ready to finish, click Repair, then follow the onscreen instructions. After you have done that, you can close the Deployment Workbench in Task Manager and see if the issue is gone.